Clutch Masters 07-11 Mazda MazdaSPEED3 FX850 Race Twin Disc Clutch Kit

The Mazdaspeed3 left the factory with a 2.3L MZR DISI turbo making 263 hp and 280 lb-ft through a six-speed manual, and it only takes a downpipe, intake and tune before the stock clutch starts to slide in the upper gears. Clutch Masters 10306-TD8R-S is the FX850 Race twin disc for the 2007-2011 Mazdaspeed3, in the version supplied with a steel flywheel. It is for owners whose car slips under boost, who have big-turbo plans, or who want one clutch that holds through track days and drag passes.

What the FX850 Race twin disc does in a Mazdaspeed3

The MZR turbo sits in a compact front-drive bellhousing, so there is no room to step up to a large-diameter clutch. The FX850 gets around that by using two 8.5 inch (216 mm) discs. In the Race stage (TD8R) a sprung ceramic disc is connected directly to a second ceramic disc, so twice the friction area shares the clamp load while the sprung hub soaks up shock from wheel hop and hard shifts. The cover is machined from billet aluminum and Type 3 hard anodized; Clutch Masters measures about 0.003 inch of flex compared with as much as 0.030 inch for a cast or stamped cover, which keeps the release point consistent. Its QR quick-release system uses three spring-loaded bolts so the pressure plate lifts evenly and internal chatter drops by up to 50 percent. The steel flywheel is machined from 1045 billet and black oxide treated.

Symptoms that point to the clutch

• RPM spikes in fourth through sixth under full boost without the car pulling harder
• Slip that started after a tune raised boost or torque
• Shudder or judder pulling away in first, often worse when hot
• Burnt smell after launches or repeated hard pulls
• Slip that gets worse as the engine heats up in summer traffic

How to confirm before you buy

A simple test: in fifth gear around 2,500 rpm, go to full throttle. If the tach jumps while road speed lags, the clutch is slipping. A boost or torque log from your tune that shows rpm climbing faster than the gear ratio allows confirms it. Before you condemn the clutch, check that the pedal returns fully and the hydraulics are not leaking. Then pick the right stage. A ceramic twin disc is the strongest option and also the stiffest to live with; for a mostly street car, our FX725 PRO twin disc for the Mazdaspeed3 or a single disc such as the ACT XT Race sprung six-pad kit may fit better. Our manual versus automatic repair cost guide covers what clutch labor typically runs.

Fitment

This listing covers the 2007-2011 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 with the 2.3L turbo and six-speed manual. Clutch Masters' own catalog lists the 10306 base number for Mazdaspeed3 from 2007 through 2013 and the 2005-2007 Mazdaspeed6 2.3L turbo as well, but this page is sold for 2007-2011, so if you have a 2012-2013 car or a Mazdaspeed6, send us the year and VIN and we will confirm before it ships. The -S suffix is the steel flywheel version. More drivetrain parts are in our rebuild kits department.

Install notes

• The transaxle has to come out of a front-drive car, so plan for the subframe and axle work, and inspect the axle seals and motor mounts while it is apart.
• Install the steel flywheel with new bolts at the factory torque; only use the matching Clutch Masters flywheel with this pressure plate.
• Stack the discs and floater exactly as the instructions show, align them on a clutch alignment tool such as our 18-piece alignment kit, and tighten the cover in a crisscross pattern.
• Bleed the clutch with fresh fluid of the type listed on the reservoir cap, and readjust the pedal if it was changed.
• Plan for a heavier pedal, around 50 percent more effort on average according to Clutch Masters, and give it 500 miles of easy driving before launches.

Does it fit a 2012 or 2013 Mazdaspeed3?

This listing is for 2007-2011. Clutch Masters catalogs the 10306 number for Mazdaspeed3 through 2013, so send us your year and VIN and we will confirm fitment before it ships.

Will it fit a Mazdaspeed6?

Clutch Masters lists the 10306 base number for the 2005-2007 Mazdaspeed6 2.3L turbo too, but this listing is sold for the Mazdaspeed3. Contact us with your VIN first.

How heavy is the pedal?

Clutch Masters says its FX850 twin discs average about 50 percent more pedal pressure than stock, depending on the application.

Is the Race stage good for daily driving?

It can be driven daily, but two ceramic discs give quicker engagement and more noise than an organic clutch. Mostly street cars often prefer a milder twin disc or a sprung single disc.

Why does it rattle with the pedal pressed?

A twin disc has a floating intermediate plate, and some rattle when it is released is normal. The QR system is designed to reduce that chatter.

Do I need to break it in?

Yes. Drive about 500 miles of normal stop-and-go traffic with no full-throttle shifts before using full power.

• Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Repair Cost: What to Actually Expect