Visible inspection of clutch on a V8

[geodavky]

Is it possible to easily inspect the clutch on a V8 for wear?

[Jon39]

On a Vantage with the Sportshift gearchange, it has been mentioned on here that clutch wear can be estimated some how.

With manual cars it is not possible though.

I drive with reasonable mechanical sympathy, but even so, unless buying new, there is no telling how previous owners drove.
The clutch on my car failed at 17,000 miles. Bad luck, but it does then give an opportunity for a twin plate clutch to be fitted.
Clutch slipping whilst reversing up slopes can be a killer, because the gearing ratio is high.

You probably know the reason for the high cost of a clutch replacement. Quite a long job due to the configuration of the torque tube and rear gearbox.

[PeteB62]

Jon, was that 17,000 from new on a manual?

I'm at 14,000 from new on manual V8V need to reverse out the garage and up a minor slop each time, but don't sense any issues yet.

[Jon39]

PeteB62 said:

Jon, was that 17,000 from new on a manual?

I'm at 14,000 from new on manual V8V need to reverse out the garage and up a minor slope each time, but don't sense any issues yet.

Yes, correct. It was 8k at purchase.

Having treated the clutch reasonably carefully myself, I was surprised, but as I said, we never know about previous drivers. Your clutch life should be much more predictable, having bought new

Would it perhaps be practical for you to reverse into your garage, therefore driving up the slope in (the lower) 1st gear?

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 5th December 18:16

[Cold]

PeteB62 said:

Jon, was that 17,000 from new on a manual?

I'm at 14,000 from new on manual V8V need to reverse out the garage and up a minor slop each time, but don't sense any issues yet.

Mine's on over 50k on its original clutch. No need to panic just yet.

[V8V Pete]

Cold said:

PeteB62 said:

Jon, was that 17,000 from new on a manual?

I'm at 14,000 from new on manual V8V need to reverse out the garage and up a minor slop each time, but don't sense any issues yet.

Mine's on over 50k on its original clutch. No need to panic just yet.

The owner of my first Vantage (manual) had destroyed the clutch in 15,000 miles. Mind you, they'd also made contact with road furniture at both ends of the car so I suspect they weren't the most competent / mechanically sympathetic driver in the world either. As Cold suggests, using the clutch appropriately can yield much higher mileages.

[PeteB62]

Jon39 said:

Would it perhaps be practical for you to reverse into your garage, therefore driving up the slope in (the lower) 1st gear?

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 5th December 18:16

Reversing is not a practical option as door is then right against the wall and would need to exit the passenger side, should have got a roadster!!!... Thanks for feedback though and plan to treat nice like Cold.

[dwell]

PeteB62 said:

Jon, was that 17,000 from new on a manual?

I'm at 14,000 from new on manual V8V need to reverse out the garage and up a minor slop each time, but don't sense any issues yet.

when I purchased my V8V I had no option other than to reverse up a very steep drive accompanied by either spinning wheels, clutch slip or a rather nasty burning smell. From various comments on the forum I expected imminent and expensive clutch replacement. That was 25,000 miles ago, my sport shift clutch is still performing perfectly! Regards, Dave.

[bogie]

A lot seems down to luck with clutches and their components. I got 73k miles out of my original 2006 4.3 clutch, driven by me from 6k miles onwards. My 2012 Roadster manual had a clutch at 32k miles, just before I bought it, then at 55k miles it went again, but this time it was the release bearing that failed rather than a worn out clutch

Hopefully now, I will be lucky and get another 50K + out of this one .....or in other words I will have traded it in for a V12 before I need a new clutch again

[baconsarney]

Mine's on, er, no hang on. Phew, that would have been the kiss of death...