The Ultimate Honda K-Series Clutch Guide

Are you looking to upgrade your Honda K-Series clutch or compare all available options? Then this article is for you! We will run you through the multiple stages of clutch and how to choose one for your car.

Many brands manufacture Honda K-Series clutch kits and options such as sprung, unsprung, multiple stages and multi plates.

Don't worry if you don't understand any of that; you will by the end of the article!

In this article, I will cover every stage, the differences, and in which situation you would choose each.

How To Choose A Honda K-Series Clutch

For a baseline here, we will be using the Honda K20a2 engine as we can easily compare the factory figures versus which clutch is the best for each stage of power increase.

The K20a2 from the factory made approximately 200bhp at 7400RPM and 142ft/lb of torque.

This is important to know as many stages only offer a percentage of torque increase, so knowing the base figure makes this easy to calculate.

Even though a Honda K-Series clutch may hold specific power, there are some situations where you need to go with a higher stage, for example, drag racing, where you are constantly shocking the drivetrain under launch and harsh gear changes.

In a nutshell, as your power increases, the more clamping force you will need to stop the clutch from slipping, and you'll increase through the stages as you go.

Ideally, the clutch would never slip, so you always put as much power to the ground as possible; slipping isn't gripping!

Different Clutch Stages

There are a wide range of stages here, and every manufacturer differs in either what they call each stage or the construction of the friction plates or power they will handle.

Because of this wide variation, we will stick to Competition Clutch for the comparison in this article, as each stage will be easier to understand and ultimately more straightforward to choose a clutch for yourself.

Competition Clutch OEM K20 Clutch Kit

The cheapest and nicest clutch to daily drive on this list is the Competition Clutch K-series OEM kit.

These clutches are made for direct OEM replacement and offer a totally stock feel due to the organic friction plate.

Although these clutches aren't rated for more power than stock, we've seen them handle up to a 50bhp increase for daily driving, and the clutch holding up perfectly fine.

Head to our Best Honda K-Series daily driving clutches to learn about the best OEM replacement options.

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Competition Clutch Stage 2 K20 Clutch Kit

The next step would be Competition Clutch Stage 2, which now increases to an extra 80% in torque capacity and is perfect for aggressive street or light track use.

Stage 2 uses a full-face friction plate with upgraded material, so it is still a relatively nice clutch on the road. It also has a sprung friction disc to aid with pedal feel.

The recommended power rating for this clutch would be around the 300bhp mark, so anything turbo-converted with low boost or high compression would suit this clutch perfectly.

The other difference between this and the OEM K-Series clutch option is that a 500-mile bed-in period is recommended, with 300 miles required to make the clutch work correctly and last as long as possible.

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Competition Clutch Stage 3 K20 Clutch Kit

The next clutch on the list would be the Competition Clutch Stage 3 clutch kit, which offers an even higher torque capacity.

The stage 3 is rated for up to a 150% torque increase at the wheels, around the 375bhp mark.

Again, like the other options beforehand, it doesn't come with a flywheel but includes the alignment tool and necessary bearings.

Also, a 300-mile bedding-in period is again recommended with this clutch to get the most out of it.

The most significant difference here is that the friction plate now has segmented ceramic faces to allow for a higher torque load versus the full-face style, as seen previously.

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Competition Clutch Stage 4 K20 Clutch Kit

The next clutch on the list is the stage 4 Competition Clutch and the most common clutch that we sell.

This is down to most of our customers going for turbocharged builds nowadays. This would be one of the best options for the road or track without going for the more expensive twin plate or super single options.

This is also the first clutch with a 6-puck design, not a full-face pressure plate.

This is mainly down to the clamping force needed and the fact that this stage offers a massive 250% increase in torque capacity.

There is also an unsprung version of stage 4 and a stage 5 available, but as these are barely used in the UK, I've left them off this list.

If you want to use an unsprung version of either of these clutches, please get in touch with us, and we can do a custom quote for you!

The other reason this clutch is so popular is that for the price point, there is a slight difference between stages 2-4, which makes it a good option if you know you're going for more power in the future.

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Competition Clutch Super Single K20 Clutch Kit

The K-Series Super Single is the first clutch on the list which includes a flywheel because it's a different design than the previous stages.

