Action Clutch Stage 3 Clutch Kit for 02-06 RSX  5 Speed

Action Clutch Stage 3 Clutch Kit - 2002-2006 Acura RSX

Your stock RSX clutch slipping after you added bolt-ons and a tune? The Action Clutch Stage 3 kit is a single-disc performance clutch built for the 2002-2006 RSX. It's got a heavy-duty pressure plate and a sprung 6-puck ceramic disc instead of your factory organic disc. The ceramic disc bites way harder than your stock clutch and it doesn't slip when it gets hot from hard driving. If you're running bolt-ons, you're tracking your car, or you're doing autocross and your stock clutch is slipping, this clutch'll hold. The trade-off is it's got a heavier pedal and it chatters in parking lots. If you want stock-like smoothness, this isn't the clutch for you.

Here's Why Your Stock Clutch Is Slipping

Your factory clutch works fine at stock power. But when you add bolt-ons, a tune, or you're launching hard or clutch-kicking, the stock clutch can't clamp down hard enough. The organic disc material heats up and it starts slipping. Your RPMs flare when you're accelerating hard and the clutch doesn't grab like it should. The Action Stage 3 clutch uses a ceramic friction disc instead of organic material. Ceramic handles heat way better than organic and it grabs harder. You're getting 170% more holding power than your stock clutch according to Action Clutch. That's not dyno-verified, but it's way stronger than stock.

Sprung 6-Puck Disc - Here's Why That Matters

This clutch uses a sprung 6-puck ceramic disc instead of the full-face organic disc the Stage 1 uses. The "6-puck" part means the ceramic friction material is arranged in six pads around the disc instead of covering the whole face like the Stage 1. Six pucks give you strong holding power with decent street manners. The "sprung" part means there are springs in the disc hub between the friction material and the center spline. When you dump the clutch or shift hard, those springs absorb the shock load before it hits your transmission. A rigid (non-sprung) disc transfers all that shock directly into your transmission gears and synchros. Over time, that shock beats the hell out of your transmission and you'll crack gears or destroy synchros. Sprung discs protect your transmission while still giving you the holding power you need. That's why most street/track clutches use sprung hubs.

It's Going to Chatter and the Pedal's Heavier

This clutch chatters when you're taking off from a stop, especially when it's new. You'll hear and feel it vibrating through the drivetrain when you're letting the clutch out in parking lots. That's normal for ceramic clutches. It usually gets better after you break it in for a few hundred miles, but it doesn't completely go away. The pedal effort is also heavier than stock and way heavier than the Stage 1. Your left leg's going to get tired in traffic. If you can't deal with chatter and a heavy pedal, don't buy this clutch. Get the Stage 1 or a stock replacement instead.

Two Versions: Base (5-Speed) and Type S (6-Speed)

Action makes two versions of this clutch. The Base version fits 2002-2006 RSX Base with the 5-speed transmission. The Type S version fits 2002-2006 RSX Type S with the 6-speed transmission. The clutches are different because the transmissions have different input shaft splines and the flywheels are different diameters. Make sure you order the right version for your transmission. If you order the wrong one, it won't fit.

What You Get

• Action Clutch Stage 3 clutch kit
• Heavy-duty single diaphragm pressure plate with reinforced drive straps
• Sprung 6-puck MIBA ceramic friction disc
• Release bearing (throwout bearing)
• Fully enclosed spring retainers (prevents springs from coming loose)
• 170% more holding power than stock (Action Clutch claim, not dyno-verified)
• Works with factory flywheel
• Flywheel NOT included
• Two versions available: Base (5-speed) or Type S (6-speed)

Fits Your Car

• 2002-2006 Acura RSX Base (5-speed manual - order Base version)
• 2002-2006 Acura RSX Type S (6-speed manual - order Type S version)

Compatible Engines

• K20A3 (2002-2006 RSX Base, 5-speed)
• K20A2, K20Z1 (2002-2006 RSX Type S, 6-speed)

Note: Make sure you order the correct version for your transmission. Base RSX uses a 5-speed transmission. Type S uses a 6-speed transmission. They're not interchangeable. This clutch is for modified street/track RSXs. If you're bone stock and you're just daily driving, you don't need this clutch. It's overkill and it'll be annoying to live with. Get the Stage 1 instead. If you're running bolt-ons and a tune or you're tracking your car, this clutch makes sense. The clutch will chatter, the pedal's heavier than stock, and the engagement is way sharper. That's the trade-off for more holding power. Resurface or replace your flywheel when you install this clutch. Don't put a new clutch on a scored or warped flywheel. It won't engage smoothly and you'll get chatter and slipping. Break the clutch in properly - 500 miles of normal driving with no hard launches. If you skip the break-in, you'll glaze the disc and it won't work right.