How long should a clutch last?

[Rolo]

How long should a clutch last in most types of vehicles driving gently all the time?

I'm starting to worry about mine not because of any problems at all but because of the number of years and miles since I fitted it.

[rover]

There is no designated time at all.

I have never had to put a clutch in any vehicle I have ever owned, but I have known people to get as little as 40,000 out of one, so I wouldnt worry about it until you get some symptoms.


Rover.

[gemini]

mine lasted 10 year on the original ford clutch with 55,000 miles then the plate centre fell apart plenty of wear left on the linings though ive fitted a luk clutch

[Terry]

If it ain't broke don't fix it !
Guy I used to work for had a wife who used to
'ride the clutch', keeping her foot on the pedal all
the time and 10,000 miles was it. Whatever she drove
(regularly) 10,000 miles new clutch, including his pride & joy
a DB 7 Vantage ragtop, and that clutch was an absolute B'stard to do.

[gazza]

my van came from a rental place, they changed em at 60000 as a service item due to the fact so many different people drive them who dont care about the vehicle, or whos driving styles are hard on a clutch. as said earlier somecan bugger a clutch in no time. if you are suffering from a stiff change or screeching from the friction plate when you pull away, get it done. its not a long job. clutch kit will set you back between 60 and a ton, doing it yourself will cost you a couple of hours taking it to an independent garage should cost no more than say 70 quid

[MarkM]

my van came from a rental place, they changed em at 60000 as a service item due to the fact so many different people drive them who dont care about the vehicle, or whos driving styles are hard on a clutch. as said earlier somecan bugger a clutch in no time. if you are suffering from a stiff change or screeching from the friction plate when you pull away, get it done. its not a long job. clutch kit will set you back between 60 and a ton, doing it yourself will cost you a couple of hours taking it to an independent garage should cost no more than say 70 quid

I agree with the clutch cost but no way are those fitting prices correct...went through this very recently Try trebling those labour costs and you will be a lot closer.

[MWOOLY10]

I do alot of motorway miles i had mine done 45k ago and its just starting to stick a little in 1st and 2nd now..So will probably need changing again in the next 5 to 10k i would probably get more out of it if i didnt think i was Nigel mansell

[oldhenry]

over many years of driving ( 41) I reckon a good average is 100K for a clutch. any more then you are:
a) lucky
b) a rep doing motorway miles only
c) have an automatic

not foolproof as this assumes 'proper' driving
But have linings got worse or better since asbestos was banned?
( i still remember a car with cork linings!)

[MrMPuk]

I once drove a Bus with Leather strap breaks, they were pants.

[stevew]

I once drove a Bus with Leather strap breaks, they were pants.

Just imagining a repair with a pair of Lederhosen!

Steve

[MrMPuk]

Reading it back it does sound rather like that!

[gazza]

my van came from a rental place, they changed em at 60000 as a service item due to the fact so many different people drive them who dont care about the vehicle, or whos driving styles are hard on a clutch. as said earlier somecan bugger a clutch in no time. if you are suffering from a stiff change or screeching from the friction plate when you pull away, get it done. its not a long job. clutch kit will set you back between 60 and a ton, doing it yourself will cost you a couple of hours taking it to an independent garage should cost no more than say 70 quid

I agree with the clutch cost but no way are those fitting prices correct...went through this very recently Try trebling those labour costs and you will be a lot closer.

bad luck chap,suggest you look for another garage to use, 310 to fit a clutch sounds a bit steep. it is a very quick and simple job on a ramp, christ you dont even need to disconnect the starter or drain and refill the 'box! i based 70 quid (at an independent) on an hour and a half labour which is all it should take really. still one of the bonus of being a fitter is there is no such thing as labour costs, only time

[Transitwalla]

Hi, clutches are like women abuse them and they protest. Too many people sit with their left foot riding the pedal causing excessive and rapid wear on the friction plate I had an '88 MK3 twin wheeler that was difficult to get into gear from a standstill . . no amount of adjusting would get a smooth gearchange from standstill . . I took the old clutch out to find that one of the previous owners had fitted the standard duty clutch instead of the heavy duty I fitted the heavy duty clutch and everything was hunkydory after that It's inconvenient I know but a couple of hours on your back fitting a new clutch will save you quite a packet in labour charges. Garages round this way wont look at anything less than £40 an hour to change a clutch

Do it yourself and the feeling of satisfaction you get when you first drive off has no compensation

[Rolo]

over many years of driving ( 41) I reckon a good average is 100K for a clutch. any more then you are:
a) lucky
b) a rep doing motorway miles only

I fitted a new clutch, bearing and pressure plate in 1990, 130 thousand kilometres ago when I reconditioned the whole engine, I cannot feel any signs of developing problems yet and I must assume that I'm either extremely lucky or the fact I drilled three extra holes in the pressure plate so I could have twice as many holding bolts (and had it balanced with the pressure plate in place) has much to do with it.

Right now my driving is about 80% motorway driving but up to three years ago it was probably about 20-30%.

[topdogs]

I had to have a clutch in my mk6 Tourneo at 40K. ( 6 months). I argued with the main dealer that it was a faulty clutch but to no avail. The replacement clutch has been in for over 210K ( still working fine). Does this tell you something or what !

Mike