Monster Stage 3 Review

Long story short, I have a Magnacharged 02 Z06 and was having problems shifting (engaging/disengaging the clutch) after extensive high rpm runs, specifically during a HPDE session. Under normal driving conditions, I could shift w/o any problems.

After consulting my tuner (Slowhawk) and Steve @ SNL, they both came to the conclusion the problem I was having was caused by the clutch slipping and expanding due to the stock LS6 clutch not able to hold the power I am making (500hp/470tq @ wheels). So, I took advantage of the Monster sale and purchased the Stage 3 premium package, light weight flywheel and remote bleeder.

This weekend I spent removing and installing the clutch and today I put the first 100 miles (stop and go) on a 500 mile breakin period and so far the clutch has been good.

The pedal pressure is a little stiffer than the stock LS6 clutch, the chatter is bearable as this should go away after the 500 mile breakin stage. With the stock clutch, you could easily start from a dead stop, due to the chatter, I need to rev the RPMs to 1800-2000 to avoid any chatter to start. If I would have done it again, I would have coughed up another $100 and picked up the Stage 3.5 as the .5 series apparently are chatter proof.

I will post more results as the break in miles add up. Looking forward to getting on the track to put this clutch to the test.

 

I just did my stg 3 last weekend and am at a little over 400 miles hardly any chatter. I agree with the stg 3.5 would have been better. But two little blips of the throttle and let out the clutch works pretty good.

 

sounds like another satisfied customer I too am very happy with my stg 3!! along with my tick adj and remote bleeder!!

 

I'm currently in the market for a nice clutch and have been looking towards the monsters. I was thinking about grabbing the stage 3, but with your comments, think the 3.5 is the way to go. Is the chatter you get pretty bad, and does it end up going away substantially after the break in?

 

I have the Monster level 3.5 full face disc and there was no chatter at all from the get go no matter how low a rpm I let it out at. Pedal is defiantly quite a bit harder than stock but doesnt bother me at all.
I also got the remoter bleeder and am installing a Tick adjustable clutch master this next week as well instead of the crap stock master.

 

The chatter is noticable, but it should go away within this breakin period.

If you dont want the chatter, go with the 3.5.

 

What makes the stage 3.5 have less chatter than stage 3?

 

full face vs puck style

i have about 3k on my clutch now, and ive only gotten chatter a hand full of times

 

How bad is the chatter? Embarrassing bad?

 

Almost every manufacturer claims no chatter.

 

I have 350 miles on the clutch now and the chatter is almost gone.

 

Without chatter being a consideration, what are the benefits of full face or puck style?

 

 

From what ive been reading the "non .5" style is more geared for drag racing and will take any abuse you throw at it like dumping it at 5k RPM off the line, back to back runs.

 

Puck style are made to hold up to more power due to all the force being exerted on one point. On a full face, the force is spread out on the entire face of the clutch. In a nutshell, the puck style will hold more power and will chatter, full face won't hold as much as a puck style but still hold plenty of power, more drivable, no chatter.

 

the puck style will dissipate heat better

 

I just had a Stage 3.5 installed (By Mike Yeager and Joey Cartee) in my '02 Z06 and it drives great, no chatter and you can actually feel in clamping down now as opposed to the stock piece of junk. Put 1600 mile so nit in the first week and it feels like a totally different car...I love it!

 

So how are these clutches holding up to some hard launches/agressive driving?

 

Well I broke the 500 mile breakin period and finally put the clutch to some hard driving. Well so far I am impressed, after several high RPM runs, I can disengage/engage the clutch w/o any problems like I had with the stock LS6 clutch. Hopefully I can get to a road course soon to really put this to the test.

As for the chatter, its about 90% gone.

 

I have read some posts on ls1tech of guys snapping rear ends with these clutches.