How long do clutches last?
Discussion
Seems like a strange question, but I've never had one replaced on a car so I've no idea how tough they are.
My girlfriend's learning to drive and every time the clutch is engaged there's about 2-3k revs on the engine, even for up-changes through 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. She's really trying very hard indeed and I daren't criticise, but feel like I should say something if it's going to cost her money for a new clutch. How tough are they?
My girlfriend's learning to drive and every time the clutch is engaged there's about 2-3k revs on the engine, even for up-changes through 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. She's really trying very hard indeed and I daren't criticise, but feel like I should say something if it's going to cost her money for a new clutch. How tough are they?
stevieturbo said:
A clutch will only last as long as the driver makes it last.
err - yes, I guessed that 
The fact is that I've been racing for 9 years and driving road cars for 15 years and have never replaced a clutch through wear (my 325i and Celica Carlos Sainz both hit about 150k miles!). I therefore wondered if they were so tough these days that they'd stand the treatment my girlfriend's giving hers (20k mile car, expected use is 3-4k miles a year), or whether I should point out to her how to use it more sympathetically to save money in the long run. Pointing such things out to her is rather hazardous you see, and I'll only say something if really necessary.
On some of the newer cars now the clutches are said to have been designed to "last for the lifetime of the car" Of course this is bulls
t for anyone but the most perfect of drivers as we all ride the clutch for a few seconds at lights which are just about to change for example. Just doing this can cut thousands of miles off of the lifetime of a clutch.
Really though...it will go when it goes but when it goes will be a lot sooner if gear changes are done under duress.
t for anyone but the most perfect of drivers as we all ride the clutch for a few seconds at lights which are just about to change for example. Just doing this can cut thousands of miles off of the lifetime of a clutch.Really though...it will go when it goes but when it goes will be a lot sooner if gear changes are done under duress.
GavinPearson said:
At the speeds mentioned the clutch won't last terribly long.
It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
She's having regular lessons, but in a different car with a completely different biting point. It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
RobM77 said:
GavinPearson said:
At the speeds mentioned the clutch won't last terribly long.
It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
She's having regular lessons, but in a different car with a completely different biting point. It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
167542 miles from new.
Hope this one lasts as long
TOPTON said:
RobM77 said:
GavinPearson said:
At the speeds mentioned the clutch won't last terribly long.
It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
She's having regular lessons, but in a different car with a completely different biting point. It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
167542 miles from new.
Hope this one lasts as long
RobM77 said:
GavinPearson said:
At the speeds mentioned the clutch won't last terribly long.
It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
She's having regular lessons, but in a different car with a completely different biting point. It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
Hooli said:
RobM77 said:
GavinPearson said:
At the speeds mentioned the clutch won't last terribly long.
It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
She's having regular lessons, but in a different car with a completely different biting point. It might be an idea to have a lesson with a professional driving instructor and have this pointed out. Pay for the lesson yourself and brief the instructor on the issues you think are the most important.
Hooli said:
It shows from how the kids drive after the test.
In my 11 years experience of teaching, no matter what you tell the learners, male or female, once they pass their test they drive how the hell they like. I explain everything to them and drive on lots of different roads. IE country, town, dual carriageway, Example 1
Freddy says to me while learning, "I don't understand some of my mates, they spend loads of money on making their car look nice, then they drive it like lunatics, I certainly wont be, I will drive like I have been taught"
TWO days after passing his test, he had rolled it.
Example 2
Betty says to me on the way home after a 2 minor fault test pass " thank god I don't have to drive properly anymore, I can now drive how I like"
A retest 4 months later and then 3 points within a month.
That's just 2 examples of many. Nothing wrong with the teaching, its attitudes when they have left me I can't change
When i was a technician at a Honda dealer we had customer with a VTEC Civic CRX when they was current about 6 months old as i remember 
this old poof killed the clutch by 6500 miles the pressure plate & flywheel was purple,thing is he was going to bring Honda UK into this we actually convinced him that would be a stupid thing to do as the reason for failure was obvious,when he collected the car we watched him slipping the clutch as he left the forecourt for about 100 yards up the road with st loads of revs 
so many variables for clutch life as said already,i managed to squeeze 165k out of my Citroen diesel clutch and only changed it because the pedal was getting heavy 
clutch life is like saying how long is a piece of string?
this old poof killed the clutch by 6500 miles the pressure plate & flywheel was purple,thing is he was going to bring Honda UK into this we actually convinced him that would be a stupid thing to do as the reason for failure was obvious,when he collected the car we watched him slipping the clutch as he left the forecourt for about 100 yards up the road with st loads of revs so many variables for clutch life as said already,i managed to squeeze 165k out of my Citroen diesel clutch and only changed it because the pedal was getting heavy clutch life is like saying how long is a piece of string? Edited by Simon Says on Wednesday 31st March 12:34
Another member of the long clutch life club 
Only ever replaced one in my entire motoring life & that also fell under the may as well do it while the opportunity is there.
One car did 196k (150k under my ownership) without blinking, another did 90 odd k, the one that was replaced out of convenience had done about 50k and current motor is on 66k. 3 out of those 4 were made by companies who apparently turn out badly engineered, unreliable filth as well. Apparently.
I guess the life comes down to treatment and to some degree the type of miles you do (although I do a decent amount of rush hour crawl). I seem to be doing ok at the moment on brake life as well, so I guess I must be doing something right.
Only ever replaced one in my entire motoring life & that also fell under the may as well do it while the opportunity is there.
One car did 196k (150k under my ownership) without blinking, another did 90 odd k, the one that was replaced out of convenience had done about 50k and current motor is on 66k. 3 out of those 4 were made by companies who apparently turn out badly engineered, unreliable filth as well. Apparently.
I guess the life comes down to treatment and to some degree the type of miles you do (although I do a decent amount of rush hour crawl). I seem to be doing ok at the moment on brake life as well, so I guess I must be doing something right.
ClintonB said:
Another member of the long clutch life club
Only ever replaced one in my entire motoring life...
I guess the life comes down to treatment and to some degree the type of miles you do (although I do a decent amount of rush hour crawl). I seem to be doing ok at the moment on brake life as well,so I guess I must be doing something right.
I would suggest "driving like a woman" but as previous posters have stated, that's evidently not the case Only ever replaced one in my entire motoring life...
I guess the life comes down to treatment and to some degree the type of miles you do (although I do a decent amount of rush hour crawl). I seem to be doing ok at the moment on brake life as well,so I guess I must be doing something right.
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