What's the difference between a 4 puck clutch disc and a normal one?

Cheers
Mick.

surface area for a start.
the four puck only has a small area for interface where as the standard it is complete 360 degreee

I wonder about this too
so pressure is Force over Area right?
having smaller area on the clutch plate would experience more force and therefore it would grip more?
but having less surface area on the friction pad make them perform the same? (assuming nothing was changed with the pressure plate)

note : '?' on almost every sentences
cheers

the puck clutches usually have a metallic friction material copper
where as the full stock clutches havea fiber surface

so does that make a 4 puck clutch better than a normal one?

Depends on what you mean by "better".

My understanding is a 4 puck etc. will grip better overall, but because the pressure plate is the same and moves in/out at the same rate, well you lose a large amount of of control over that grip.

Basically they become on or off...great for racing (providing drive line is strong enough to take it), but lack of smoothness/control not so great for street driving.

Yep Dave is right. There are puck clutches that have differing numbers of pucks too. You see 3, 4, 5 and maybe even 6 pucks, all in the quest to try and smooth thier operatioin. They have crap operation and increased holding power because the clutch shoe (clamping bit of the pressure plate) literally distorts around the pucks thus gripping better. These days there are plenty of better options with better pressure in the pressure plate and linings with more friction, not to mention for really big hp, multi disc clutches. No one needs a puck clutch these days, they destroy transmission and driveline components and are a pig to drive. The best day owning a puck clutch is the day you remove it. They also trash the flywheel and pressure plate surfaces due to the metalic linings and heat. IMHO

yeah the pucks are very sever

depends on what your doing with the car ideally for Drags where u need a good start

I have driven a few puck clutched cars, and most as stated above had a very on/off feel about them. Some well set up examples were fine, but most were on/off. As sides said your gb and axles need to be up to the task. One evo I know went to a button carbonic clutch after always spinning a std one. (the evo has a week clutch as the fuse point in the driveline!). with semi slicks, the puck clutch and motec, it blew the front diff and gb apart..... allot of money!

If you don't need it stay with a standard. I run a standard clutch/material with a stage 1 kennedy and haven't had a problem with 130hp+ at the wheels....

I know what you mean....

my clutch is almost pucked

I have setup and driven a few over the years. My old DC bay had a 2.2 911 160 hp Porsche 6 cylinder through a 200mm hd clutch and 4 puck. No slip issues except trying to take off on a hill towing the race car was a bit of an art to get right. It's a way of getting more clutch for few $$$'s, but a better solution can be had for sure.

right! so puck clutch =bad. Thanks for the info guys, really helpfull.

Mick.

With all things no black and white. But yes, unless you have a 200hp+ moster a std clutch with maybe a better pressure plate is all you need.

Puck clutches have their place.