Recently test drove a 07 GT500. I own a 12 GT manual and this was my first time driving a GT500. I once the clutch was much heavier compare to the stock clutch in my 12 GT. The owner said the clutch was stock and the car had only 18,000 miles. Is this to be expected or is there an aftermarket clutch that can handle the power with a TVS upgrade and have a similar feel as my 12 GT? I'd like the GT500 as a daily driver but the clutch in stop and go traffic would be hell.
2007 GT500 Heavy Clutch options
- Thread starter Hotstang
- Start date
I've never driven a GT, so I don't have a point of comparison, but I never thought the stock clutch was heavy. There are a few aftermarket options that are slightly lighter than stock and hold much more power. Check out Centerforce and McLeod.
I run a Centerforce and have no complaints with over a year of abuse.
I run a Centerforce and have no complaints with over a year of abuse.
I've driven a GT500 with an RXT and I thought the pedal effort was comparable with my Dyad. They're slightly lighter than stock, but IMO it's negligible.
Id honestly upgrade the clutch for more HOLDING power. A possibility with a lighter clutch feel is, in my opinion, a perk.
My McLeod RXT kinda hates to be driven lightly. 3,000 plus miles after install on the street and it still chatters from time to time with light take offs.
Driving like a complete dick and taking off like an asshole: its smooth and responsive as can be. On race night, that quality is GOLDEN. Holds 1,000 hp as well.
The stock clutch is decent for what it is: a factory dual disc setup. Good for street and decent for road course work. Its ability as a drag clutch is serviceable, but barely so. Slipping it will lead to a blown clutch. Doesnt like being raced all that hard with multiple passes in one night.
McCleod, Spec, Mantic are all great upgrades over stock. Im not sure about spec and mantic, but my McLeod came fully assembled. Remove old clutch assy and install McCleod assembly. Easy peasy.
My McLeod RXT kinda hates to be driven lightly. 3,000 plus miles after install on the street and it still chatters from time to time with light take offs.
Driving like a complete dick and taking off like an asshole: its smooth and responsive as can be. On race night, that quality is GOLDEN. Holds 1,000 hp as well.
The stock clutch is decent for what it is: a factory dual disc setup. Good for street and decent for road course work. Its ability as a drag clutch is serviceable, but barely so. Slipping it will lead to a blown clutch. Doesnt like being raced all that hard with multiple passes in one night.
McCleod, Spec, Mantic are all great upgrades over stock. Im not sure about spec and mantic, but my McLeod came fully assembled. Remove old clutch assy and install McCleod assembly. Easy peasy.
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Your 12 GT has an assist spring and the 07 GT500 does not, hence why it feels heavier. It will pretty much feel the same regardless of upgrade due to not having the assist spring. But a McLeod would be the way to go for an upgrade.
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Fyi when i swapped my 11 gt500 clutch for an rxt it felt exactly the same. If you think that's bad drive a terminator.
Yeah, we've got it pretty good in our cars. A buddy of mine has a terminator with a Ram clutch and that thing is so stiff I just had to laugh the first time I drove the car. I got back in my Shelby immediately afterwards and just about put my left leg through the floorboard on the first few shifts.
Just had an RXT put in my 08.It has 17k miles and I smoked the stock one.Put the MGW shifter in at the same time, spending more effort getting used to that than the clutch.
Switching from the GT500 to the GT does catch me up sometimes.
Switching from the GT500 to the GT does catch me up sometimes.
If you have an 07 and you have the original clutch in it... it's much heavier than the current GT500 stock clutch.
The original 07 clutch was a ceramic based clutch that was fairly grabby and could be difficult to slip.
The latest revision of the stock clutch for our cars would be the 2013/14 GT500 clutch and that is A LOT lighter and easier to drive.
I daily drive my 2007 with the revised clutch and it's awesome. I wouldn't want to daily drive it with the 07 clutch.
The original 07 clutch was a ceramic based clutch that was fairly grabby and could be difficult to slip.
The latest revision of the stock clutch for our cars would be the 2013/14 GT500 clutch and that is A LOT lighter and easier to drive.
I daily drive my 2007 with the revised clutch and it's awesome. I wouldn't want to daily drive it with the 07 clutch.
I went ahead and had the '10 complete clutch assembly installed several years ago. Needed to find something easier on my left knee. Now no chatter on take offs and a real pleasure to drive. I would really consider other alternatives that have already been mentioned, this way you would be ready for additional power out if the gate. Now on the original clutch assembly, what I read from others is that it can take a lot of abuse and that's with added power like a TVS.
Edit: Caution on using the original clutch as a daily driver as with extreme heat build up it can cause the flywheel to warp, this in turn could lead to issues downstream. There was a Ford TSB on this.
Cheers,
Ray
Edit: Caution on using the original clutch as a daily driver as with extreme heat build up it can cause the flywheel to warp, this in turn could lead to issues downstream. There was a Ford TSB on this.
Cheers,
Ray
Last edited:
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Any one on here know what the stock clutch can handle power wise before starting to slip? I have an 08 that has 550 rwhp, just seeing if the stock clutch should last a few more years (only 9500 miles)
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Totally depends on how you drive the car. You baby, beat on it, or somewhere in between?
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Somewhere in between- I have raced it about a dozen times in the past 6 years of owning it. 4000 miles on the car since I bought it
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I would think you've got a couple more years left in it, but there are so many variables it's hard to really say.
If you guys want a spare i have a low mileage stocker out of my 11. Feels just like an rxt, only reason i swapped is for the improved pedal feel. It made no difference at all in clutch stiffness.
When the stock clutch went in my '07 a few years back, I replaced it with the '10/11 OEM and have been very happy. Much easier to drive and no issues with an occasional trip to the track.
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