PERFORMANCE ROAD CLUTCH PLATE

All of our Mini clutch plates are 180mm in diameter. We also use this size on later 1275 cars that would have originally run a 190mm clutch plate, with no problems at all.

The later Verto-equipped cars often used springs in the clutch friction plates, but we've used these 'solid' plates for years with no notable downsides. These feel very similar to running a standard clutch plate.

We move to an organic competition plate for the Stage 2 clutch and flywheel packages, which are generally driven harder and cope better with more power and heat. As a rough guide, for a Mini with 90+bhp, or one that's driven hard on trackdays or during competition, look towards the MED Organic Competition plate instead. Full full race and rally use we would advise moving up to the MED race paddle plate.

In an ideal world, yes, because if you dismantle the Mini's clutch and flywheel to change the friction plate, this can upset the balance of the assembly. However, it really depends on the accuracy of the original balance job, and the application. For standard road use at lower RPM levels, so long as the drive straps are retained in the correct place on the flywheel, the overall balance should not be affected noticeably. For high RPM performance Minis where an accurate balance is desired, always aim to have the complete clutch/flywheel assembly re-balanced after a clutch swap.

As with tyres and brakes, it depends entirely on the car and driver, but a careful bedding-in procedure will considerably increase lifespan. Our clutch plate manufacturer recommends 200 miles of gentle driving with regular stop-starting in traffic, to allow the friction material to form to the faces of the flywheel and back plate and give full coverage. The 200 miles does not include steady motorway driving or rolling road testing. Failure to bed the plate in properly can cause the clutch to slip when used with full power, significantly reducing lifespan.

Clutch holding ability comes from a combination of the clutch cover, the friction plate material, and flywheel/backplate design. As a result, we can't accurately report how much power/torque this plate will hold when not used within an MED assembly, as there are too many variables. As a rough guide we suggest moving to the organic competition plate for improved longevity on Minis producing over 90bhp, or for more strenuous use.