ACT 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Twin Disc MaXX XT Race Kit Clutch Kit

This is the clutch for a 2003 C5 Corvette that has stopped being a street car. If your LS1 or LS6 now has boost, nitrous or a stroker and the factory clutch (or even a stage street clutch) flares on every full-throttle shift, ACT part number T3R-G01 is the MaXX XT race twin disc kit cataloged for the 2003 Corvette with the T-56 six-speed. It is built for drag, road course and high-power builds where holding torque matters more than a soft takeoff.

What the MaXX XT twin disc does in a C5 Corvette

A single-disc clutch can only clamp two friction faces. T3R-G01 puts two discs and a floater plate under one pressure plate, so the same clamp load works on four faces. That roughly doubles the holding area and gives the heat from repeated launches more material to soak into. The discs are ACT's 6-pad rigid race design with ceramic friction pads on a heat-treated chrome-moly hub. There are no damper springs in the hub, which saves weight and inertia so the T-56 can shift faster, but it also passes more driveline shock and gear noise into the car.

ACT's Positive Lift Floater System pulls the floater away from both discs on release, so you get clean disengagement without floater rattle and there are no drive posts to wear. The assembly is built to adjust for disc wear and to release both discs equally. Every ACT twin diaphragm goes through a four-stage heat treat. The kit ships with the pressure plate, two discs, floater, a CNC-machined and dynamically balanced flywheel, and an alignment tool. ACT notes that some twin kits also include pilot and release bearings, so check the box before you order those separately.

Symptoms that point to a race twin disc

• Tach jumps ahead of road speed on wide-open-throttle shifts after power adders
• A street twin or single-disc stage clutch that fades or slips after a few drag passes or hot laps
• Glazed or blued flywheel face found at the last clutch job from repeated heat
• Burning clutch smell from the bellhousing after a track session
• Engagement point creeping toward the top of the pedal as the disc wears thin

How to confirm the clutch is the problem

Before you spend this much on a clutch, prove the slip. Make a third or fourth gear pull from low rpm at full throttle and watch for rpm rising faster than speed. Then check the hydraulics: the C5's T-56 uses a concentric slave cylinder, and a leaking slave or old fluid can keep the clutch from fully clamping or releasing. Our slipping diagnosis guide walks through separating slip from other problems, and the clutch slipping causes guide covers oil contamination and worn release parts.

Fitment

This listing is cataloged for the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette (C5) with the six-speed manual. ACT no longer shows a public product page for T3R-G01, so we cannot quote ACT's full multi-year chart here; do not assume it covers other years just because the 2003 car shares parts with other C5s. Match the part number T3R-G01 to your order, and if your car has a swapped transmission, aftermarket flywheel or non-stock bolt pattern, send us the year, engine and the last 8 of your VIN before ordering. For a street-friendly twin for the same car, compare the ACT T1S-G01 HD street twin or the sprung-disc ACT Mod-Twin XX for LS cars. More options are in our clutch and rebuild kit department.

Install notes

• Use the ACT flywheel supplied in the kit. The pressure plate, floater and discs are set up as a system with it.
• Install discs and floater in the order and direction shown in ACT's instructions, center them with the supplied tool, and torque the pressure plate bolts evenly in a star pattern.
• Replace the concentric slave while the transaxle is out; a worn one is a common reason for a second teardown. We stock the GM 24264182 T-56 concentric slave.
• Inspect the pilot bearing and replace it if it is rough. Bleed the system fully after install; see how to bleed a hydraulic clutch.
• ACT says its race discs need only a few hard slips to lap in rather than a long organic-style break-in. Do not cook it during that process.

Expect a sharp, on-or-off engagement and some chatter from a stop. ACT itself recommends race puck discs for race use, not daily driving. If the car still spends most of its time on the street, the street twin is the better buy.

Will T3R-G01 fit my 2001 or 2004 Corvette?

Our listing is cataloged for the 2003 Corvette only, and ACT no longer publishes a product page for this part number. Send us your year, engine and the last 8 of your VIN and we will confirm before you order rather than guess.

Is this race clutch drivable on the street?

It will drive, but the rigid ceramic discs engage abruptly and can chatter on takeoff and in traffic. ACT recommends race puck discs for race use. For a street car with big power, the T1S-G01 HD street twin with organic discs is the friendlier choice.

Does the kit include a flywheel?

Yes. ACT twin disc kits include a CNC-machined, dynamically balanced flywheel along with the pressure plate, two discs, floater and alignment tool. Use that flywheel; do not mix the twin assembly with a different one.

What else should I replace while the transaxle is out?

Replace the T-56 concentric slave cylinder, check the pilot bearing, and flush the clutch hydraulics with fresh brake fluid of the type your master cylinder cap specifies. On a C5 the labor to drop the rear transaxle is the big cost, so do these parts once.

How do I break in a race twin disc?

ACT says its race discs usually need only a few hard slips to lap in the surfaces before normal driving or racing. Avoid overheating the clutch during that process, which can glaze or hot-spot the friction faces.

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