Honda fn2 type r

Honda fn2 type r

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Demondale123

Original Poster:

13 posts

74 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
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Hey guys, not been on for a while. So ive just got myself a type r 2008. Ive had a serious problem with the clutch. All the usual stuff, like heavy pedal, low biting point and then only a week into owning it, yep you guessed. The clutch give up. I just wanted to share this, as all the onfo out there on the net is confusing, and before you know it, you will be emptying your wallet.
I replaced the slave cylinder for a blueprint one and the clutch was back working. Well i say working, it was just as shocking as before. Really low biting point and now had clutch shudder. 2 days in and i went for a drive with the wife. The damn thing went again. Had to drive 10 miles with no clutch. I fitted an Exedy clutch kit and omg what a car. Easy clutch action and smooth take off. But remember that you MUST RUN IT IN. 700 miles around town will bed the new one in. Then you have an amazing car. Precise gear changes at vtech revs. Im an accomplished mechanic and so glad i didnt read every article on the fn2 clutch. There is a lot of scare mongering on the net.

Pastor Of Muppets

3,487 posts

69 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
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So where do you think the problem manifests from specifically with the OEM clutch?

Do you work for Exedy, or sell their products by any chance?

Demondale123

Original Poster:

13 posts

74 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
quotequote all
Hi. Thanks for the reply..
Ive been a BMW owner for 15 years. I never wanted any other car until recently. My Beema broke and no amount of knowledge could fix her. An electrical problem that was passed from pillar to post. I then decided to get a type r. Always liked the image they had and loved the speed that the 2litre possessed. I was really unlucky though, as id not had a clutch for so many years, only had autos. I was a fish out of water. I dont work for Exedy, i would only recomend it because ive read a lot about the history of them, before spending money and time on the mamouth job of replacing a clutch in the fn2. I just thought by sharing my experience on here, it might help someone in the future.

Demondale123

Original Poster:

13 posts

74 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
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In answer to your question, i really dont think the oem clutch set up can handle the vtech rev range. Have a look at the Exedy youtube vid. It explains the heritage of the different grades of racong clutches. The clutch plate i put in (Exedy 3 piece) had less springs but look sturdy in comparison to the oem. It didnt look like it would be the same. But after assembly it was a perfect example of how it should mate up. The Honda type r is a racing hatch that achieves great things when driven hard. And its a shame Honda didnt incorporate the knowledge of certain manufacturers to make it the best it could be.

anonymous-user

61 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
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Mine seems to work fine with the standard clutch, but the 3rd gear synchros wearing out can make high rpm changes awkward - a short shifter and a weighted skunk gearknob have made a big difference.

It did have a very low biting point when i bought it, but that was fixed in a few minutes by adjusting the pedal itself.

Pebbles167

3,773 posts

159 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
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I sold my FN2 in 2021, a 56 plate, one of the earliest.

Had 175,000 miles when I got rid, granted mostly motorway, but to my knowledge, still on the original clutch.

With standard power it should last fine, although fitting a stronger clutch is never a bad idea, and potentially fitting an LSD at the same time.

Great car for sure, aside from the harsh ride, the reviews were full of st.

Demondale123

Original Poster:

13 posts

74 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
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When i removed the old clutch it fell into a zillion pieces. I got the car reasonably cheap with 96k and full serv history. The engine is sweet. Like i said i was a clutch virgin when i got the car and only had one good blast in it. Then it completely broke. The oem clutch was 600 pound from Swansway. The Exedy was 160 from Exedy direct. I will bed it in now over 700 miles and report back on the hi rev gear changes after the 700 miles. Thanks for all the feed back. Been good to chat. Take care guyz and have fun, in what your driving.

Dave.

7,515 posts

260 months

Sunday 21st August 2022
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Demondale123 said:
i really dont think the oem clutch set up can handle the vtech rev range.
Give over! laugh

I’ve had an FN2 and an EP3 and both were perfectly fine with OEM clutches.

Pastor Of Muppets

3,487 posts

69 months

Monday 22nd August 2022
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Dave. said:
Demondale123 said:
i really dont think the oem clutch set up can handle the vtech rev range.
Give over! laugh

I’ve had an FN2 and an EP3 and both were perfectly fine with OEM clutches.
Generally yes I would agree with that but there is a limit, they don't stand up too well to the real aggresive heavy footed drivers who boot them
from a standstill, I've lost count of how many I've had come in with broken clutch springs rendering then unable to select a gear when running,
the owners of those ones are almost invariably racers and usually describe how it happened, you can guess the rhetoric. biggrin

Fitting a quality race clutch should help for those inclined to boot them real hard.

Demondale123

Original Poster:

13 posts

74 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2022
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I never got the Honda to boot it around. Im a sensible driver with a clean license for 30 years. I got the type r because i liked the look of it and i was trying to find a comprimise. My BMW history had put blinkers on me owning anything other than that. I find the type r an amazing little car and now ive fixed the clutch, i will go on to enjoy the great mpg when driving sensibly, and the great acceleration when i need it on the odd country road. It delivers quick response far better than my 330ci did.

Pastor Of Muppets

3,487 posts

69 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2022
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They are good cars for the money, no doubt about that, I've had several and worked on many for a good few years now, but I can tell
you this...if you are considering keeping it long term you need to get it properly undersealed and protected because they suffer badly
from corrosion, the Type R is no different to any other FN underneath, they all got the same protection from the factory which is
almost nothing but a coat of paint. Many FN's being scrapped now simply because the underside is rotten yet the rest of it is a perfectly
good car.

Winter is coming, along with the biggest killer of cars.....grit salt.

Demondale123

Original Poster:

13 posts

74 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2022
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Its on my list of todo. I noticed it was a bit tatty when i did the clutch. Ive already changed out the shocks, springs, discs and pads. I will put it all right then move it on to another owner. Ive decided at 50 yrs old, that im going to try as many different cars as poss now. I quite like the Lexus IS250f so hopefully i find a none abused one in 6mnths or so.
Thanks for the input, much appreciated.

RichFN2

3,699 posts

186 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2022
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I remember speaking to the owner of TGM in Fleet about my clutch, they find plenty of Exedy and originals and his opinion was that he Exedy will not last as long but will handle abuse better.

Demondale123

Original Poster:

13 posts

74 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2022
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Hey Rich, thanks for the input. Tbh, the clutch plate did look better made than the oem.

Pastor Of Muppets

3,487 posts

69 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2022
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For the 'heavy footed racer oriented' drivers that come to me for a new clutch I always recommend a paddle clutch, they are pretty brutal
for sure but nothing will take it better, although I've had folk come back after a while saying it's them that can't take the abuse anymore....
can you take it out. laugh

VtecLover

111 posts

205 months

Sunday 25th September 2022
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Well that doesnt really make much sense,
The factory clutch or genuine Honda sold clutch is the BEST clutch for these car for a fact. It will easily hold upto 300 bhp.
There is a BUT, Exedy make the OEM clutch! However the exedy sold and packaged clutches are NOT as good fact. The worst bit is the clutch release bearings which get noisy after a few thousand miles.

Either way, Honda sold clutch or Exedy boxed clutch. Both products are made by same company just sold with different packaging and the quality differs between them both.

Have had ep3, fn2s etc with 100-150k on origianal clutches.