ACT 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer HD-M/Race Sprung 6 Pad Clutch Kit

ACT ME3-HDG6 is a Heavy Duty pressure plate and six-pad sprung race disc built for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X with the five-speed manual and the 2.0L 4B11T turbo engine. Our listing names the 2015 Lancer, but this is an Evo-only part: it is the kit owners reach for when a tuned GSR or Final Edition starts slipping in third and fourth at full boost, smells hot after a launch, or has worn out a factory clutch on track days.

What the ME3-HDG6 kit does in an Evo X

The Evo X uses a pull-type release system, where the bearing pulls the diaphragm fingers back instead of pushing them in. ACT ships this kit with four pieces: the MB018 Heavy Duty pressure plate, the 6240608 six-pad sprung race disc, the RB602 release bearing and the AT03 alignment tool. There is no flywheel in the box.

What sets this kit apart from a generic upgrade is Monoloc. On the stock pull-type setup, the bearing locks to the pressure plate with a two-piece wedge collar and wire ring, a known weak spot when the pedal is abused or the clutch is swapped often. ACT replaces it with a one-piece hardened chromoly retaining ring that loads the bearing evenly and keeps it aligned.

ACT rates the kit at 678 ft-lb at the crank, 85 percent over the factory clutch, using a 9.4 in (240 mm) ceramic disc on a 1 in input shaft. Six ceramic pads tolerate far more heat than an organic facing, and the sprung center damps the shock of hard launches through the all-wheel-drive driveline. The trade-off is aggressive engagement. If the car sees mostly street miles, the ME3-HDSS street version uses the same plate with a full-face disc.

Symptoms that call for this kit

• RPM rising faster than road speed when boost builds, worst in the higher gears
• Burnt friction smell after launches or a track session
• Engagement point creeping high on the pedal as the disc wears thin
• A pedal that sticks or will not return, or a release that feels notchy, which on a pull-type clutch can point to the bearing collar
• Chatter pulling away from a stop

How to confirm before you buy

Start with the hydraulics: check the fluid level, bleed the slave line and confirm full pedal travel, because drag from air in the system feels like a clutch problem but is not slip. Then make a fourth-gear pull from about 3,000 rpm at full throttle while logging. If engine speed climbs ahead of wheel speed, the disc is slipping. Our slipping diagnosis guide walks through the test, and shift flare vs. slip helps separate a true slip from other drivetrain feel. Look for oil at the bellhousing seam too; a rear main or input seal leak will glaze a new ceramic disc.

Fitment

ACT's application chart for ME3-HDG6 lists the 2008-2015 Lancer Evolution GSR, the 2009 Evolution RS, the 2014 Evolution and the 2015 Evolution Final Edition, all with the 1998 cc turbocharged engine. That covers the manual-transmission cars only. The Evolution MR with the twin-clutch SST gearbox, the base Lancer and the Lancer Ralliart are not on that chart. ACT also sells several ME3 kits with different discs, so match the part number ME3-HDG6 to what you need, or send us your year and VIN and we will check it before it ships. More clutch hardware is in our rebuild kits section.

Install notes

• Resurface or replace the flywheel. ACT's XACT Streetlite 600550 is a 13.1 lb chromoly flywheel with a 240 mm friction face listed for the same Evo X years.
• Center the disc with the AT03 tool and draw the MB018 cover down evenly in a star pattern to the factory torque value.
• Install the RB602 bearing and Monoloc ring following ACT's included instructions; a misseated pull-type bearing is the most common reason a new clutch will not release.
• Bleed the hydraulics with the brake fluid your owner's manual specifies. ACT says Heavy Duty plates raise pedal effort roughly 15 to 40 percent.
• Race ceramic discs need only a few firm engagements to lap in; avoid long slipping launches on the first drive.

Does ME3-HDG6 fit a regular 2015 Lancer?

No. ACT lists it for the 2008-2015 Lancer Evolution GSR, the 2009 Evolution RS, the 2014 Evolution and the 2015 Final Edition with the 2.0L turbo and manual gearbox. Base Lancers, the Ralliart and the twin-clutch Evolution MR are not listed.

What comes in the kit?

The MB018 Heavy Duty pressure plate, 6240608 six-pad sprung race disc, RB602 release bearing and AT03 alignment tool, with ACT's Monoloc retaining ring for the pull-type release. A flywheel is not included.

How much torque does it hold?

ACT rates ME3-HDG6 at 678 ft-lb measured at the crank, 85 percent more than the factory clutch.

What is Monoloc?

It is ACT's one-piece chromoly ring that replaces the factory two-piece wedge collar and wire ring holding the pull-type release bearing to the pressure plate. It keeps the bearing aligned and loaded evenly.

Should I replace the flywheel at the same time?

At minimum the flywheel should be resurfaced. Many owners fit a lighter flywheel such as ACT's 600550 Streetlite, which is listed for the same Evo X years.

What fluid does the clutch hydraulic system use?

The clutch hydraulics use brake fluid. Use the DOT grade listed in your owner's manual when you bleed it after the install.

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