Life of a clutch

**Tallulah** · 26-07-2008,11:06 PM

Any idea how long a clutch lasts?? I have a mk4 1.6 16v 74k on the clock and as far as I can tell it's on it's original clutch. Any idea how much it is to change and when to do this??

Thanks (as always)

meathead · 27-07-2008,11:51 AM

Personally I'd leave it until it starts slipping, then you know it needs doing!

**dubcruiser** · 27-07-2008,02:49 PM

Yeah there is no real guide to the life of a clutch. It depends on your driving style and the way the car has been driven from new. Also a car with motorway miles will be light on its clutch rather than a car used for school runs and shopping trips locally. My GTi has 64k miles and is still on the original clutch and thats with 180bhp going through it for 5 years!

**Tallulah** · 27-07-2008,04:04 PM

'Slipping' I have heard this before but as this is my first car could someone please explain to me what this is??

Thanks

meathead · 27-07-2008,04:10 PM

When the revs rise of thier own accord when driving at a constant speed. Don't worry you'll notice it!

It happens when the friction material is worn I believe. It's nothing out of the ordinary.

**wildstar** · 27-07-2008,07:03 PM

as said above it all depends on how you drive the car but normally between 60-90 thousand miles on petrol and more miles on a deisel my car is on 114000 and still on the original clutch, one way of telling iff it is on its way out is to put it in fifth gear put handbrake on as hard as you can and then try to pull away iff it stalls then its ok but iff it trys to carry on as in it trys to pull away then it is starting to slip and would get it done asap or you might encounter damage to your flywheel and then that will need scimming or even replacing hope this helps and as for price you would be looking about spending maybe between 200 to 300 pounds for a full kit dont let a cowboy try to talk you into only replacing the cluth plate this is no good you need all of it replacing that is clutch plate,thrust plate and thrust bearing good luck
steve

**mon21x** · 27-07-2008,08:03 PM

My mate's dad has a Passat TDi 115 that is used for hospital runs, etc. Clutch has just started to slip......at 310000 (yes, three hundred and ten thousand) miles!!!!!

**herby0001** · 29-07-2008,03:28 PM

Originally Posted by mon21x

My mate's dad has a Passat TDi 115 that is used for hospital runs, etc. Clutch has just started to slip......at 310000 (yes, three hundred and ten thousand) miles!!!!!

Awesome mileage! Respect to your mate's dad!

**Hex69** · 29-07-2008,04:09 PM

Originally Posted by mon21x

My mate's dad has a Passat TDi 115 that is used for hospital runs, etc. Clutch has just started to slip......at 310000 (yes, three hundred and ten thousand) miles!!!!!

Mine's a mere youngster then at 206k on it's original clutch!!