Evaluating the Health of Your Clutch.... ?

[850CSi]

I'm a clutch-nazi; that is, I'm always overly concerned with the health of my transmission and giving it the least punishment possible. I've heard that most BMW clutches are supposed to last the life of the car.


-Are 0-60 runs featuring hard and quick shifting with tires chirping going to significantly shorten the life of my clutch?

Is there an easy way to evaluate how my clutch is holding up?

[280Z Turbo]

If it engages fine and doesn't slip it's fine. I wouldn't worry about it. Clutches are fairly easy to replace anyway on a RWD car.

Based on the experience of my friends with fast turbo Zs run at the dragstrip, the thing that hurts the most in that kind of driving is the driveline. Stub axles, transmissions, etc.

[JYODER240]

I don't really worry myself with clutch-wear, or tires for that matter. The way I see it, the sooner they go the more fun you had.

[The Pirate]

Clutches these days are pretty tough.  If you know how to drive a stick properly (as you do, I'm sure), it will last a long time.  Things like riding the clutch, not disengaging it all the way at stoplights, and constant redline clutch drop launches are going to wear it out quickly, but I wouldn't worry too much about regular spirited driving.


My Ford Ranger had over 160K miles on the original clutch when I traded, and I beat the living crap out of that truck.  Likewise, my Civic has 116K miles on the original clutch (with the last 55K miles from me), and I drive that car in a spirited fashion all the time.


You are probably fine, but I understand the anal retetentiveness, I have that same problem with things.

[etypeJohn]

The Click and Clack method of clutch evaluation (I've heard this elsewhere too):

Ease up to the side of a building, a tree or some other immovable object.  Use padding between your front bumper and the immovable object if you are worrying about marring your bumper.  Start the car and rev the ending to about 1200-1500 RPM while easing out the clutch.  If the engine stalls your clutch is OK.  If the engine slows but still runs you have a slipping clutch.

[J86]

We've got a '96 Accord in the family with WELL over 230k (odo stopped a coupla years ago there) on the clock.

My Subie has over 190k.

Both are original clutches.  The Honda saw my bro an I learn to drive stick on it, and I dont treat my Subie too responsibly sometimes.

I'd not worry.

[The Pirate]

Yeah, I've taught 4 or 5 people how to drive stick on my car, and the clutch still grabs high and doesn't slip at all.

[Secret Chimp]

We've got a '96 Accord in the family with WELL over 230k (odo stopped a coupla years ago there) on the clock.

My Subie has over 190k.

Both are original clutches.? The Honda saw my bro an I learn to drive stick on it, and I dont treat my Subie too responsibly sometimes.

I'd not worry.

Does/did something in the suspension on the Accord ever start making a kind of "hurka-hurka" creaking noise over speed bumps? I can't tell if it's that or my replaced fender rubbing against the edge of the hood :P

[Pancor]

The Click and Clack method of clutch evaluation (I've heard this elsewhere too):

Ease up to the side of a building, a tree or some other immovable object.? Use padding between your front bumper and the immovable object if you are worrying about marring your bumper.? Start the car and rev the ending to about 1200-1500 RPM while easing out the clutch.? If the engine stalls your clutch is OK.? If the engine slows but still runs you have a slipping clutch.

Yikes....

My preferred ( and somewhat less-redneck style) method is to just floor the throttle in 3rd gear while going up a decent hill.   That'll usually make a bad clutch known.   

[The Pirate]

Does/did something in the suspension on the Accord ever start making a kind of "hurka-hurka" creaking noise over speed bumps? I can't tell if it's that or my replaced fender rubbing against the edge of the hood :P

What year and how many miles is your Accord?


Depending if the miles are high or not, it could be bushings in the suspension system. 

[Secret Chimp]

What year and how many miles is your Accord?


Depending if the miles are high or not, it could be bushings in the suspension system.?

97 and a whole lot.

[S204STi]

Yikes....

My preferred ( and somewhat less-redneck style) method is to just floor the throttle in 3rd gear while going up a decent hill.? ?That'll usually make a bad clutch known.? ?

That is how I would do it too, although I see the merits in the Car Guys' approach.

[The Pirate]

I've done this accidentally, and it's a sure way to check your clutch:  When stationary, let the clutch out while the car is running and in gear.  When I did it, I thought it was in neutral, and never bothered to check before I let the clutch out.

[TBR]

And what is supposed to happen?

[S204STi]

And what is supposed to happen?

The engine should stall if you let the clutch out in gear without raising rpm.

[The Pirate]

Yeah, thanks for the additional info R-inge.  I must have been in a hurry, as I apparently left that sentence out of my original post.

[Eye of the Tiger]

The engine should stall if you let the clutch out in gear without raising rpm.

Not if you have 400ft-lbs of torque at 500rpms

[The Pirate]

Not if you have 400ft-lbs of torque at 500rpms

I don't have that problem, unfortunately.

[S204STi]

Not if you have 400ft-lbs of torque at 500rpms

True, with some cars if you just let off gradually you can effectively start out  at idle.  However, if you drop the clutch suddenly I am pretty sure it would be the same result.  (not totally sure though lol)

[Soup DeVille]

Not if you have 400ft-lbs of torque at 500rpms

If you let off on the clutch easy enough, you can get any car to move without touching the gas pedal.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Depends on alot of things... weight of car, rotating mass, gear ratios, idle speed, blah blah blah...

[The Pirate]

My car will get going without any gas with a really slow clutch let out.

[Soup DeVille]

Depends on alot of things... weight of car, rotating mass, gear ratios, idle speed, blah blah blah...

I've done it on a type-2 VW bus with all of 25 HP; just to prove this point. If you could find one, I'd do it again.

[JYODER240]

I can do it quite easily in my car.

[etypeJohn]

The engine should stall if you let the clutch out in gear without raising rpm.

My Jaguar won't.  On a level surfact it will just start moving.  265 HP and  283 pound feets of torque coupled to a flywheel that weighs about 20 pounds does that for you. 

[FoMoJo]

The Click and Clack method of clutch evaluation (I've heard this elsewhere too):

Ease up to the side of a building, a tree or some other immovable object.? Use padding between your front bumper and the immovable object if you are worrying about marring your bumper.? Start the car and rev the ending to about 1200-1500 RPM while easing out the clutch.? If the engine stalls your clutch is OK.? If the engine slows but still runs you have a slipping clutch.

Is there a preferred gear to use when doing this test??

[Raza]

I don't have that problem, unfortunately.

Get a GTO!  20mph without ever touching the gas.

[Ron From Regina]

The engine should stall if you let the clutch out in gear without raising rpm.

I can side step the clutch on in my mustang on dry pavement, and it won't stall.

As for the original question, my opinion on cluthces is they are one of those things that ware out, just like brake pads. Not a big deal.

[AutobahnSHO]

As for the original question, my opinion on cluthces is they are one of those things that ware out, just like brake pads. Not a big deal.

Unless it's an old Ford FWD.       
(Took me a long time and lots of sweat to fix that problem.)

(ps- Maybe I'm the only one on the board to have driven the Autobahn with a broken clutch??)

[MX793]

Get a GTO!  20mph without ever touching the gas.

I've done that in my car.