Competition Clutch 03-06 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7/8/9 Stage 3 - Segmented Ceramic Clutch Kit

The Competition Clutch 5152-2600 is a Stage 3 segmented ceramic clutch kit for the 2003-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with the 2.0L 4G63 turbo engine. It is built for the Evo VIII or IX owner who has added boost, a bigger turbo or an E85 tune and now feels the factory clutch let go in third and fourth, smells it after a few hard pulls, or simply wants a clutch that will not be the weak link at the next track day. It is a single-disc kit, so it keeps a more streetable feel than a twin-disc setup.

What the Stage 3 kit does in an Evo

The 2003-2006 Evo uses a pull-type clutch release: the throwout bearing is clipped to the pressure plate fingers and pulls them toward the gearbox to disengage. Competition Clutch builds this kit specifically for those pull-style Evo 7, 8 and 9 applications. The 2600 series pairs a performance pressure plate with a 250 mm clutch and a disc faced in segmented ceramic pads instead of full-face organic material. The maker rates it at up to 150 percent more torque capacity than stock and calls the engagement quick but smooth. Ceramic friction shrugs off the heat of repeated launches and rally-style abuse, but it bites harder than the stock disc, so expect a shorter, more positive take-up point. In the box: pressure plate, ceramic disc, throwout bearing, pilot bushing and an alignment tool.

Symptoms on a modified Evo

• RPM flares without the car pulling harder once boost peaks, usually in third or fourth
• A hot, burnt smell after launches, autocross runs or a long uphill grind in traffic
• Engagement point moving up the pedal as the stock disc wears thin
• Chatter on takeoff from a glazed disc or a heat-checked flywheel face
• Bearing chirp or growl that changes with pedal position
• Gears that are hard to select with the engine running but go in easily with it off

How to confirm before you buy

Make a full-throttle pull in fourth gear from around 3,000 RPM and compare the tach to road speed. A clutch that is slipping lets RPM jump ahead of the car; a boost leak or a tune pulling timing just makes the car feel flat. Logging boost and timing on the same pull separates the two. If the complaint is grinding or hard shifting rather than slip, check the clutch fluid level, look for a leaking slave cylinder and bleed the system first, because a new clutch will not fix a hydraulic problem. Our slipping diagnosis guide walks through reading slip versus other faults, and the flare vs. slip guide explains what each one feels like from the seat.

Fitment

Our listing covers the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7, 8 and 9 for 2003-2006, matching the maker's pull-style application for that platform. In the US that means the Evo VIII (2003-2005) and Evo IX (2006); the Evo VII was not sold here, so imported VII owners should match their clutch and release parts before ordering. Competition Clutch does not separate five-speed and six-speed cars on this listing, so if you own an MR with the six-speed gearbox, send us your year and VIN before you order and we will confirm. On the flywheel, the maker's description mentions a billet steel flywheel but its specification table says the flywheel is not included, so treat this kit as clutch only. Other Evo clutch options, from the Stage 2 Steelback Brass Plus kit up to the Stage 4 six-pad kit, are in our rebuild kits category.

Install notes

• The Evo is all-wheel drive, so the transfer case and front driveshaft work add time compared with a front-drive car. Support the gearbox properly and never let it hang on the input shaft while you mate it to the engine.
• Competition Clutch's install sheet requires a new or resurfaced flywheel and a new pilot bearing or bushing. The 2-645-STU 9.65 lb steel flywheel is listed for the 2001-2006 Evo if you want lighter rotating mass at the same time.
• Wipe the anti-rust film off the pressure plate and flywheel friction faces with a residue-free cleaner.
• Use only a barely visible film of grease on the input shaft splines; excess grease flung onto ceramic pads ruins them.
• Install the disc in the marked direction, center it with the supplied tool and draw the cover down by hand in a diagonal pattern.
• Bleed the clutch hydraulics with fresh brake fluid of the type marked on the reservoir cap, then shift often and drive gently through the break-in before any launches.

Does the 5152-2600 fit a 2006 Evo IX?

Yes. Competition Clutch lists it for the 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution 7, 8 and 9 with the pull-style clutch, which covers the US Evo VIII and Evo IX. If you have a six-speed MR, send us your VIN so we can confirm before you order.

Is a flywheel included?

No. The specification table on the maker's page lists the flywheel as not included. Plan on resurfacing your flywheel or buying a new one such as the 2-645-STU steel flywheel.

How much more torque will it hold than stock?

Competition Clutch rates the Stage 3 2600 series at up to 150 percent more torque capacity than the factory clutch. It does not publish a specific ft-lb number for this kit.

Is it too grabby for daily driving?

The segmented ceramic disc engages faster than the stock organic disc, but the maker builds the Stage 3 for street and strip use. Most owners adapt quickly. If you want the softest street feel, the Stage 2 Steelback Brass Plus kit is the milder step.

What should I replace at the same time?

The kit includes the throwout bearing, pilot bushing and alignment tool. Resurface or replace the flywheel, and check the slave cylinder, clutch fluid and rear main seal while the gearbox is out.

How do I break it in?

Competition Clutch says to shift as often as possible during the first 500 miles so the disc material beds into the flywheel and pressure plate. Avoid launches and track use until that is done.

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