C4S clutch life

[DBC4S]

I purchased a 2004 c4s a year ago, and have now put 10,000 miles on the car, so it now shows 61,000 miles. The clutch started slipping under hard acceleration, and is being replaced. When my mechanic pulled the transmission he called me to look at the clutch which appears to have been replaced once already. My question is: what is the average clutch life of a c4s? Also does everybody replace the dual clutch flywheel every time?

[Monkeylegend]

About 30500 miles.

[oilslick]

Monkeylegend said:

About 30500 miles.

[Magic919]

It's a dual mass flywheel. Only replace it if it is knackered.

[Gdgd]

I know us Focus ST guys running big torque when going to an RS clutch do replace the fly too - technically the original will work/fit fine but if it goes you have all the labour cost again. Ask for a health check on it? any play etc...

[paintman]

Depends entirely on how its driven.
Mrs paintman destroyed a Pug 205 clutch drive plate in less than 5k miles. Release bearing wore through the fingers. Doesn't understand why you don't drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal.
Many years ago, working in a motor factor, one of our customers changed a clutch assembly on Triumph Spitfire. Came back to us within the week with the driven plate in bits as a warranty claim. Same happened to the replacement we sent out and the one after that. Much headscratching was solved when one of the garage mechanics saw the owner - a young lady - driving the car & spoke to her & a couple of her friends. Her usual way of setting off was to build the revs, dump the clutch & spin the wheels. The old clutch did slip slightly & coped. She was told that any further clutches & labour would be charged. No further incidents!

[Matt UK]

So hard to give a predicted life span on something like a clutch as it is so user specific and easy to abuse many times every journey.

Edited by Matt UK on Wednesday 23 July 23:31

[Dbest92]

A friend inherited a suzuki swift of an old lady who had owned it from new. They used it for a bit and the clutch started slipping at 17k. So as stated it is possible it has been replaced before if it was owned by a driver

[DBC4S]

Thanks for the input. I baught the car from the origional owner from Burbank California, it was a woman, ( not saying women can't drive) but my experience has been, ride the clutch for sure, and in a crowded city like LA more than likley with all the stop and go traffic. I replaced everything fearing that it was improperly done last time, and in a hope that it will last longer this time.

[lamboman100]

Roughly half of Porsche owners seem to replace their clutches every 25 - 50k miles. The other half roughly around 50 - 75k.

Your 30k average change seems in the ballpark, but in the bottom half of the range.

An unscientific, but directional, survey here:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/boxster-cayman-foru...

[DBC4S]

It seems what it boils down to is, if you want to play your going to pay. The harder you drive it, the less life you get out of the clutch, makes sence.

[Shurv]

mine was done just before I bought it as 40k, the flywheel was done at the same time,but more likely under the " what else to do whilst it's in bits" scenario. Dropping the engine and taking the gearbox out is so expensive, you may as well do other jobs while you're in there.

[catman]

In reality, it's an impossible question to answer. Years ago, when I was a Driving Instructor, I had the original clutch changed on my Vauxhall Nova, due to a noisy bearing.

The rest of the clutch was in an almost new condition. It had done 83,000 miles.

At the same time, I saw identical private cars for sale, with 40,000 miles, advertised with "new clutch fitted." fk knows what they were doing with the cars.

Tim