McLeod 15-17 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L Super Street Pro Clutch Pack 11 x 1 x 23M - 164T

If your 2015, 2016 or 2017 Mustang GT with the six-speed manual has started to slip in third or fourth when you get into the throttle, or the stock clutch gave up after a tune, cold-air and exhaust, this is a one-box replacement built for that exact car. McLeod part number 53218 is the Super Street Pro "Pro Pack": a high-clamp-load pressure plate, an 11 inch disc with a 1 inch by 23 metric spline hub, and a billet steel flywheel with a 164-tooth ring gear, matched at the factory so you are not mixing brands and guessing at clamp load. McLeod rates it for up to about 550 horsepower on a street-driven car with moderate modifications and occasional track days.

What this clutch and flywheel kit does in a 2015-2017 Mustang GT

The S550 GT left the factory with a 5.0L Coyote V8 rated at 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft, backed by a Getrag-designed MT82 six-speed. The clutch sits between the crankshaft flange and that transmission's 1 inch, 23-spline input shaft. The pressure plate squeezes the disc against the flywheel, and the clamp load decides how much torque can pass before the disc starts to slide. Add a tune, a supercharger or sticky tires and the stock unit runs out of holding power. The Super Street Pro disc answers that with two different friction faces: an organic face for smooth, predictable engagement in traffic and a ceramic face for bite once the clamp load comes on. The pressure plate raises clamp force while McLeod keeps pedal effort in a range that is still livable on a daily driver. The billet steel flywheel is SFI-approved, so it is a sensible choice for a car that will see the drag strip.

Symptoms that point to a worn or overpowered clutch

• RPM climbs without the car pulling harder in third, fourth or fifth at wide-open throttle
• A hot, burnt-friction smell after a hard launch or a long grade
• The engagement point creeps higher on the pedal as the disc thins
• Chatter or shudder when pulling away, often from a glazed disc or hot-spotted flywheel
• Slip that started right after a tune raised torque past what the stock clutch can hold

How to confirm before you buy

Clutch slip is easy to confirm. In a high gear at low road speed, roll into full throttle; if engine speed rises faster than road speed, the disc is slipping. Before you order, rule out a hydraulic fault. A sticking or leaking slave cylinder, air in the line or a pedal that does not return fully can hold the clutch partly released and make a healthy disc slip. Check for fluid at the bellhousing seam and make sure the pedal returns to the top. If you are deciding whether a clutch job is worth it on an older car, our guide to manual versus automatic repair costs covers where the money goes.

Fitment

This kit is listed for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L with the factory six-speed manual. It is not for the 2.3L EcoBoost, the V6, or the Shelby GT350, which use different clutch packages. The 2018-and-later GT also changed clutch hardware, and McLeod sells separate kits for those years. Confirm three things before you order: the 23-spline input shaft, the 8-bolt crankshaft flange, and the 164-tooth ring gear that matches your starter. If you have swapped in an aftermarket input shaft or a different transmission, send us your year, VIN and parts list and we will check it. More clutch and drivetrain parts are in our hard parts category.

Install notes

• The kit includes pressure plate bolts, flywheel bolts and an alignment tool. Center the disc with the tool before you snug the pressure plate, and tighten the bolts evenly in a star pattern to the torque in McLeod's instructions. A spare clutch alignment tool kit helps if you work on more than one car.
• The S550 releases the clutch with a hydraulic slave cylinder mounted on the transmission. Inspect it for leaks or a rough bearing while the transmission is out, since it is far cheaper to replace now than later.
• Replace the pilot bearing or bushing, and look at the rear main seal for leaks; oil on a new disc ruins it.
• Bleed the clutch hydraulics after reassembly until the pedal is firm and returns fully.
• Follow McLeod's break-in procedure before launching the car or running it hard, so the friction faces bed in evenly.

If your goals go past 550 horsepower or regular drag racing, compare a twin-disc setup such as the McLeod RXT twin disc for 2011-2017 GT or the RST HD twin with steel flywheel before you buy.

Will McLeod 53218 fit a 2018 or newer Mustang GT?

No. It is listed for 2015-2017 Mustang GT 5.0L manual cars only. The 2018-up GT uses different clutch hardware, and McLeod makes separate kits for those years.

Is this a single-disc or twin-disc clutch?

It is a single 11 inch disc. The disc carries two different friction materials, organic on one face and ceramic on the other, which is where the dual-face description comes from.

How much power will it hold?

McLeod rates the Super Street Pro kit for up to about 550 horsepower on a street car with moderate modifications and occasional track use. For more power or frequent drag launches, look at a twin-disc kit.

Does it come with a flywheel?

Yes. This is the Pro Pack version with a billet steel, SFI-approved flywheel with a 164-tooth ring gear, plus pressure plate bolts, flywheel bolts and an alignment tool.

Do I need a new slave cylinder?

Not always, but the 2015-2017 GT uses a hydraulic slave cylinder on the transmission, and it is easiest to replace while the transmission is out. Inspect it for leaks and a rough bearing before reassembly.

Is there a break-in period?

Yes. Drive gently and avoid hard launches until the friction surfaces bed in, following the break-in steps in McLeod's instructions.

• Automatic vs Manual Transmission Repair Cost