How often do you guys replace clutches?

Shopping for cars, I'm kind of shocked at how many 60k - 100k mile cars include "Recent clutch replacement" in the ad. Now I had an old turbo shadow that would eat clutches at an alarming rate, but I was also delivering pizzas in it for a long time, and eventually realized the constant clutch issues were the result of a thrust bearing failure.

I've currently got about 170,000 miles on the clutch in the integra; which is a little beefier than stock, though I don't remember the particulars. There's been a TINY bit of throwout bearing noise for a LONG time now, but no slipping.

I'm mostly driving on the highway with no traffic, so I have a maximum of about 14 stop/starts at traffic lights per day, which may explain why they tend to last forever for me.

Do you guys who drive in traffic every day have to replace them much more frequently, or are these people just constantly riding the clutch/clutching every time they slow down, etc?

People are just riding the clutch.

If i can't get a clutch to go 150k miles on a stock car, i've failed as a driver.

On modified cars, i'm happy to see 60k, but i'm not mad if it's less depending on what sort of thing is going on.

It's not uncommon for 88-92 MX6 GT/626 GTs to go over 300k miles on the original clutch.

Honestly, a lot of it has to do with the new engine technologies (TCS, DBW throttle, etc) causing wear. The local shop I use sometimes is doing 2-3x the number of clutches since those became prevalent. They are now starting to see a serious up-tick in brakes as well for the same reasons (stability control, e-diff, etc). Just an observation from our little corner of the country.

As for my personal clutches, I either buy cars with a bad one already, sell them off before it has a chance to blow, or upgrade it with everything else when I'm racing. I've never had one fail in a non-racing situation (and most of those were drag racing).

Depends on the car/style of clutch. I went through 4 clutches in the Elantra in 160k miles. It used a E36 M3ty pull type clutch that was terrible.

The accent is on the original clutch at 211k miles. My 1993 full size went 150k on that stock clutch before being traded.

My 'rolla is still on the clutch that was in it when I bought it 7-8 years ago, and if it's not racing it's driving in heavy gridlock traffic.

126k miles on the factory clutch in my Audi A4. Still working, but beginning to feel a little weak

My brother was around 340k miles on the same Honda civic clutch. That has to be some kind of world record. I would have killed it in a week.

Been driving manual transmissions since the 1960's in a wide variety of foreign and domestic vehicles. I have only had to replace a clutch one time. That was in a 58 Ford I6 that I ran almost every weekend at the dragstrip for two years.

I've had to replace ONE clutch that wore out, on an '81 Civic that eventually made it over 300k miles. Somewhere in there it got a replacement.

The only other times I've replaced a clutch are when I've already had the transmission away from the engine. My E46 has 90k on the OE clutch and feels tight as a drum. My '95 ACR had over 100k and was fresh as a daisy. My '80 Supra got a clutch, but only because I already had the engine out at well over 150k.

I don't drive like a granny, and I drive in mixed traffic and highway.

Honestly, a lot of it has to do with the new engine technologies (TCS, DBW throttle, etc) causing wear. The local shop I use sometimes is doing 2-3x the number of clutches since those became prevalent. They are now starting to see a serious up-tick in brakes as well for the same reasons (stability control, e-diff, etc). Just an observation from our little corner of the country.

That's interesting. What's the theory on the DBW? Inability to heel-toe downshift? I still have not mastered this on the Fit. It's really annoying.

I've never worn one out, and I beat the piss out of every stick car I've ever had. Did you know a 96 Sunfire with the pushrod 2.2 will chirp quality tires on a 80* day going into 2nd?

Kenny_McCormic wrote: , and I beat the piss out of every stick car I've ever had.

But you are actually being polite to the clutch. There is not a lot of slippage when you sidestep a clutch. You might tear the center out of it, but the nice polite little old ladies who rev the engine to 2500 rpm and take 5 or 8 seconds to get it all the way engaged are the ones that kill them.

We have a nearly deaf customer who is deadly hard on clutches.

Swapped out my E36 clutch at 192,000 miles. Have to check the PO's records, but I think that was the original clutch. I did notice it had issues when I took it to the dragstrip at around 145,000 miles and noticed it wouldn't stand up to full throttle launches on a VHT soaked strip, but since I didn't do that too often, I just made a note to launch it carefully.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: I've never worn one out, and I beat the piss out of every stick car I've ever had.

Ditto.

303K on my OE TDi clutch. I only plan to replace it because the t/o bearing is starting to rattle. It still grabs and holds fine.

229K on the OE clutch of my '91 Integra, and I beat the ever living snot out of that car.

The only clutch I've replaced was in my '86 Toyota 4x4 and that was due to oil contamination from a leaking seal.

I rarely hell-toe or rev-match.

I have only replaced one clutch on one of my cars, on the 90 Celica my wife had when we go married. It went at about 250K miles, other than that not a one. My 9-5 is at 180K and I gave my brother my 99 9-3 with something like 210K on it.

poopshovel wrote:

Honestly, a lot of it has to do with the new engine technologies (TCS, DBW throttle, etc) causing wear. The local shop I use sometimes is doing 2-3x the number of clutches since those became prevalent. They are now starting to see a serious up-tick in brakes as well for the same reasons (stability control, e-diff, etc). Just an observation from our little corner of the country.

That's interesting. What's the theory on the DBW? Inability to heel-toe downshift? I still have not mastered this on the Fit. It's really annoying.

I don't think it is just one technology, but all the technology working together as a whole.

I've only replace clutches because "I'm in here anyhow" Most of mine were in the 170K range when sold. Did buy a car with a bad clutch once....

Never had to do a clutch in any of my 80's VW's. Bought a 05 Elantra and the clutch started slipping at 30k. Brother in Law had a 2002 Tiburon that needed a clutch at 20k. I will say the replacement clutch in the Elantra was still going strong when I sold the car with 130k

dabird wrote: Never had to do a clutch in any of my 80's VW's. Bought a 05 Elantra and the clutch started slipping at 30k. Brother in Law had a 2002 Tiburon that needed a clutch at 20k. I will say the replacement clutch in the Elantra was still going strong when I sold the car with 130k

They used the same one. I hate hate hate the old pull-type clutch Hyundai used.

My nephew has my old Volvo 850 wagon, manual. At 180k the throw out went bad. Shop says clutch itself is still good but replacing while in there.

360k on the original VW clutch in my Quantum. I think they made it out of granite and stubbornness.

My Golf had 227ish on the original clutch. Clutch was the best part of the car when I sold it.

Gearheadotaku wrote: I've only replace clutches because "I'm in here anyhow" Most of mine were in the 170K range when sold. Did buy a car with a bad clutch once....

That was the only reason I did the last one at 210k. I am curious if others have had more issues with newer cars (06 and up.)

dabird wrote: Never had to do a clutch in any of my 80's VW's. Bought a 05 Elantra and the clutch started slipping at 30k. Brother in Law had a 2002 Tiburon that needed a clutch at 20k. I will say the replacement clutch in the Elantra was still going strong when I sold the car with 130k

Odd, I had a 99 Tiburon that was on it's original clutch at 146,000 when I put it into a ditch... and I didn't drive that car easy.

Of the cars I had that needed a clutch.. I only did one, my 75 Fiat Spider. That went at 75,000. The rest were a "while I here" job.. like I will be doing to my 87 Saab when I finally put the engine and trans back into the car

I've only had to replace clutches due to something breaking.......never a clutch due to wear.

I do a lot of double clutching unlike Brian Spillner, and hope that means there will be less wear. I've changed clutches at 130,000 and the Ranger that I just changed everything in was at 160,000.