Question for Clutch Experts
Thread Starter
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,990
Likes: 6,034
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Question for Clutch Experts
I'll be taking delivery of my Z at NCM and driving it over 700 miles home. So I'll have a great opportunity to get some break-in miles on it. And I fully appreciate the break-in period exists inter alia for clutches and gearsets. For the clutch/driveline experts in the crowd, with the different drive modes/different aggressiveness of shifts, what would be the best drive mode to break in the clutches?
Would tour, with soft, slow shifts be best?
Or would track with faster shifts (less time for clutch slippage) be best?
My goal would be to minimize the amount of clutch material deposited into the trans fluid during break-in.
I'm likely to spend time in different modes - but had the question pop in my mind about drive mode and break-in for the clutches.
Would tour, with soft, slow shifts be best?
Or would track with faster shifts (less time for clutch slippage) be best?
My goal would be to minimize the amount of clutch material deposited into the trans fluid during break-in.
I'm likely to spend time in different modes - but had the question pop in my mind about drive mode and break-in for the clutches.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 668
From: Kilmarnock Va
It’s recommended to shift manual during break in. In other words use the flippers. Drive my C8 back from the museum. It was a blast. Some 700 miles.
You should just relax and drive the car. Your putting to much into it.
You should just relax and drive the car. Your putting to much into it.
Last edited by thrilled; Jul 31, 2023 at 06:08 PM.
Thread Starter
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,990
Likes: 6,034
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Just to be clear - I'm not paranoid about this. Just was a question that popped into my mind I found to be interesting.
Appreciate the feedback, and avoiding slow creep makes sense.
I'm looking forward to the drive.
Appreciate the feedback, and avoiding slow creep makes sense.
I'm looking forward to the drive.
Thread Starter
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,990
Likes: 6,034
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Looking forward to getting acquainted with this one.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 805
Likes: 1,274
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,576
Likes: 2,634
From: Lancaster, PA
Every time you start and stop and use the brake to creep up to a red light you give the clutch packs a workout. Even after break-in that use should be avoided.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,576
Likes: 2,634
From: Lancaster, PA
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,604
Likes: 7,688
From: NJ
"like an automatic", I meant an automatic transmission with a torque converter. I did not imply manual vs. auto mode with the DCT.
Every time you start and stop and use the brake to creep up to a red light you give the clutch packs a workout. Even after break-in that use should be avoided.
Every time you start and stop and use the brake to creep up to a red light you give the clutch packs a workout. Even after break-in that use should be avoided.
Now again. Tadge has been known to say one thing and another happen but I don't think he ever does that with malice. Just the old sh*t happens.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,576
Likes: 2,634
From: Lancaster, PA
Well. I posed that question to Tadge in 2019 and he said that the wear was so minimal that thats been factored into the service life of the trans which he also said was more than 100k miles. I MAY have recorded that on video with my phone (the wife was the camera-woman). I have to check. I had several conversations with him that day and some others.
Now again. Tadge has been known to say one thing and another happen but I don't think he ever does that with malice. Just the old sh*t happens.
Now again. Tadge has been known to say one thing and another happen but I don't think he ever does that with malice. Just the old sh*t happens.
You can also burn your manual transmission's clutch prematurely by riding the clutch pedal or doing aggressive driving.
I don't think it is a big deal or something we need to worry about, but the OP asked about break-in procedure since he's planning to keep his car for at least 300,000 miles; hence my original comment.
I would be more concerned about DCT leaks or LT6 ticks.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,604
Likes: 7,688
From: NJ
Yes, YMMV. If you live in a hilly terrain or in a traffic jammed metropolitan area and you continue to drive it like a torque converter automatic you may have accelerated wear. Just don't use the "Hill Hold" feature. Similar to the 100K/lifetime durability quote for the lifespan of CCB pads on the street. We know that goes out the window with track use.
You can also burn your manual transmission's clutch prematurely by riding the clutch pedal or doing aggressive driving.
I don't think it is a big deal or something we need to worry about, but the OP asked about break-in procedure since he's planning to keep his car for at least 300,000 miles; hence my original comment. I would be more concerned about DCT leaks or LT6 ticks.
You can also burn your manual transmission's clutch prematurely by riding the clutch pedal or doing aggressive driving.
I don't think it is a big deal or something we need to worry about, but the OP asked about break-in procedure since he's planning to keep his car for at least 300,000 miles; hence my original comment.
I would be more concerned about DCT leaks or LT6 ticks.As long as it doesn't get its *** kicked to screw up the gears meshing everything is fine. So lower torque which in this car isn't a huge deal like it was in a C7Z. I broke my first one in wrong and the trans never felt right the second one was perfect learned from the mistake.
