ACT 1994 Subaru Impreza HD/Perf Street Sprung Clutch Kit

The ACT SB2-HDSS is a street clutch upgrade that our listing titles for the 1994 Subaru Impreza, the first-year L and LS sedans and wagons with the 1.8L flat four and a five-speed. On a car this age the usual reasons to shop are a clutch that slips climbing a grade, a shudder leaving a stop sign, or a pedal that only grabs at the very top. The same kit is ACT's answer for a long list of naturally aspirated Subarus, so if you own a Legacy, Forester, Outback or a later Impreza 2.5 with a manual, read the fitment section below.

What this clutch kit does in a 1994 Impreza

SB2-HDSS pairs ACT's Heavy Duty pressure plate with its Performance Street sprung disc. ACT's diaphragm design raises clamp load and resists flexing at higher rpm, and each diaphragm goes through a four-stage heat treatment. The disc uses an organic, copper-rich lining bonded to a steel backer, with a sprung hub that soaks up engine pulses so takeoff stays smooth. ACT rates the assembly at 312 ft-lb of torque capacity at the crank, 42 percent above the original clutch, on a 224 mm (8.8 in) disc with a 1 in input spline. On a stock 1.8L that is a large safety margin, which is why this kit tends to suit cars that tow a small trailer or see hard mountain driving.

ACT describes the feel as light to moderate pedal effort with smooth, positive engagement and OE to mild gear rattle. In plain terms, it drives like a fresh factory clutch with a firmer bite, not like a race part.

Symptoms that point to a worn clutch

• Revs flare without the car gaining speed in third, fourth or fifth, worst on hills
• A judder through the floor as the clutch takes up from rest
• An engagement point that has crept up to the top of the pedal stroke
• A hot friction smell after parking-lot maneuvering or a steep driveway
• A squeal or growl that appears or disappears when the pedal goes down, typical of a dry release bearing
• Grinding into first or reverse, which can be clutch drag or a release adjustment issue

How to confirm before you buy

A clutch that is wearing out will not turn on the check engine light, so this is a road-test diagnosis. Warm the car up, roll along in fourth at low rpm and floor the throttle. If engine speed jumps ahead of road speed, the disc is slipping. Before you order, rule out the release system: check free play at the pedal and the condition of the release fork and pivot, since a misadjusted or binding release causes drag and grinding rather than slip. Look up at the bellhousing seam for oil; an engine rear main or transmission input seal leak will soak a new disc if it is not fixed during the same job. Our slipping diagnosis guide covers the load test step by step, and the manual transmission repair cost guide helps you decide between a clutch job and other repairs on an older car.

Fitment

This listing is titled for the 1994 Subaru Impreza, which ACT lists as the Impreza L and LS with the 1.8L engine. ACT's own application chart for SB2-HDSS is much wider and covers only naturally aspirated engines: 1990-2009 Legacy, 1994-2023 Impreza non-turbo, 1998-2013 Forester, 2000-2009 Outback, 2003-2006 Baja, 2013-2015 XV and 2016-2017 Crosstrek with 1.8L, 2.0L, 2.2L and 2.5L engines. No WRX, STI or turbocharged Forester, Legacy or Baja is on the list, so do not order this kit for a turbo car. Subaru changed transmissions and release parts over those years, so match your vehicle on the ACT chart or send us the year and VIN before you order. Other Subaru clutch options are in our rebuild kits section.

Install notes

• ACT lists the kit contents as the SB011 Heavy Duty pressure plate, 3000501 Performance Street sprung disc, RB833 release bearing, PB1004 pilot bearing and AT90 alignment tool. A flywheel is not included.
• Replace the pilot bearing in the crankshaft with the supplied PB1004 rather than reusing the old one; a dry pilot bearing is a common source of noise on high-mileage cars.
• Have the flywheel resurfaced, or replace it if it shows hot spots or cracks. The Clutch Masters FW-524-AL aluminum flywheel is listed for 1990-1995 Legacy 2.2L and 1994-1995 Impreza 1.8L 4WD if you want a lighter replacement.
• Center the disc with the alignment tool, run the pressure plate bolts down in a criss-cross pattern to the factory torque, and lightly grease the input splines and release fork contact points with high-temperature grease. A clutch alignment tool kit helps if the plastic tool goes missing.
• Set pedal free play to the factory spec after install, check the gear oil level in the transaxle, and top up with the gear oil Subaru specifies for your model.
• Break it in with a few hundred miles of normal driving before any hard launches.

Will SB2-HDSS fit a 1995 Impreza 2.2L or a later 2.5RS?

ACT lists SB2-HDSS for non-turbo Imprezas from 1994 through 2023, including the 2.2L and 2.5L RS years. Subaru changed release parts over that span, so match your car on the ACT chart or send us the year and VIN first.

Can I use this kit on a WRX or Forester XT?

No. ACT's application list for SB2-HDSS includes only naturally aspirated engines. Turbo Subarus use different clutch kits.

What comes in the box?

ACT lists the SB011 Heavy Duty pressure plate, 3000501 sprung organic disc, RB833 release bearing, PB1004 pilot bearing and AT90 alignment tool. No flywheel is included.

Will the pedal be much stiffer than stock?

ACT rates the feel as light to moderate pedal effort with smooth engagement, so it should feel close to a new factory clutch with a firmer bite.

How much torque will it hold?

ACT rates it at 312 ft-lb at the crank, 42 percent over the original clutch, which is far more than a stock 1.8L or 2.2L produces.

Do I need to replace the flywheel?

Not always. Resurface it if it is flat and crack-free. Replace it if it has heat cracks, blue spots or has already been machined near its limit.

• How to Diagnose Transmission Slipping
• Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Repair Cost
• Shift Flare vs. Slip: How to Tell Them Apart