Thread: How far can you go on one clutch?

Originally Posted by Daisy Driver

Here's today's question: (and I know it does not have anything like a straight answer). Daisy has 197K km on her clock and is still running on her original clutch. She has led a pampered, Tarmac centred life and has probably clocked up only 10,000km towing a 500kg trailer. We are hearing the various clatterings from the clutch when I press the pedal and the car is cold but it's still working. I have priced up a clutch and flywheel kit from Craddocks. How much borrowed time do we reckon I have left before I spend a weekend on my back?

could also be just the throw out bearing

pretty much the same amount of work to change it though, may as well do the lot while it is all apart

It's really hard to know. I used to work in a garage that specialized in Japanese cars, and I've seen identical models go through them in drastically different mileage. I've seen a 1990 year model Honda Accord go over 300,000 miles (about 480,000 km) and not yet need a clutch (first 120,000 miles were by a traveling salesman where it almost exclusively stayed in high gear for hours at a time) and I've seen the same year car need one at 100,000 miles, though it was probably abused.

My Dearly Departed Mazda 626 (imported LPG Capella) did over 417,000 km on its original. - Was in perfect condition when crashed, despite the last 20K driven by a known 'clutch-rider' (#2 son)
- Wife and I did the rest, all city-commuting driving with a handful of 200+km trips.

Driven properly, I'd expect 250 to 350K minimum, 400+ would be nice....

FWIW, I had the spigot bearing grinding when cold, esp in reverse. Got worse, then to the point that I had to let the revs drop to idle before downshifting during spirited driving. I was nursing it as it was just a daily driver until I got around to the service.

Then all of a sudden it's back to normal - no extra noise, nothing.

I had the clutch replaced in my 300tdi Defender replaced at 280 000km when I had the gb & tc recon'd. Had no problems with it at the time, just decided to get it done with everything else.
Unfortunately I totalled it 3 months later
So now I am the proud owner of a D2

Thats pretty good llife. The throw out bearing is usually the first to go. Unlike the cars above they cop abuse from off-road use including dust mud water . It doesn't help to sit stationary with the clutch in all the time either

i have a d2with 318000km on the clutch but is getting a bit s/hand now but been like that last 100k ish, better change it sooner than latter i think