Are Borg and Beck style clutches going away?

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Mopar92

Mopar92

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I'm looking at clutches for my Up and coming 4 speed swap. Seems like the B and B clutches are getting slimmer and slimmer on the pickings. Do I understand it correct that to use a finger style clutch I will need to removed the over center spring? Is there a disadvantage to running a finger style clutch on a 375hp street only Duster? Thanks for the opinions.
 
Quite the opposite actually. There are benefits to running a diaphragm (or as you call finger style) clutch. Namely lower pedal forces required so the car is easier to drive, and there is less stress ln all of the linkage...... longer pedal pivot bushing life, less chance of cracking the inner fender well at the z bar mount, you get the idea...
 
The B&B was the go to for real performance clutches, but now technology had advanced the diaphragm style to the point they are just as good if not better.
 
Yeah diaphragm.... thanks. I stand corrected. Seems to be a good bit cheaper in some ways. Im thinking that maybe the way to go. Thanks guys.
 
Holy stupid... shipping 2018... Saw on Brewers site I think that McLeod discontinued several different versions.
 
I've heard that Chevy 10.5" pressure plates are the same, if that matters.
 
I know that some of the Ford and Mopar stuff was at one point. They just put all the bolt patterns in the PP.
 
Borg and Beck and Long style clutches are both 3 fingered styles. The Long style clutches had counterweights on the levers which added extra force as the rpm went up. They were strong but they took a lot of pedal pressure with rpm. The B&B pressure plated were middle of the road for grip and pedal pressure. the diaphragm clutches (what GM used) were easy on the pedal pressure but didn't grip like the B&B plates did. In the last decade or so, the McLeod style dual disc clutch is the way to go. Double the friction surface and still easy on the pedal. Spendy though. The new Challengers use a dual disc clutch! They work!
 
Diaphragm clutches require much less pedal effort. The over center spring is strong enough that it will pull and hold the pedal down, disengaging the clutch. If you have ever manipulated the clutch pedal with no linkage installed but with the factory over center spring you will know how strongly and violently it pulls the pedal down.
 
d55dave said:
Diaphragm clutches require much less pedal effort. The over center spring is strong enough that it will pull and hold the pedal down, disengaging the clutch. If you have ever manipulated the clutch pedal with no linkage installed but with the factory over center spring you will know how strongly and violently it pulls the pedal down.
Click to expand...
I see the reason now and it makes sense. Thanks for the information.
 
What doesn't make sense is why you can have less plate load with a diaphragm pp.

The answer is...you can't. The disc doesn't know what pressure plate is on it. It has no idea.

Back in the early 1980's we were using B&B plates with as low as 1900 pounds on rag discs.

My current clutch is a B&B/Long pressure plate that is adjustable and has a pressure range of 450-995 pounds of pressure.

So...if you can reduce the plate load on a diaphragm, you can sure as hell do it with a B&B and you'll have better pedal release and easier shifting.
 
You'll notice the B/B have allowances for multiple springs in each segment, lower power vehicles often came with
fewer springs ( empty slots), and springs came in different pressures, indicated by color. cheers
 
inertia said:
You'll notice the B/B have allowances for multiple springs in each segment, lower power vehicles often came with
fewer springs ( empty slots), and springs came in different pressures, indicated by color. cheers
Click to expand...


True. I've run as few as 6 springs on a B&B plate.
 
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