ACT 16-18 Ford Focus RS / ST XT/Race Sprung 6 Pad Clutch Kit

Focus RS owners who add a tune, a bigger turbo or E85 find out fast that the factory clutch and dual-mass flywheel were sized for stock power, and repeated launches in an all-wheel-drive car load the clutch harder than almost anything else. ACT FF5-XTG6 is the Xtreme pressure plate paired with a 6-pad sprung ceramic race disc and a Streetlite flywheel, built for the 2016-2018 Ford Focus RS 2.3L EcoBoost and also listed by ACT for the 2013-2018 Focus ST 2.0L. ACT rates it at 745 ft-lb, 102 percent over the OE clutch.

What the XT/Race 6-pad kit does in a Focus RS or ST

This is ACT's most aggressive single-disc package for the car. The Xtreme pressure plate uses ACT's own diaphragm design to raise clamp load and cut deflection, and every diaphragm goes through a four-stage heat treatment. The 240 mm (9.4 inch) disc carries six ceramic pads on a spring-centered hub. The pads tolerate the heat of launches and track sessions better than an organic facing, and the springs absorb driveline shock and torsional vibration so the gearbox and the rest of the driveline are not hit with a rigid-hub jolt every time the clutch grabs.

The kit drops the factory dual-mass flywheel in favor of ACT's XACT Streetlite flywheel (601020). A single-mass flywheel removes a known wear item and lets the engine rev and fall more quickly between shifts. The trade is more feel: ACT describes this combination as moderate to heavy pedal effort, aggressive engagement and OE to mild gear rattle, recommended for high horsepower street or race use. ACT also says to expect pedal effort 50 to 80 percent above stock with an Xtreme plate.

Symptoms that call for this clutch

• Slip in third, fourth or fifth at full boost after a tune or turbo upgrade
• Clutch smell or fade after launches, drag runs or a track day
• Rattle, judder or vibration from a tired dual-mass flywheel at idle or on takeoff
• An organic stage clutch that holds on the street but gives up at the strip
• Engagement point rising up the pedal as the disc thins

How to confirm before you buy

Datalog a pull and compare engine speed with vehicle speed; a slipping clutch lets rpm run ahead. Bleed the clutch hydraulics and check for a soft pedal or leaking slave before condemning the disc, and look for oil at the bellhousing seam. Our slipping diagnosis guide goes through the steps. If the car is mostly a daily driver, the same plate and flywheel with an organic street disc, the ACT FF5-XTSS XT Perf Street kit (582 ft-lb), or the lighter-pedal FF5-HDSS HD Perf Street kit will be smoother in traffic.

Fitment

Our listing covers the 2016-2018 Ford Focus RS 2.3L turbo and the Focus ST with the six-speed manual. ACT's own application chart lists FF5-XTG6 for the 2016-2018 Focus RS and every 2013-2018 Focus ST 2.0L turbo, using the same 1 inch input shaft. It does not fit non-ST Focus models or the earlier Mk2 cars. If your car has a swapped gearbox or an aftermarket flywheel already fitted, send the year and VIN so we can confirm before shipping. More drivetrain parts are in our rebuild kits department.

Install notes

• The kit includes the Streetlite flywheel, F024X pressure plate, 6240508-1 disc, RB009 release bearing, AT130 alignment tool and the M8-1.25 x 20 mm pressure plate bolts.
• Clean the crank flange, fit the flywheel with new bolts at the factory torque in sequence, and draw the pressure plate down evenly in a star pattern with a torque wrench.
• Check the pilot bearing, fork pivot and input shaft splines and fix any rear main or input seal leaks while the gearbox is down.
• Bleed the clutch hydraulics with fresh fluid of the type marked on the reservoir cap; a vacuum bleeder gets the air out of the line.
• Follow ACT's break-in of gentle driving before any hard launches.

Does it fit the Focus ST as well as the RS?

Yes. ACT lists FF5-XTG6 for the 2013-2018 Focus ST 2.0L turbo and the 2016-2018 Focus RS 2.3L turbo.

Do I need a separate flywheel?

No. The kit includes ACT's XACT Streetlite flywheel 601020, which replaces the factory dual-mass flywheel.

How heavy is the pedal?

ACT says to expect 50 to 80 percent more pedal effort than stock with an Xtreme pressure plate.

What is the difference between XTG6 and XTSS?

Both use the Xtreme plate and Streetlite flywheel. XTG6 has a 6-pad sprung ceramic race disc rated 745 ft-lb; XTSS has a full-face organic street disc rated 582 ft-lb with smoother engagement.

Will it rattle?

ACT describes the feel as OE to mild gear rattle, mainly from removing the dual-mass flywheel.

• Transmission Slipping Diagnosis Guide
• Automatic vs Manual Transmission Repair Cost
• Rebuild vs Replace vs Reman Transmission