Why I Upgraded to a POWERspec Heavy-Duty Clutch on My Jimny JB74

1. How the Stock Clutch Grenaded on the Dyno

Picture this: Peach strapped to the rollers at SG Performance, boost creeping up, tuner grinning—bang. A puff of smoke and the revs free-spinning at 4 500 rpm. The stock clutch finally tapped out under turbo torque… before I’d even left the building. Lesson learned: if you add forced induction (or even big tyres + towing) the factory plate just isn’t up for it.

2. What Makes the POWERspec Kit a Worthy Upgrade?

LOF’s POWERspec sits between their mild ROADspec and race-y EXTREMEspec. Perfect for 0.6 bar boost and the odd weekend tow.

2.1 Specs & contents at a glance

• HD drive plate & cover assembly

• Release + pilot bearings, Loctite-coated bolts

• Alignment tool & 10 ml spline grease

Everything you need for a tidy install—whether you tackle it in the driveway or leave it to the pros.

3. Professional Fitment at SG Performance (Plus DIY Guide)

I handed the keys straight back to SG Performance—they already had the ‘box halfway out! Turn-around was four hours, flywheel skimmed and resurfaced while we grabbed coffee.

Want to DIY?

• Drop the transfer-case cross-member and the gearbox slides back far enough without pulling the exhaust.

• Use the supplied alignment tool; set pedal free-play to ~10 mm.

• Torque cover bolts to 18 Nm in a star pattern, then final-pass to 25 Nm.*

4. Real-World Abuse: Turbo Torque, 33s & TrailPod Towing

4.1 On-road manners

Five weeks on, the clutch hasn’t slipped once—even in full-boost fourth-gear pulls. Pedal effort feels ~10 % firmer than stock; you notice it the first two traffic lights, then muscle memory kicks in.

4.2 Off-road crawl control

Steep rock ledges, tyres at 0.9 bar: zero chatter, no burnt toast smell. Engine-braking on descents is finally solid instead of micro-slipping.

Test loads:

• TrailPod camping trailer (≈750 kg): no slip on hill-starts or stop-go traffic.

• 33″ KM3s aired to 1.1 bar: smooth modulation in deep mud.

5. Pedal Feel, Noise & Daily Drivability (Friend-Approved)

No squeaks, no idle rattle. Engagement point sits ~5 mm lower than OEM but stays linear. A mate who’d never driven the Jimny jumped in, stalled once (user error), then said “Feels stock—but bites harder.” Good enough for me.

6. Cost, Warranty & Where to Buy

• Price: R 13 000 (bolts, bearings & alignment tool included)

• Warranty: 2 years, street & off-road

• Buy it: right here → /product/powerspec-suzuki-jimny-gen4

Shipped country-wide in three working days—no surprise customs fees.

7. Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Run This Clutch

8. Key Take-aways

1. Factory clutch died on the dyno—POWERspec laughs at the same torque.

2. Pedal’s only a touch heavier; daily traffic is fine.

3. Handles 33s and a loaded TrailPod without drama.

4. DIY-friendly kit, but SG Performance can bang it in while you sip coffee.

FAQ