Best Focus ST Clutch Kits: 2013-2017 Buyer's Guide

If you own a 2013-2017 Ford Focus ST, the right clutch kit is the single upgrade that keeps your 252-horsepower EcoBoost putting power to the ground once you add a tune. The Mk3 ST came exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox, so every one of these hot hatches rolls on a friction disc that will eventually wear out — and the factory clutch, rated for the stock 270 lb-ft of torque, starts slipping on tuned cars long before the engine gives up. In our Tampa, FL shop we swap Focus ST clutches almost every week, and we have run nearly every kit on this list on real customer cars. Below are the six best clutch kits for the 2013-2017 Focus ST, from a $356.90 OEM-quality replacement to a $1,916.66 twin-disc built for 500+ whp.

Why Your 2013-2017 Focus ST Needs a Clutch Upgrade

The 2013-2017 Focus ST makes 252 hp at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm from its 2.0L turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder, driving the front wheels through a Getrag MMT6 6-speed manual. That torque figure is the key number: the OEM clutch and dual-mass flywheel are engineered around roughly 270 lb-ft, and a simple Stage 1 tune can push a healthy ST into the 290-320 wheel-horsepower range. Add a downpipe, an intercooler, and E85, and Stage 2 and Stage 3 cars routinely make 320-360+ whp.

That is where the stock clutch taps out. Owners overwhelmingly report the factory disc beginning to slip in third and fourth gear under boost somewhere around 320-350 whp, especially on ethanol blends that dramatically increase torque. Slip feels like rpm climbing faster than the car accelerates — and once it starts, the friction material glazes and the problem accelerates. A performance clutch kit rated for more clamping force is the fix, and because the transmission has to come out either way, it is worth doing once and doing right for your power goals.

How We Chose the Best Focus ST Clutch Kits

We ranked these kits the way we advise customers at the counter: match the clutch to your power target and how you actually drive. Every kit here is in stock, fits the 2013-2017 Focus ST 2.0L EcoBoost 6-speed, and comes from a name-brand clutch manufacturer with a real warranty. We weighted four things — torque-holding capacity versus your build, drivability (pedal effort and engagement smoothness), whether it reuses the factory dual-mass flywheel or requires a dedicated flywheel, and value per dollar. Prices below range from $356.90 to $1,916.66, so there is a correct answer whether you have a stock airbox or a Stage 3 big-turbo setup.

Best Overall Focus ST Clutch: Competition Clutch Stage 2

The Competition Clutch Full Face Organic Stage 2 is our top pick because it solves the stock-clutch slip problem without turning your daily driver into a chore. Its full-face organic disc holds meaningfully more torque than stock — comfortably supporting cars up to around 375-400 whp — while keeping smooth, progressive engagement and a pedal weight close to factory. It reuses the OEM dual-mass flywheel, so there is no added gear rattle or flywheel purchase, which keeps the total job affordable. For the vast majority of Stage 1 and Stage 2 Focus STs, this is the kit we install.

Best Budget Focus ST Clutch: Exedy OE Replacement

If your Focus ST is stock or lightly tuned and you just need to cure a worn, slipping factory clutch, the Exedy OE kit is the smart, affordable answer at $356.90. Exedy is the original-equipment clutch supplier for a huge share of Japanese and global automakers, and this FMK1034 kit restores factory-spec clamping and feel with better-than-OEM materials. It is not a power upgrade — think of it as the honest, high-quality replacement for a daily-driven or Stage 1 ST that you plan to keep near stock. Includes the disc, cover, and release bearing.

Best Mild Street Upgrade: Clutch Masters FX100

The Clutch Masters FX100 is the perfect step between a stock replacement and a full Stage 2 kit. Its organic sprung disc adds roughly 25-30% clamping capacity over factory — enough to confidently hold a Stage 1 or mild Stage 2 Focus ST up to around 350 whp — while retaining a stock-like, comfortable pedal. At $448.71 it is the value pick for owners who want insurance against slip without any added noise or harshness. Like our top pick, it reuses the OEM flywheel.

Best for High-Horsepower Builds: SPEC Stage 3+ and Competition Clutch Stage 3

Once you are running a bigger turbo, a full bolt-on Stage 3 tune, and E85 — pushing 400 whp and beyond — you need a segmented ceramic or feramic disc that trades a little street manners for serious clamping force. Two kits stand out for the Focus ST. The SPEC Stage 3+ ($653.58) uses a segmented Kevlar/carbon puck rated to hold roughly 450 lb-ft at the crank, but note it requires the matching SPEC flywheel (SF33A-3), so budget for that. The Competition Clutch Stage 3 Segmented Ceramic ($764.05) offers similarly aggressive hold and reuses the stock flywheel, making it the simpler high-power install of the two.

Best Twin-Disc Clutch for 500+ WHP: XClutch 9in Twin Organic

For the highest-power Focus ST builds, the XClutch 9in Twin Sprung Organic kit is the ceiling. A twin-disc design doubles the friction surface, letting it hold well over 500 whp while — and this is the clever part — keeping organic friction material for a surprisingly streetable pedal and smooth take-up. At $1,916.66 it is the most expensive kit here, but for a built big-turbo ST that still needs to drive to work, a twin-disc organic is the only setup that gives you both massive clamping capacity and civilized manners. It is a chromoly-and-billet assembly with its own flywheel included.

Focus ST Clutch Kit Comparison

Here is how the six best 2013-2017 Focus ST clutch kits stack up by disc type, realistic power target, ideal use case, and price. Power targets are conservative wheel-horsepower figures for a healthy setup; your exact ceiling depends on tune, fuel, and flywheel.

Organic vs Ceramic vs Twin-Disc Clutches Explained

A clutch disc's friction material decides how much torque it holds and how it feels. Organic (full-face) discs use a resin-and-fiber compound that engages smoothly and quietly — the most street-friendly option, ideal for Focus STs up to around 400 whp. Segmented ceramic (or feramic) discs use ceramic pucks that grip harder and shrug off heat, which is what you want past 400 whp, but they engage more abruptly and can chatter at low speeds. A twin-disc clutch stacks two friction discs so it can hold 500+ whp while using milder organic material, giving big-power cars a manageable pedal. In short: organic for daily-driven tuned STs, ceramic for high-power street/strip, and twin-disc for the biggest builds that still see the street.

Focus ST Clutch Installation and Flywheel Guide

Replacing a Focus ST clutch is a transmission-out job. Plan on 4 to 8 hours of labor depending on your tools and experience, since the front subframe, axles, and gearbox all have to come apart to reach the clutch. Because you are already in there, this is the moment to inspect the release bearing (included in every kit here) and decide on the flywheel. Most of these kits reuse the factory dual-mass flywheel, which keeps engagement smooth and quiet; the SPEC Stage 3+ requires its matched SPEC flywheel, and the XClutch twin-disc includes its own. A single-mass flywheel conversion frees up rotational mass for quicker rev response but adds some idle rattle. Always replace the clutch with a fresh bearing and use the supplied alignment tool, and re-torque the pressure plate to spec in a star pattern. If you are not comfortable dropping a transaxle, our Tampa, FL shop installs Focus ST clutches routinely.