While the debate between automotive transmissions continues to rage on, it is evident to us petrol heads that manual cars have their clear advantages.

One of the primary arguments for manual cars is the engagement that it offers the driver – engagement that you simply cannot get with an automatic.

The physical changing of a car’s gear is an asset to any driver who prioritises the feeling of control – one of the most critical elements involved in this is the clutch.

 

 

A clutch is a key part of a manual transmission, as the clutch is a mechanism that both engages and disengages the power that the car is sending to the transmission.

In a manual car, the clutch is connected to the driving shaft that comes off the engine, as well as the drive shaft that spins the wheels.

The driveshaft stops spinning when you press down on the clutch pedal, allowing you to come to a stop as well as change gear.

Every car has a different clutch feel, whether it is light and easy to engage, like you’d typically find on a family car, or something heavier, like you’d find a sports car.

Just like so many other items on cars – for example, tires and brake pads – clutches are objects that are vulnerable to wear.

This means over time they will wear down and begin to slip, meaning that the clutch will not engage and disengage correctly, leading to it slipping, and, when you accelerate, the revs will start to build as if you were pressing the third pedal.

This is something that was happening to Jim Wong, who documented this on his YouTube channel and provides an excellent example of how clutch upgrades are pivotal to Porsche driving.

He is in possession of a 997 Turbo manual, a car that is highly sort after nowadays due to it being the last ever manual 911 to wear the turbo name. One of the reasons for his clutch slipping in particular was the aftermarket Cobb stage 2 tuning device that was fitted to the car that was increasing the horsepower and torque, a task the stock clutch couldn’t manage. To remedy this, the stock clutch was then replaced with one from Sachs Performance, the best tool for the job.

Sachs is an aftermarket company owned by the gearbox giant ZF.

ZF are well known for their 8-speed automatic gearbox, a Transmission that appears in everything from BMWs to Land Rovers, so they know a thing or two about gears – one of the many reasons a Sachs clutch is the perfect choice for your Porsche.

 

 

The Clutch pressure plate and friction disk from Sachs were a perfect fit for Jim’s 997 Turbo.

During the video, Jim documents the process of installing the clutch, and the benefits of such an upgrade. We learn that the clutch has an OEM feel, something that is perfect for people who don’t like the heavy sensation that comes with certain clutches.

 

 

You can shop Sachs clutches for your Porsche, here.

It’s also ‘grabbier’ than the standard OEM clutch, which is perfect for someone who likes to make quick gear changes, whether this is on the road or on track.

One of the reasons for this ‘grabbier’ feeling is that the clutch is unsprung.

 

 

Unsprung clutches consist of a single-piece friction disc design that is highly beneficial in racing and otherwise sporty driving – therefore making it the perfect choice for a high horsepower turbo.

At Design 911, we offer several products from Sachs that are tailored for your Porsche, meaning, regardless of whether your 911 is water or air-cooled, we can supply a clutch kit that is a perfect fit for your specific car.

We also offer a 2-year warranty on these parts, so if they go wrong prematurely, we will exchange them free of charge.

You can check out Jim’s channel here – https://www.youtube.com/@atm4jim

News