Clutch question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
From: Chesterfield Michigan
Clutch question
Been about 20 years since I've driven a stick. Thinking of getting a GS with a stick in it.
Question is just how long does a clutch last under normal driving conditions?
Question is just how long does a clutch last under normal driving conditions?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
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Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Define "normal". Normal driving conditions for someone who doesn't race the car and knows how to shift with a clutch will be years and many, many thousands of miles. Normal for someone who hasn't driven a stick in twenty years and doesn't know when to let off the clutch could be three months with a lot of hard launches.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
From: Chesterfield Michigan
Define "normal". Normal driving conditions for someone who doesn't race the car and knows how to shift with a clutch will be years and many, many thousands of miles. Normal for someone who hasn't driven a stick in twenty years and doesn't know when to let off the clutch could be three months with a lot of hard launches.
But thanks for the info.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Some people have had issues with the clutch pedal if the hydraulic fluid gets contaminated, but that is an easy item to take care of.
J
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
Just remember these 3 things, and clutch should last you for a long time:
1. Launch with as little revs as possible.
2. Release clutch as soon as possible without being jerky. Crawl with the clutch out in traffic, even if some get ahead of you. Avoiding the friction zone dramatically extends clutch life.
3. Only touch clutch pedal and gearshift lever to shift. Left foot on the dead pedal except when shifting. That will insure you don't inadvertently ride the clutch (the throwout bearing, really) without noticing it.
Good luck, and you're making the right choice. It's infinitely more fun to drive this car in a manual IMO, but for practical purposes, it'll be slower than automatic (if you don't want to abuse your clutch, like most of us
). Good luck.
1. Launch with as little revs as possible.
2. Release clutch as soon as possible without being jerky. Crawl with the clutch out in traffic, even if some get ahead of you. Avoiding the friction zone dramatically extends clutch life.
3. Only touch clutch pedal and gearshift lever to shift. Left foot on the dead pedal except when shifting. That will insure you don't inadvertently ride the clutch (the throwout bearing, really) without noticing it.
Good luck, and you're making the right choice. It's infinitely more fun to drive this car in a manual IMO, but for practical purposes, it'll be slower than automatic (if you don't want to abuse your clutch, like most of us
). Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,641
Likes: 464
From: Houston TX
As inferred above, remember to keep the clutch fluid clean. Look-up the "ranger method" for refreshing the clutch fluid.
The fluid tends to turn a dark color quickly due to clutch dust getting past the seal in the slave cylinder. GM has been
routinely criticized on this weak-point of the clutch system design.
The fluid tends to turn a dark color quickly due to clutch dust getting past the seal in the slave cylinder. GM has been
routinely criticized on this weak-point of the clutch system design.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 159
I'm sure I missed a post or two, but other than the fluid getting dirty (and it is very easy to flush, I do mine every oil change, it takes less than 10 minutes), the clutch is not discussed out here hardly at all.
With the torque these cars have, you can literally let the clutch out slowly in first gear, without giving it any gas.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 786
Likes: 58
From: New Paltz NY
My new 1977 Toyota Celica 1st clutch lasted about 50K miles. Hey...Japan and I was learning.
For my new 1983 Porsche 944:
1st Clutch lasted about 100K miles.
2nd Clutch lasted forever. The car was eventually scrapped after 23 years, and 550K miles. The second clutch was still GOOD after 430K miles.
A Porsche technical director who lived near me, mentioned that if you drive the clutch correctly, it will last the life of the car. I proved he was correct.
My replacment Porsche 944 with auto transmission, the transmission lasted 200K miles...and the replacement was just trouble.
So to me, a manual transmission is MUCH MORE reliable. And my gas mileage jumped about 30%.
And now my new gorgous Yellow C6 with manual and 90K miles so far...well here's to forever.
For my new 1983 Porsche 944:
1st Clutch lasted about 100K miles.
2nd Clutch lasted forever. The car was eventually scrapped after 23 years, and 550K miles. The second clutch was still GOOD after 430K miles.
A Porsche technical director who lived near me, mentioned that if you drive the clutch correctly, it will last the life of the car. I proved he was correct.
My replacment Porsche 944 with auto transmission, the transmission lasted 200K miles...and the replacement was just trouble.
So to me, a manual transmission is MUCH MORE reliable. And my gas mileage jumped about 30%.
And now my new gorgous Yellow C6 with manual and 90K miles so far...well here's to forever.
Last edited by joliett; Feb 16, 2013 at 04:33 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 555
Likes: 25
From: Jefferson County Alabama
my clutch is good at 57000 miles
BUT, my clutch spring broke
any easy way to change?
the manual only says "depress clutch and work out the old spring"
i have searched the forum to no results; i thought i recalled spring swap years ago ,but............
BUT, my clutch spring broke
any easy way to change?
the manual only says "depress clutch and work out the old spring"
i have searched the forum to no results; i thought i recalled spring swap years ago ,but............