The clutch is possibly the most overused and neglected component in modern-day vehicles. It has to take thousands of miles of abuse without throwing a fit. When you move from a standstill, it's the clutch doing the hard work. When you're accelerating, it's the clutch doing the hard work. And when you're towing, it's also the clutch doing the hard work. Now if the time has come to take out the old one and introduce your truck to more power without slippage or losses, take a look at our list for the best clutch for Dodge Cummins.
A move up from the stage 1 replacement that is the South Bend G56-OKHD, the South Bend G56-OFEK is a stage-2 clutch. It supports more power and torque (rated at a maximum of 475 hp and 1000 lb-ft). In terms of construction, it's slightly different: this one's a half organic and half Feramic clutch. This one fittingly has an improvement in the towing capacity - it's rated at 25k.
Not recommended for stock applications, the clutch is a single-disc unit, and comes with a throwout bearing, flywheel, and other relevant mounting hardware. It's made for Dodge Cummins diesel trucks made with the model years 2005 - 2009.
As an upgrade over the stock clutch, this one makes a lot of sense. Like the other South Bend product, check with the seller about the compatibility and warranty. South Bend mentions that the warranties for products bought from Amazon can be invalid if the products are bought for under the minimum advertised price.
The organic clutch kit by South Bend is made for the Dodge Cummins diesel trucks. It can come with or without a flywheel (the one we've listed comes with one). It's a single-disc unit, made for models equipped with G56 gearbox. It includes the required mounting hardware as well.
Towing capacity rated at 20k
Look into the details and you'll find that the clutch kit is listed for a maximum 425 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque. It includes a throwout bearing and the disc has a 13-inch diameter. It's compatible with Cummins engined Dodge Ram trucks made with the model years 2005 - 2009. The maximum rated towing capacity is 20k.
The South Bend clutch kit is a popular one for Dodge Ram owners who're looking to replace their truck's original clutch. There are a few things to keep in mind. First, make it a point to write to the seller and confirm the compatibility and warranty offer. The latter is slightly tricky, as South Bend only honors the warranty if the product has been bought directly from them and if it's sold above the minimum advertised price. The customers who used the South Bend clutch for Dodge Cummins like how the clutch action is smooth, although slightly stiffer.
Valair is another brand that needs no introduction to keen truck enthusiasts. The Valair Performance G56 Spring Hub Dual Disk Clutch is made for high-performance usage - the ceramic clutch is rated to handle up to 650 hp. This is a dual-disc clutch.
It's made for 2005.5 - 2011 Dodge Cummins trucks (which covers both 5.9-liter models and the 6.7). Valair Performance mentions that the clutch is suitable for those looking at daily driving as well as towing. The kit includes the hardware, hydraulics, and the flywheel but since Valair offers a product without those as well, confirm what you're getting with the seller. While you're talking to them, check the warranty too since the Amazon listing has no information on that.
This is a clutch made to handle a lot of power, and the main downside to that is it's not noise-free. If you can live with that (or if you want some noise), you're going to enjoy the uninterrupted delivery of power from the Cummins. On the bright side, it's not difficult to operate.
If you aren't ready to live with a slightly noisy clutch, it's possible to enjoy similar levels of performance but more quietly. Quiet - that's the keyword. The Valair Quiet Street Dual Disc Clutch is a less noisy alternative to the previously mentioned Valair. It's made for those who have a stock or lightly modified truck and their drive routines include a lot of towing.
The clutch offers smooth engagement and doesn't have the rattle coming in from the truck's floater plate. But Valair also mentions that the gear rollover noise will still be present. The clutch can handle up to 550 hp, comes with organic facings and the required hardware. The kit also includes a flywheel and is compatible with 2005 - 2017 Dodge Cummins trucks.
The dual-disc clutch kit is a great way of enjoying the additional performance, but keep in mind that the pedal pressure will be slightly more than the stock unit. Please get in touch with the seller regarding compatibility and warranty. Users have mentioned that the clutch is easy to use, and the low noise helps a lot. Note that it's not for competition/race use.
If you're looking for a high-performance clutch that can handle a lot of power and torque and doesn't disappoint when it comes to towing, the South Bend Stage 4 clutch kit is the way to go. It's rated to handle up to 650 hp and 1300 lb-ft of torque. In terms of towing the clutch allows for towing 30k+.
Half-organic/half-ceramic
It's a dual-disc, half-organic/half-ceramic clutch. It's not made for stock trucks, and South Bend mentions that it's not for competition use, either. The kit includes the required hardware and other essentials. The compatible Dodge Ram models are those with the model years 2000 - 2005.
The high-performance clutch from South Bends can handle a lot of power, but it has some noise and doesn't make shifts quicker. Some users have mentioned the clutch needs the right amount of throttle for smoother power delivery.
What is the best clutch for Dodge Cummins?
A clutch upgrade for your Dodge Cummins truck will mean the power losses are reduced, and that the truck performs better. Some clutches can withstand more power (in case you have added performance upgrades) while some can make driving easier. If you pick a high-performance clutch, you might face more noise and vibrations, but the way it'd handle power is unlike anything else.
From our list, the South Bend Clutch Kit G56-OKHD is a good replacement to the original clutch. The is a half organic, half-Feramic single-disc clutch, and has a better ability to handle power, torque, and enables the truck to tow more. The South Bend Clutch Stage 4 is the ultimate by the brand mentioned here. It's a dual-disc unit and can handle huge power. The downside is that you need to be very careful with the throttle inputs to ensure the truck drives smoothly. The Valair Performance G56 clutch is a dual-disc unit, rated to handle 650 hp. It's not noise-free, as you'd expect from a high-performance clutch. The Valair Quiet Street clutch tackles the noise issue and is rated to handle 550 hp.
