TPO Racing Billet Aluminum Clutch Hub Brace
Fits: All Ducati with DRY clutch
Kit contents:
- 1 billet aluminum brace
- 6 stainless screws
- 1 packet of loctite
TPO Parts uses Tennalum 7068 aluminum in our spring retainers. This amazing alloy is the next generation of alloys for use in motor sports. It's better than steel, even better than titanium! For more information, please read our metal alloys article on this.
At some point an astute racer figured out that by tying together the 6 individual spring posts found in the Ducati dry clutch, clutch performance can be enhanced. The resulting "girdle" greatly strengthens the clutch hub assembly. It reduces vibration, improves clutch feel, and can even help save the delicate clutch in the case of a crash.
TPO didn't invent the clutch hub brace....but we perfected it.
The TPO racing clutch hub brace was made with the same degree of attention that we provided to our other top-line components. Performance was our number one goal, and this part delivers. Our material of choice is Tennalum 7068. This Aluminum-Manganese alloy is even stronger than the 7075 alloy used in our standard clutch spring retainers. It is more than twice as strong as the generic alloys (such as 6061) used by the competition. Tennalum 7068 is difficult to obtain and very expensive, but it is worth it: it offers the best strength-to-weight ratio of any light alloy that is available on the market today--even superior to Titanium!
The use of Tennalum 7068 allowed us to achieve the strength we desired without using large amounts of material. The result is that the TPO Racing Clutch Hub Brace actually weighs 30% less than the OEM retainer assembly--and it adds tremendous strength to the clutch pack. You have to handle one to believe it: Put it in your hand and it's barely there (it only weighs 25 grams--less than 1 ounce). You'd think that you could simply crush it in your fist. But try that and you're not getting anywhere: it's like you were trying to crush a piece of steel. That's not surprising: Tennalum 7068 has over twice the yield strength of ordinary steel.
The geometry of the TPO Racing Clutch Hub Brace is more than just lightweight. We designed it for the best possible fit. The design and machining tolerances are extremely tight. The result is that there is no play with this part. It fits exactly onto the clutch hub with no "wiggle room". This holds the clutch parts in perfect alignment at all times. We also made sure that it is fully compatible with the stock Ducati hardware: The TPO Racing Clutch Hub Cover will fit inside the stock clutch cover with no modifications needed. It is compatible with all pressure plates, and won't limit the disengagement of your clutch. It also works with most aftermarket pressure plates.
The TPO Racing Clutch Hub Brace comes with all parts needed for installation, including detailed directions. You can install it yourself with simple hand tools in just a few minutes.
