Originally Posted By: Michael_P
If driven properly, clutches should last the life of the car.
I think this varies with car and driving conditions. I grew up in a mountainous/hilly region, and only some of our clutches lasted beyond 100k. We all drove sticks, and my folks were good at it-- rub for 1st but then just drop it into every gear, no slipping. I drove the same. 77 corona needed one at 70k. then another at 110k ([censored] parts on the 77k job?). Ford escort POS at 66k, but it was used and don't know it's history. subaru loyale always needed adjustment, seemed to wear quickly (sold at 70k before clutch went), subaru legacy at 90k, but you could never quite get the shifts right because the a/c on/off would muck on the timing. OTOH, we had 2 hondas that were indeed sold/totaled in their 150k's with original clutches.
On that legacy, I thought the flywheel/clutch should have been bigger for the engine torque output in relation to vehicle weight. by memory--- 130-ish hp, 130ish ft/lbs, car was maybe 3400 lbs empty?? clutch surface was a 2" wide ring maybe 9" dia?. That engine worked hard to move that car in traffic. It was tender enough that, say, if you did a 3000 launch (NOT a frequent occurence, but say carrying a LOT of camping gear, starting up a steep grade in the middle of nowhere, and had to slip the clutch to get it out of the mud, --- say not enough to smoke it but enough to feel bad, there was an immediate, noticeable change in the pedal position afterward. It needed a beefier clutch.
M