Clutch care :)

F

fishhugger

Guest
Recently my clutch went out and was stranded about an hour from home >.<
So after paying $850 for a new clutch kit and flywheel and to get it put in (because my car is FWD), Ive decided to try and take better care of it.
I've only been driving my car (first standard care) for a year and a few months too >.<....but to be fair it already had 128k miles on it =P.
So no more jack rabbit starts, burnouts, and donuts in the walmart parking lot on my lunch breaks.
Anyways, aside from the obvious I was hoping anyone could give me some more advice on how to make my clutch last another 100k (I hope it lasts that long...for 142k miles on my car everyone whos driven it says it drives like new =D)
I've been more attentive of my RPM's when shifting, but I still dont feel like its enough.
Also does engine breaking help the clutch at all? I know it'll assist in the length of my break pads and rotors (which are due up) but by my understanding of a clutch, it seems like it would be worse for the clutch then it would be good for the breaks. Also I dont feel like I'm doing it right, I'm getting too much lurching when I try to engine break, even when I try matching the RPM's to what I know the lower gear usually runs at at the speed I am slowing down to.
(engine breaking as in shifting to a lower gear and slowing down without using the breaks)
Any advice is welcome, thanks for looking =P
 
mantisman51

mantisman51

Active Member
The #1 cause of clutch failure is riding the clutch. If you disengage the clutch (push down on the clutch pedal) push it all the way down to the floor-like when stopped at stop lights and stop signs. When engaging your clutch(letting up on the pedal), release it all the way. If you leave your foot resting on the pedal, you are not allowing the clutch to firmly contact the flywheel and it will heat up and causes early failure. But clutches generally last 100-150k miles anyway, so you probably had little to do with it wearing out. If you don't live in a hilly area, power-shifting keeps the clutch engaged on the flywheel and can increase the life of your clutch. But I don't recommend this for most people as they tend to crash through the gears and will destroy the transmission, which is far more expensive than the clutch.
 
F

fishhugger

Guest
Yeah I have problems riding the clutch at really low speeds, but 15ish MPH and up I do fine.
I can powershift, but I only really get it right about %50 of the time. I know it can really be bad, so I only practiced for about a week (not consistantly) before I decided I should stop, lol. I'll leave that for the big rigs.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
I agree with everything the guys mentioned.
I'd add that if your car has a hand brake, use it to hold you still while stopped on a hill. Use your left foot to control the clutch, your right foot to control the accelerator, and your right hand to control the brake. This method saves a lot of slippage as you attempt to get the car rolling from a stop on a hill. You don't have to concentrate on not rolling into the car behind you as you take off, which allows you to fully concentrate on your engagement of the clutch with one foot and the throttle with the other. It takes some time to perfect, but within a couple weeks, you'll have it down.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by socal57che http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346797
I agree with everything the guys mentioned.
I'd add that if your car has a hand brake, use it to hold you still while stopped on a hill. Use your left foot to control the clutch, your right foot to control the accelerator, and your right hand to control the brake. This method saves a lot of slippage as you attempt to get the car rolling from a stop on a hill. You don't have to concentrate on not rolling into the car behind you as you take off, which allows you to fully concentrate on your engagement of the clutch with one foot and the throttle with the other. It takes some time to perfect, but within a couple weeks, you'll have it down.
Sounds like the voice of someone with feet too small to heel/toe the gas and brake peddles.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefraff http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346818
Quote:
Originally Posted by socal57che http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346797
I agree with everything the guys mentioned.
I'd add that if your car has a hand brake, use it to hold you still while stopped on a hill. Use your left foot to control the clutch, your right foot to control the accelerator, and your right hand to control the brake. This method saves a lot of slippage as you attempt to get the car rolling from a stop on a hill. You don't have to concentrate on not rolling into the car behind you as you take off, which allows you to fully concentrate on your engagement of the clutch with one foot and the throttle with the other. It takes some time to perfect, but within a couple weeks, you'll have it down.
Sounds like the voice of someone with feet too small to heel/toe the gas and brake peddles.
That, my friend, is a dying art.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346947
Quote:
Originally Posted by socal57che http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346936
That, my friend, is a dying art.
I know right?? You just tap (or pull up) the paddle on the back of the steering wheel, and it'll shift right for ya... Not sure what all the fuss is about

Zactly!
Double clutching is the same way. My '49 Ford F2 would hardly shift without double clutching and most people today have never even heard the term.
 
F

fishhugger

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by socal57che http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346951
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346947
Quote:
Originally Posted by socal57che http:///forum/thread/383021/clutch-care#post_3346936
That, my friend, is a dying art.
I know right?? You just tap (or pull up) the paddle on the back of the steering wheel, and it'll shift right for ya... Not sure what all the fuss is about

Zactly!
Double clutching is the same way. My '49 Ford F2 would hardly shift without double clutching and most people today have never even heard the term.
Haha, I love how misused double clutch is used in racing movies (fast and furious)
 
ironeagle2006

ironeagle2006

Active Member
This is coming from a Former OTR Driver so I know how to use a Clutch. Considering that I hauled loads that put me at 80,000 lbs all the time and with Permits I would sometimes be at 130K in Harvest time. The Mileage you got out that clutch is Great for a Passenger Car. I wish some of the Trainees I knew of could do so well. One ripped out 3 clutches in 30K miles he thought he needed to drop the clutch at 1200 RPM in a Semi to get it rollin when LOADED. Lets see here a 430HP Detroit at 1200 RPM is Producing 1550 Ft Lbs of torque and multiplied through the Driveline and such is well over 250K lbs of Force at the Driveshaft. Why the Clutch broke first we never figured out in that case. As to powershifting or Slipshifting I worked for One company that would fire you if they caught you doing that. Well I went thru the Orientation there and during the Road test for them and the Saftey manager looked over and saw me slipt shift it. He goes are you always that smooth I went Yep. He goes you know your not allowed to do that here right. I went I can not Double Clutch like your want to. He goes well either do it or your FIRED. So I tried and was grinding the gears so bad he went your not kidding. I ended up with a Letter in my file from the Saftey Director that I was not required to use the Clutch to shift. Here is how good I am at Nursing a Truck back with a bad Tranny. Delivered a load in Decatur AL heard a Bang in the Tranny and the shifter started to shake at all speed. Pulled over pushed the Clutch in felt a shimmy. was able to get a gear and moved out. Had a Trac Phone the Prepaid Cell called the Boss said Tranny Broke heading home DO NOT GET ME A RELOAD was 800 miles from home. Got home the next day. They found a Busted Mainshaft and Input Shaft on a 9 Speed Tranny. Shop Foreman Company owner went how in the HELL did you get this thing home. I went LUCKY I GUESS. They poured the internal parts out in pieces but I made it HOME with her.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
My first experience with a stick was driving an oil field truck you had to double clutch. I was never good enough to get it past second gear but hey, I was only like 13 at the time.
 
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