Does anyone know what the average life expectancy is for the ACT HD pressure plate? 50K miles, 100K miles etc? What are some things to look for on a used one to see if it's still re-usable, hot spots, broken fingers etc?

 

Not gonna get 100K miles out of it, but im sure alot of it will depend on your driving habbits and HP rating. I wouldnt leave it in there for 50k even because the Disk isnt likely to last that long assuming the needs of the ACT PP. I have heard that you can have it sent back to ACT for a pressure test and resurfacing and save alot of money, but that is only if you can afford tha much down time.

 

Seen several over 60K.. It's built like the OEM pressure plate. The Disc is what wears out, not usually the pressure plate.

 

I depends mostly on type of driving... 100K of highway miles seldom affects the clutch... 50K of street driving can wear one... 5K of abusive driving can easily destroy one.

 

In general though, you'd expect the ACT PP to at least last as long as the friction disc and other components you typically replace on a clutch install anyway, correct?

 

I have been rockin a ACT pressure plate for about 3 years now. Put about 50K miles on it and the clamping still feels strong. I do occasional burn outs, shift aggressively and do bumper to bumper traffic in first gear at least twice a week.

Its a HD (Heavy Duty) ACT pressure plate for the record and its mated to a modified street disc (Also ACT) and a Fidanza flywheel. My disc probably has 40% left on it but it sill holds and does not slip. From my experience, the clutch disc will go out way before the pressure plate does. I will go as far as saying that this pressure plate will last through 2 full clutch discs but then again, usage and clutch disc material are big factors.

 

This ACT is a reworked OEM PP.
I guess it depends on the disk you use and how you use it.
IMO, with OEM power and an OEM disk it will last at least as long as OEM, probably longer because it will slip less - but that depends on how you use it.

So, in other words: it depends

 

How exactly is it reworked? Its just made stiffer by ACT?

 

Shell (Yellow) is OEM design. Clamp springs (Black) are harder than the OEM design, providing increased clamp force. Clutch pedal is stiffer too.

 

IMHO the clamp spring (just 1) is stronger.
It applies more force to the pressure plate.
And it takes more force to pull it back > stiffer pedal.

The housing is OEM.
I'm not sure the pressure plate itself is OEM because I have not taken my ACT apart yet.
ACT might rework it too to get the pivot points where they want them.
The spring is definitely ACT.
The rest of the hardware, like rivets and balancing weights as well I think (assume).

The spring might also be a bit thicker, but that really doesn't matter.
Its about the force it applies.
AND.. the force you need to disengage it.

Spring disk design is complicated, there are a lot of factors.
Search for the ACT topic where (IIRC) "ACT man" posted in.