Easy way to tell if clutch has been upgraded on Focus ST?

[MattST2]

hi all,

I have a focus ST which I bought a year ago. It came with the mountune MP260 upgrade. I am looking at the possibility of another remap with a new exhaust. I know the clutch can be a weak point in these when the power gets higher and this is putting me off remapping due to the extra cost (It’ll cost me around £1200 for an extra 40-50bhp but with a new clutch this will be £2100).

Is there any way of finding out if the clutch has been upgraded? I got next to no paperwork from the dealership when I bought the car and they only mentioned the remap when I picked the car up (First ST I saw and test drove so nothing to compare to). There is a chance the clutch has been upgraded but I’d like to know for sure so I can decide on what to do with upgrades in the future.

[thebigmacmoomin]

I'm not sure how you can tell but my 2007 ST was just remaped (Dreamscience) & the clutch was fine. Must have got lucky.

[theshrew]

Id imagine you will only tell if you have a reciept for the upgraded one or by actually lookimg at it.

Just drive it when / if it fails then upgrade.

[Shadow R1]

If it has the mountune kit, then it will have the other parts, ie intercooler, air filter.
Due to they wont sell just the map on its own.

You wouldn't gain alot (if anything)over that kit, by doing another remap.

It also wouldn't be the first time a dealer is spinning yarn.

[Justin S]

If you want more power then go the MR290 by Mountune. Heard stories of aftermarket big boost maps with crazy exhaust temps, which is a recipe for melting things. Go with what Ford and Mountune know best.
As for the clutch. Mine at 32k miles was quite soft to press and as soon as I had the MP260 done, slipped like mad. The RS clutch that was fitted was a lot stiffer to press down and is also a lot snappier when lifting off, especially in first, a bit neck snappy, however carefully I do it.

[ST86Dave]

MattST2 said:

hi all,

I have a focus ST which I bought a year ago. It came with the mountune MP260 upgrade. I am looking at the possibility of another remap with a new exhaust. I know the clutch can be a weak point in these when the power gets higher and this is putting me off remapping due to the extra cost (Itll cost me around 1200 for an extra 40-50bhp but with a new clutch this will be 2100).

Is there any way of finding out if the clutch has been upgraded? I got next to no paperwork from the dealership when I bought the car and they only mentioned the remap when I picked the car up (First ST I saw and test drove so nothing to compare to). There is a chance the clutch has been upgraded but Id like to know for sure so I can decide on what to do with upgrades in the future.

The clutch is a bit of a lottery, when I bought a Dreamscience handset last year the clutch started slipping almost immediately, so got the RS clutch put it. Fantastic bit of kit.

The best way to tell is to get someone who has the RS clutch to try it, theres a big difference but you must be able to try both to know the difference, the standard clutch is what I would call very "squishy" in comparison, the RS clutch is much more defined, when you depress the clutch and then release it's very springy.

Where abouts are you based?

[liquidfox]

As above, the only real way to tell without stripping it all apart is to get two more Focus STs, one with the RS clutch upgrade and one without and see which one yours is most similar to.

I got my map put on in July 2012 and finally went to full Stage 3 mods in August 2013, it lasted 6 months after that point before slipping and that's only really when the car is fully loaded and in 4th and above.

[Rsturbonut]

Hey, as above, the rs clutch makes the pedal harder to push down than the standard one. U cant be sure that its an rs one but.you can at least tell if its been upgraded to hold more power and torque. I fitted the rs one to mine last yr and its soo much better! The old one slipped a lot but when i took it out it wasnt even worn! Its just the pressure plate that lets it all down as its not strong enough to hold onto the clutch with 300 horses running thru it lol.

From what ive heard, ford put the good clutch in the st when they were first made but because only the rich and old could afford them, people complained about the hard clutch pedal so ford then replaced it with foam and there u have the crappy clutch lol.

Definately get it done if you havnt got one, well worth the spend!