[Z06] Miles on Clutch
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
You can think of clutch life like you think of brake life. They are wear parts whose service life depends on how they are used.
By far the most common issue with a clutch in a Z06 is pedal woes, aggravated by cooked clutch hydraulic fluid. Once pedal woes manifest themselves, about the only solution is to change out all the clutch parts, including the hydraulics.
I never had pedal issues with my 2002 Z06. But I did replace the clutch after about 175 launches. The wear on the pressure plate and rotating disc was very even and had probably another 30-50 launches left in them. I replaced them anyway and derived no benefit to the performance of the car. That experience told taught me that the clamping power of the clutch will remain pretty constant until the friction surfaces are essentially worn out.
Bottom line is that unless you are launching the car a lot, the stock clutch should last many, many miles, certainly way beyond the 36K warranty. If you do launches, you can expect about 175-225, assuming a fast clutch release without much slip. If you do high-rpm clutch dumps, then expect 50-75 per clutch.
Ranger
By far the most common issue with a clutch in a Z06 is pedal woes, aggravated by cooked clutch hydraulic fluid. Once pedal woes manifest themselves, about the only solution is to change out all the clutch parts, including the hydraulics.
I never had pedal issues with my 2002 Z06. But I did replace the clutch after about 175 launches. The wear on the pressure plate and rotating disc was very even and had probably another 30-50 launches left in them. I replaced them anyway and derived no benefit to the performance of the car. That experience told taught me that the clamping power of the clutch will remain pretty constant until the friction surfaces are essentially worn out.
Bottom line is that unless you are launching the car a lot, the stock clutch should last many, many miles, certainly way beyond the 36K warranty. If you do launches, you can expect about 175-225, assuming a fast clutch release without much slip. If you do high-rpm clutch dumps, then expect 50-75 per clutch.
Ranger
Last edited by Ranger; Jan 16, 2006 at 08:17 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,604
Likes: 396
From: Austin, TX
Here is another data point. I just changed out my stock clutch in my H/C Hardtop at 42K miles for the LS7 clutch. The H/C has been in for 15K or so. I don't take it to the track but I have "attempted" a hard launch or two with nothing but clutch smoke.....i.e. my stock C5 clutch couldn't handle the power. The clutch help up great as long as I didn't try to launch hard. I probably could of left it in for quite a while longer but I had the itch to replace it and do some gears at the same time. There are some pics of the clutch in this link if your interested.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
45k stock clutch, had about 7 1/4 runs on the car, do mostly HPDE and auto-x which doesn't tax the clutch.
Swapped it out because the rear/trans had to come out to fix a differential moan under warranty so I only had to pay $100 in labor and that was b/c I had LT headers on the car.
Tech said the clutch looked great, I have it in my shed. Now running a LUK stage II with the fidanza aluminum flywheel. Have almost 53k on the car now.
Swapped it out because the rear/trans had to come out to fix a differential moan under warranty so I only had to pay $100 in labor and that was b/c I had LT headers on the car.
Tech said the clutch looked great, I have it in my shed. Now running a LUK stage II with the fidanza aluminum flywheel. Have almost 53k on the car now.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 844
Likes: 12
From: The Villages, FL
Originally Posted by Ranger
That experience told taught me that the clamping power of the clutch will remain pretty constant until the friction surfaces are essentially worn out.
Ranger
Ranger
Thanks to all for your feedback. Just wanted to get some idea when to have it checked.
For those that have had it done, what's the approx cost?
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,004
Likes: 250
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by PewterC5
Here is another data point. I just changed out my stock clutch in my H/C Hardtop at 42K miles for the LS7 clutch. The H/C has been in for 15K or so. I don't take it to the track but I have "attempted" a hard launch or two with nothing but clutch smoke.....i.e. my stock C5 clutch couldn't handle the power. The clutch help up great as long as I didn't try to launch hard. I probably could of left it in for quite a while longer but I had the itch to replace it and do some gears at the same time. There are some pics of the clutch in this link if your interested.
You had 15K on your stock clutch after your H/C went in ?
My stock clutch has 18000 miles on it. I have the TR224 cam and it holds fine during a little harder than normal use. The only time it had an issue was I was racing a motorcycle and went from 2nd to 5th and it slipped. I figure when I get the AFR 205s put on, Id go with the LS7 set up
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 1
From: Augusta GA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by Ranger
You can think of clutch life like you think of brake life. They are wear parts whose service life depends on how they are used.
By far the most common issue with a clutch in a Z06 is pedal woes, aggravated by cooked clutch hydraulic fluid. Once pedal woes manifest themselves, about the only solution is to change out all the clutch parts, including the hydraulics.
I never had pedal issues with my 2002 Z06. But I did replace the clutch after about 175 launches. The wear on the pressure plate and rotating disc was very even and had probably another 30-50 launches left in them. I replaced them anyway and derived no benefit to the performance of the car. That experience told taught me that the clamping power of the clutch will remain pretty constant until the friction surfaces are essentially worn out.
Bottom line is that unless you are launching the car a lot, the stock clutch should last many, many miles, certainly way beyond the 36K warranty. If you do launches, you can expect about 175-225, assuming a fast clutch release without much slip. If you do high-rpm clutch dumps, then expect 50-75 per clutch.
Ranger
By far the most common issue with a clutch in a Z06 is pedal woes, aggravated by cooked clutch hydraulic fluid. Once pedal woes manifest themselves, about the only solution is to change out all the clutch parts, including the hydraulics.
I never had pedal issues with my 2002 Z06. But I did replace the clutch after about 175 launches. The wear on the pressure plate and rotating disc was very even and had probably another 30-50 launches left in them. I replaced them anyway and derived no benefit to the performance of the car. That experience told taught me that the clamping power of the clutch will remain pretty constant until the friction surfaces are essentially worn out.
Bottom line is that unless you are launching the car a lot, the stock clutch should last many, many miles, certainly way beyond the 36K warranty. If you do launches, you can expect about 175-225, assuming a fast clutch release without much slip. If you do high-rpm clutch dumps, then expect 50-75 per clutch.
Ranger
Oh back to the post... replaced mine @ 30k, and did have some sluch at the track, 1/4, maybe 50 passes. Using the techniques above (well trying) and it had much more left in it, but it was worn pretty well. Moved to an Aussie, and love it. Maybe 40 more passes on it and it gets better each pass. Smoothed out and has no fade at all after we wrapped the pines and changed to motoul 600 fluid. I drove 200 and ran it hard at the track the next day and it took it, became more linear, and feals better than stock IMO. Hope this helps.
Dave
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Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,553
Likes: 1,549
From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Just turned 15k, but only 2k since all the mods. Smoked the stocker last weekend trying to practice launching, but that was expected with the boost in power. Now looking into the LS7 setup.