Clutch Masters 01-09 Honda S2000 2.0L/2.2L FX200 Clutch Kit

Clutch Masters 08023-HRKV is the FX200 single disc clutch kit for the 2001-2009 Honda S2000 with the 2.0L F20C or the 2.2L F22C1. It is the kit for an S2000 that is driven hard, autocrossed on weekends or carries intake, header and exhaust bolt-ons, and whose original clutch has started to slip, chatter or engage high on the pedal. The selling point is wear life rather than a big jump in clamp load.

What the FX200 does in an S2000

The S2000 lives at high rpm, and owners who use the redline shift hard and often. That is what wears out an organic disc, not raw torque. The FX200 pairs the Clutch Masters Power Plus I heavy duty pressure plate with a steel backed Kevlar disc. Clutch Masters rates it at a 70 percent increase in holding capacity, about the same as their FX100, but says the Kevlar facing lasts two to three times longer than the FX100 organic disc. The disc keeps a sprung hub and a marcel spring wafer, so engagement feels like stock, and the pedal is only slightly heavier.

Kevlar is non-abrasive, so it does not score the flywheel or pressure plate face. Clutch Masters positions the FX200 for the street enthusiast or weekend racer with simple bolt-ons. If the car is supercharged or turbocharged, the segmented Kevlar FX300 (08023-HRTZ) is the next step, and for regular track use the ceramic FX400 6-puck (08023-HRC6) holds more at the cost of a sharper engagement.

Symptoms that point to a new clutch

• Rpm climbing without road speed in third or fourth near VTEC crossover and redline
• Engagement point creeping up toward the top of the pedal travel
• Burnt friction smell after an autocross run or canyon drive
• Shudder or chatter pulling away from a stop, often from a glazed disc or hot spots on the flywheel
• Gears grinding going into first or reverse, which can also be a hydraulic issue (see below)

How to confirm before you buy

Do a load test: in fourth gear from around 3,000 rpm, go to full throttle and watch whether the tach rises faster than the speedometer. On an S2000, check the hydraulics before blaming the disc. Old fluid, a weak master or slave cylinder, or air in the line changes where the clutch engages and can cause grinding that feels like a worn clutch. Also look for oil at the bottom of the bellhousing, because a leaking rear main seal will contaminate any new disc. Our slipping diagnosis guide walks through the test, and flare vs. slip explains what you are looking for on the tach.

Fitment

Clutch Masters lists 08023-HRKV for the Honda S2000 2001-2009 with the 2.0L engine and the 2001-2009 with the 2.2L engine, and our listing covers the same years. The AP2 cars that got the 2.2L engine and shorter gearing use the same clutch part number as the AP1 cars. The first 2000 model year S2000 is not on the Clutch Masters application list for this kit, so 2000 owners should send us the VIN before ordering. If the car has a swapped engine or transmission, fit the clutch to what is installed now, not the original build sheet.

Install notes

• The kit includes the pressure plate, Kevlar disc, alignment tool and instruction card, plus an OEM NACHI pilot bearing and release bearing.
• Replace the pilot bearing in the crank with the one supplied, and resurface or replace the flywheel. If you want a new flywheel, the ACT XACT Streetlite flywheel is one option; ask us to confirm it with this kit.
• Clean the flywheel and pressure plate faces with brake cleaner so the Kevlar beds evenly.
• Center the disc with the supplied tool or our clutch alignment tool kit, then tighten the cover bolts a little at a time in a crisscross pattern.
• Flush and bleed the clutch hydraulics with the brake fluid grade printed on the reservoir cap.
• Follow the Clutch Masters break-in: at least 500 miles of normal driving before launches or redline shifts.

Does 08023-HRKV fit both the AP1 and the AP2 S2000?

Yes. Clutch Masters lists it for the 2001-2009 S2000 with either the 2.0L or the 2.2L engine. The 2000 model year is not on their list, so send us the VIN for a 2000 car.

What is the difference between the FX200 and the FX100?

Clutch Masters gives them about the same holding capacity, a 70 percent increase over stock, but the FX200 uses a steel backed Kevlar disc that they say lasts two to three times longer than the FX100 organic disc.

Is the FX200 enough for a supercharged or turbo S2000?

Clutch Masters aims the FX200 at aggressively driven cars with simple bolt-ons. For forced induction, look at the FX300 segmented Kevlar kit or the FX400 ceramic kit.

Are the pilot bearing and release bearing included?

Yes. Clutch Masters includes an OEM NACHI pilot bearing and release bearing, along with an alignment tool.

Do I need to do anything to the flywheel?

Yes. The flywheel should be resurfaced or replaced so the new disc seats on a flat, clean face. A glazed or heat-checked flywheel can cause chatter even with a new clutch.

What fluid does the clutch hydraulic system use?

Brake fluid. Use the DOT grade printed on the clutch reservoir cap and bleed the slave cylinder after the install.

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