When an engine breaks, it’s because the driver spun it until the rods snapped, or because the wheelman chipped the second-gear syncros. And yes, we all know who thrashes the tires over the tarmac. Yet when the story is told, it’s always the car’s fault, or—more to the point—the manufacturer who designed and assembled the components that failed. There may be rare occasions when the driver is willing to take responsibility for a lack of self-control or even downright stupidity, but more often than not, people blame the parts and not the vehicle operators.

Many a reputation has been skewed by the claims of over-enthusiasts who offer no quarter to their cars from the time they turn the key till the last of the rubber is left on the road. As a result, manufacturers are forced to design and build their products to hold up against the weakest link, namely the nut behind the wheel. When this is done, enthusiasts really believe that such components are actually bulletproof.

Many continue to argue as to which component is more likely to undergo the most abuse, and chances are very good that it’s the stick-shift cars that are operated by the left foot, often with reckless abandon as the go-lights change to green. It’s then that engine revolutions rise and the clutch is released between hundreds of horsepower with the tires to the ground—that’s when serious traction is applied. And that’s when all understanding of mechanical know-how is tested beyond reasoning, often even beyond comprehension.

In talking with the design and engineering team at Centerforce, it became obvious to us that these folks are more than aware of the forces leveraged between torque generation and its multiplication—in other words, how engine torque is increased through transmission ratios. It also becomes clear when you review their extensive clutch product line how these design specifics were factored in and new components were created to cope with the more violent extremes we see today as part of a continuous heavy-duty use cycle. Centerforce clutch assemblies were designed from the get-go to surpass all of the capabilities of an OEM system, and the components they created to replace these general-use parts are designed with one thought in mind—that nothing is beyond failure initiated through misuse and abuse—so their components had to be created to stand up against the most extreme conditions.

For example, even though Corvette enthusiasts might believe that the original clutch fitted in the C5 Corvette is more than adequate, it’s likely they’ll chant that change is good once they feel and experience the capability of a Centerforce Dual-Friction clutch assembly. Centerforce’s Dual-Friction clutch comes as a performance-matched pressure plate and disc assembly, and this system incorporates a patented centrifugal weight system (where applicable), along with a specialized machining process so that the system will offer exceptional street manners not normally associated with a high-performance clutch. Centerforce’s Dual-Friction disc has a full facing on the pressure-plate side for ideal drivability and longevity, as it distributes the clamping force evenly over a 360-degree friction facing. This concentrated clamping pressure offers maximized clutch-holding capacity. The opposing flywheel side utilizes a carbon composite puck-style (segmented) facing for positive engagement and increased load capacity. Although designed to be the ultimate in street applications, the Dual-Friction is just as at home in mild competition applications.

Beyond this system, Centerforce offers a variety of other high-quality clutch assembly designs, as well as various flywheels that work together to achieve a desired result. So before making your next clutch and flywheel purchase, first determine which Centerforce product best suits your specific needs, as they offer tailored systems to suit a range of applications. While the mechanical benefits of the Dual-Friction clutch package are impressive, there are secondary benefits that have enabled this transformation by expanding the surface area of the original clutch disc, from the standard 11-inch diameter to an optional 12-inch disc (PN DF395010). This exchange not only offers a great deal more contact between the clutch and flywheel, which allows the clutch assembly to better harness the power at hand, but it also further improves the life expectancy of the entire driveline. This is what we mean when we say that Centerforce can provide an assembly to achieve results.

As you’ll see in the following sequence, we are performing just such a transformation from a factory clutch to the Centerforce Dual-Friction clutch, and while it requires a relative hands-on understanding of your vehicle and the tools that you will need to facilitate this process, it can be accomplished in a single afternoon. The sequence of events we followed provided good insight into what it takes to bring newfound capability to an already capable performance package, and that speaks volumes for improved dependability.

The first time you get behind the wheel to discover for yourself that change is, indeed, good will be the last time you need to worry about your clutch. After all, while some people choose not to stir the gears and are looking to make visual statements alone, the rest of us want to take advantage of the power we have on tap and want a dependable and smooth clutch assembly to pull it all together. Follow along to discover just how truly easy it is to install such an effective solution, especially considering that a stock OE clutch assembly can be the weakest link in your drivetrain. Understanding this, you will no doubt want to make the same changes yourself, and you do not have to own a Corvette to enjoy what such an upgrade has to offer.

Beyond this particular installation, Centerforce has a broad range of similar products within its product lineup that are equally well suited to severe-duty or other types of vehicles, including all of the typical high-performance muscle cars, the new generation of trucks that are being built or any one of a number of high-end specialty cars we find today. And while each of them varies in design to meet the specific requirements of any of those applications, you can be sure that the quality found in every Centerforce clutch and flywheel package offers the same exceptional commitment to excellence, even in the most extreme environments. That’s what performance and longevity are all about.