This Honda K-Series clutch was developed for someone who needs more than a stage 4 but is not yet ready to go with a twin plate.

Similarly to the twin disc, the super single uses a 7.25" plate design, which includes the flywheel. Still, it is designed for road racing only, not drag racing, due to the design.

The torque capacity again has been increased to 300%. It is mainly designed for high compression and nitrous builds, with the max capability around 350whp/430bhp mark.

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Competition Clutch Twin Disc K20 Clutch Kit

Now, we move on to the racing clutches and the best drag or high horsepower racing options.

So, the K-Series Twin Plate clutch utilises the same 7.25" plates as the super single but has 2 friction plates for extra clamping force.

The power rating here is still 300% at the wheels, according to Competition Clutch, but allows an increase in horsepower from 500bhp-1200bhp, but as always, depending on the application.

A flywheel is also included here, and this is the most common racing clutch we sell, with the triple plate being a close second.

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Competition Clutch Triple Disc K20 Clutch Kit

Lastly, we move on to the big daddy of the range, the Competition Clutch K-Series triple plate kit.

This is the highest horsepower-rated Honda K-Series clutch they manufacture and can hold up to a whopping 1,500bhp.

As you can imagine, this is a racing-only clutch, but one of the best at what it does.

The K-Series triple disc has the same 7.25" plates as the two previous options but three of them, hence the name "triple disc".

Again, a flywheel and all bearings are included as standard.

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Competition Clutch K-Series Comparison Table

Taking all of the data from above from each stage of clutch, we have compiled it into a simple, practical table so you can easily see the differences in choosing a clutch for yourself.

We've included everything from each table, but the main part would be the estimated torque capacity, which would be one of the most critical parts of choosing your Honda K-Series clutch.

This table only applies to Competition Clutch, but if you want to see any other clutch brands compared, please drop us a message at the bottom of the page!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will a Honda K-Series clutch replacement cost?

This depends on which clutch you choose; we've added product links throughout this article to see the Competition Clutch pricing as you scroll down.

On average, to change an OEM clutch, you would look at anywhere from £400-£800 for supply and fitting.

How long should a clutch last?

This mainly depends on how you drive, how much power you make, and which clutch you're using. It isn't a simple answer, but most OEM clutches can last anywhere from 30,000-100,000 miles on average.

How do I know which clutch brand to choose?

This is totally up to you! If you want an OEM clutch, we recommend checking out our Best K-Series clutch for daily driving.

Alternatively, have a read back through the competition clutch specifications to be able to match your build.

There are loads of options on the market, and in our experience, the most common brands are the ones that either hold loads of stock or are cost-effective for the power they can hold.

Do I need to replace my flywheel at the same time?

I suggest changing it with the clutch, especially for the more aggressive stages.

Some manufacturers recommend installing one of their lightweight flywheels when installing a clutch or include one for specific clutches, such as the Competition Clutch K-Series twin disc.

At the very minimum, I recommend checking the flywheel surface by a machine shop to ensure the clutch has the best mating surface to give the best bite possible.

What Is The Best Honda K-Series Clutch?

This is a very open question, but we recommend OEM applications go with the Exedy OEM clutch for up to 300bhp, the Competition Stage 2 Clutch, and up to 500bhp with the Competition Stage 4 clutch.

Photo: Instagram @S54.jno

Conclusion

So we've covered as much as we can in the Ultimate Honda K-Series clutch guide, from comparing every stage of Competition Clutch to why you would go with each one.

Hopefully, this has been helpful for you in being able to decide which clutch to choose for your K-Series, but if you still have any questions, then please either drop us a message below or on our contact form where we can help you get the correct clutch.

We have also now created a unique discount code only for our blog readers with 5% off most of the website; enter it at checkout at our Exoracing shop:

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If you are currently learning about the Honda Civic EP3, or specifically the K-Series, make sure to head over to our other guides:

• 8 Best Honda Civic Ep3 Gearbox Upgrades
• 9 Best Honda Civic EP3 Interior Upgrades
• Best K-Series Clutch for Daily Driving
• 6 Best Honda Civic Ep3 Braking Upgrades
• How To Build An Ep3 Fuel Return System