Torque Converter Friction Rings
To meet the varied needs of the aftermarket, Sonnax offers a full line of top-quality friction products in a wide variety of sizes and materials. Rebuilders should choose the product that best matches their specific vehicle requirements.
See All Friction Rings
BorgWarner Friction Rings
BorgWarner rings are some of the most advanced clutch materials available to the aftermarket. Sonnax brings you hundreds of size and material combinations for durable, quality converter rebuilds.
- Four material options: HTS for slip applications and HTE, HTL and XTL materials for full lockup applications.
- HTE, HTL and HTS rings are available in .066” thicknesses, ideal for previously reworked pistons.
Woven Carbon Friction Rings
Available exclusively from Sonnax, woven carbon was developed by automotive manufacturers as the most effective friction ring material for GM and Ford continuous slip applications.
- Genuine 5-segment, OE woven carbon material joined by secure puzzle lock.
- Fiber weave promotes oil flow for optimum heat dissipation and protection against burn up.
- Smooth die-cut edge eliminates need for any special edge finishing.
- Woven carbon bonds like standard paper friction material.
Bonding Pressure Calculator
Enter the details of your bonder's ram/piston and the friction ring you are bonding into the calculator here to find the piston pressure required to create the desired pressure at the ring.
Piston Pressure Required:
Minimum Pressure:
Maximum Pressure:
Storage Tips
- Always store rings flat – do not hang them up.
- Rings should be stored with factory separator linings up against the adhesive side of the rings.
- Covered/enclosed storage in a drawer cabinet, away from the shop, is the ideal arrangement.
- At a minimum, rings should be sealed in plastic or poly material to protect them from dust and contamination.
- Avoid exposure to temperature and humidity extremes.
Woven Carbon Friction Rings
- Genuine OE Material
- Affordable & Durable
- Easy to Bond
Available to the aftermarket for the first time, genuine OE woven carbon material helps you build outstanding performance and durability into the following applications:
- 4L30-E
- 4T60
- 4T65-E
- 4L60/65/70-E
- 5L40/50-E
- 6T40/45/50-E
- 6F35
- 6T70/75-E
- 6F50/55
- 6L45/50-E
- 6L80/90-E
Read More About Sonnax Woven Carbon Friction Rings
Learn More About BorgWarner Friction Rings from Sonnax
High Thermal Engaging (HTE) has the thermal capacity of Kevlar®, with improved consistency and shudder resistance for today's demanding applications.
- Dark gray
- .045" or .066" Thickness
- Replacement for Tan or Kevlar material.
High Thermal Lockup (HTL) has high thermal and exceptional torque capacity required for the most demanding torque-holding applications.
- Khaki
- .066" Thickness
High Thermal Slipping (HTS) is designed for slipping applications which require high thermal capacity, and is the benchmark for consistency, durability and shudder resistance.
- Gray/green
- .045" or .066" Thickness
- Replacement for spun-wound, woven or other carbon based materials.
Extreme Torque Lockup (XTL) provides 30% more torque holding capacity than HTL and is only for extreme duty lockup applications.
- Dark gray/green
- .050" Thickness
- Only available in a few sizes for severe applications
BorgWarner friction rings for aftermarket and remanufacturing are produced by the same team, equipment and processes used for OE manufacturers. BorgWarner provides world-class friction materials by using only prime premium raw materials and continually investing in process, process controls and product research.
The cost to produce friction materials to such exacting standards is higher than that of most aftermarket producers with less-demanding standards. Offering this premium performance material at an acceptable market price has led BorgWarner to develop industry-leading manufacturing techniques to minimize material waste through segmenting and multi-segmenting technologies. In addition to conserving material, this process allows end users to get a premium friction material at a competitive price when compared to most full- or solid-ring facings sold in the aftermarket.
BorgWarner Friction Ring F.A.Q.
There are two ways to make a friction ring. You can cut a solid ring out of sheet of friction material, or you can cut smaller segments of the circle out of the material sheet and create a segmented ring. The puzzle lock on the segmented ring allows it to be assembled and held together until it is positioned for bonding.
BorgWarner provides world-class friction material with a highly developed process that demands only prime, premium raw materials. To produce this kind of quality at a competitive price, every attempt is made to reduce waste. Creating segmented/puzzle lock rings utilizes more friction material and produces less waste than solid rings.
No. The puzzle lock joint has no effect on bonding. As with any bonding process, the surface prep and bonding adhesive quality are the foundation of a good bond. The critical application of heat and pressure are steps which must be followed to complete the process. The puzzle lock merely holds the ring together, allowing you to position it for bonding. Like any ring, proper storage (laid flat in a clean, protected environment) prior to bonding plays an important role in bonding.
Segmenting or “puzzle joint” friction material emerged in the late 1980’s and is now the standard for most OE manufacturers. The puzzle lock feature is trusted technology found in millions of vehicles driven hundreds of millions of miles. Its ability to last is unquestioned. Today, segmented ring technology has progressed so far that multi-segmented frictions are common.
These rings can be a pattern of cut-out sections of what is – in effect – a circular ring, or simply a pattern of small segments applied to a plate surface.
Multi-segmented designs take friction rings to the next level. A solid ring surface has limitations both in oil flow potential during release and oil displacement at the time of apply. Combined with cutting-edge friction materials, multi-segmented rings deliver improved performance and reduced drag for improved fuel economy. BorgWarner is a leader in this emerging technology that is gaining increasing use throughout the industry.
No worries.
You have likely already driven a vehicle using multi-segmented friction technology. Do you worry about driving around on a friction plate like the one shown above?
Of course not. It's made by the same folks who brought you this:
