Competition Clutch 06-08 Subaru Forester XT Stage 3 - Sprung Segmented Ceramic Clutch Kit

Competition Clutch 15021-2600 is a Stage 3 segmented ceramic clutch kit, and our listing is for the 2006-2008 Subaru Forester XT with the 2.5L turbo and five-speed manual. The SG facelift XT already makes 230 hp and 235 lb-ft from the factory, and once owners add a tune, a bigger intercooler or a larger turbo, the stock organic clutch is usually the first part to give up. If your XT flares the revs in third or fourth when boost arrives, or the clutch smells hot after towing a trailer or a hard mountain run, this kit sits in the middle ground between a mild street upgrade and a race puck.

What the Stage 3 clutch kit does in a 2006-2008 Forester XT

The Forester XT shares its turbo EJ25 driveline layout with the 2006-and-later WRX, and Competition Clutch catalogs the 15021-2600 for the 2006-2016 WRX, 2005-2009 Legacy GT and 2005-2008 Forester with the five-speed gearbox. The kit pairs a Competition Clutch performance pressure plate with a disc carrying segmented ceramic facings. The maker rates its Stage 3 Street/Strip series at up to a 150 percent increase in torque capacity over stock. Segmented ceramic sits between a full-face organic disc and a six-puck race disc: there is more friction area than a puck design, so takeoff is easier to control, but the ceramic material still bites harder and tolerates heat far better than the factory facing. Our listing describes this disc as sprung, which helps soak up driveline shock on an all-wheel-drive car that is hard on its gearbox.

Symptoms that point to a worn or overpowered clutch

• Engine speed rises without the car pulling harder at full boost
• Slip that shows up only when the clutch is hot, such as after towing or repeated pulls
• Engagement point creeping toward the top of the pedal travel
• Chatter or shudder when pulling away on a hill
• A whir or squeal with the pedal pressed, a sign of a tired release bearing
• Gears that grind going into first or reverse, which can also be a hydraulic fault

How to confirm before you buy

Do a load test on a safe, empty road: in fourth gear from about 2,500 rpm, go to full throttle and watch the tachometer. A needle that jumps ahead of road speed is clutch slip. If the car just feels flat with no rev flare, log boost and knock first, because a boost leak or a tune pulling timing feels similar. Check the clutch fluid level and the slave cylinder for leaks, and look for oil at the bellhousing seam, since a leaking rear main seal will soak any new disc. Our slipping diagnosis guide covers the load test in detail, and the flare versus slip article explains how to tell a slipping clutch from other drivability problems.

Fitment

This listing covers the 2006-2008 Subaru Forester XT turbo with the five-speed manual. It does not fit automatic Foresters, the naturally aspirated 2.5X, or the six-speed STI gearbox. The maker also lists the same part number for the 2005 Forester, but early SG cars were built during a changeover in clutch hardware, so compare your old pressure plate and release bearing, or send us your year and VIN before ordering. The specification table on the maker page lists the flywheel as not included, even though the general copy mentions one, so plan for this as a clutch-only kit. Browse more Subaru clutch parts in our rebuild kits category.

Install notes

• In the box: performance pressure plate, segmented ceramic disc, throwout bearing, pilot bushing and alignment tool.
• Have the flywheel resurfaced or replace it. Ceramic facings will not bed properly on a glazed or heat-spotted surface.
• Remove the old pilot bushing with a tool such as the Lisle 55600 pilot bushing remover and fit the new one supplied.
• Use only a thin film of grease on the input shaft splines. Excess grease thrown onto the disc ruins its grip.
• Center the disc with the alignment tool and tighten the cover bolts by hand in a crisscross pattern, never with an impact gun.
• Bleed the clutch hydraulics with fresh brake fluid of the type on your reservoir cap, and check the fork pivot for wear while the gearbox is out.
• Competition Clutch calls for frequent shifting and no launches during the first 500 miles so the facings seat.

If your XT is mostly a commuter with a light tune, the 15021 Stage 2 Steelback Brass Plus kit engages more gently and is easier on the flywheel.

Will the 15021-2600 fit my automatic Forester XT?

No. It is a manual clutch for the five-speed gearbox only. Automatic Foresters use a torque converter instead of a clutch.

Does it fit the 2009-and-later Forester XT?

Our listing covers the 2006-2008 Forester XT. The maker lists the part for 2005-2008 Forester five-speeds, so a 2009-up car is not covered. Send us your year and VIN if you are unsure.

Is a flywheel included?

No. The maker's specification table lists the flywheel as not included. Resurface your flywheel or buy a new one before installing the kit.

How much power will it hold?

Competition Clutch rates its Stage 3 Street/Strip series at up to a 150 percent increase in torque capacity over the stock clutch. It does not publish a single ft-lb figure for this part.

Is it streetable?

Yes, for most owners. Segmented ceramic engages more firmly than stock but is far easier to drive than a six-puck race disc. Expect a firmer pedal feel and a quicker engagement.

How do I break it in?

Competition Clutch says to shift as often as possible for the first 500 miles and avoid hard launches until the facings have seated into the flywheel and pressure plate.

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