Do you take your time shifting from first gear to second gear and so on? If you do, you're wearing down your clutch prematurely. Slow gear shifts keep the clutch engaged much longer than it should be and damages it. Press down on the clutch, shift the gear, and release it quickly.
“Riding” the clutch is the most common reason for premature clutch failure. Even the slightest pressure on the pedal will partially disengage the clutch, causing the release bearing, pressure plate and flywheel to overheat.
The average lifespan of a clutch is anywhere between 20,000 to 150,000 miles. Luckily, your clutch will likely give you ample notice that something is going wrong. Don't get left at the side of the road with a vehicle that won't shift into gear. Read on to learn the signs and symptoms of a failing clutch.
1 Don't ride the clutch
“Riding the clutch” simply refers to the act of keeping the clutch pedal partially pressed down. This pushes the pressure pad against the clutch plate but doesn't engage completely, therefore creating more friction and wearing out the clutch faster.
Riding the clutch
Make sure that the only time you're pressing clutch is when you're changing gears. Don't rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. A slight press on the clutch can cause the gears to wear and tear quickly.
Often drivers will rev hard whilst riding the clutch to avoid rolling back whilst doing a hill start, but this technique can seriously damage your clutch.
Generally speaking, most clutches will last for around 60,000 miles – but this can vary from as little as 30,000 miles to as much as 100,000 miles. This can depend on many factors, and not all of them are possible to control.
The bottom line is that holding the clutch down for a short period will certainly not damage your clutch. The damage will only surface when you hold the clutch down for too long - and that's where the throw-out bearing will come in to suffer for the poor driving style.
Slipping the clutch causes overheating and heavy damage to the clutch plates while making them unusable much before their expected life. Read more about that here . Many manual cars do not have a dead pedal. In such cars, resting the foot on the clutch pedal is a common practice.
Most often, a clutch burns out due to the excessive heat generated from a clutch slipping or clutch misuse which creates excessive heat and an acidic smell. Similarly, to a car's brake pads, a clutch's friction materials are designed to wear down slowly through normal use.
How many kms does a clutch last? Like most car parts there are few hard and fast rules, but consensus seems to be that a clutch should last for between 70,000km and 160,000km. A lot of that will depend on the type of driving you do and the loads you expect your vehicle to carry.
Clutch slipping is one of the most common clutch related concerns and occurs when there is not enough friction. Clutch is running partly disengaged. Release bearing clearance too tight. Too much friction in release mechanism.
If you are experiencing any of these issues, it could mean that your clutch is going out: Squeaking or unusual grumbling noise when pressure is applied. Difficulty changing gears. The clutch pedal feels sticky, is vibrating or appearing to feel spongey or loose.
The average cost of a clutch replacement in the UK is £454.55, but prices range from £300 to £700. Not all vehicles can be fitted with the same clutch, so prices may vary between different makes and models.
Car Talk researchers have found that the cost to replace a clutch can range from $750 to $2500, depending on the make and model of the car you drive. How long does it take a mechanic to replace a clutch?
If the pedal is released quickly, a definite lurch can be felt as the engine and driveshaft re-engage and their speeds equalize. However, if the clutch is released slowly the clutch disc will "slip" against the flywheel; this friction permits the engine a smoother transition to its new rotation speed.
This is most often done by the drivers because they are not aware of the risks behind resting their foot on the clutch pedal. This is one of the bad habits of driving. If it is continuously done, it can create pressure on the compression plate and lead to the clutch wearing out prematurely.
Braking and sequentially shifting down is the better way to come to a stop. Step on the clutch only to gear down and only when the engine revolutions reach 1,000rpm, just to keep the engine from bogging down. This is the better way because it is the safer way.
Coasting has no real affect on the internal mechanics of your car. However, it does lead to the overuse of one clutch component in particular for manual cars: the throw out bearing. The throw out bearing is the part of the clutch system that disengages the engine while the clutch pedal is pressed.