How long should a clutch last? I have replaced my clutch near and around 36k miles on my 1988 Rx7 Vert, the car now has about 66k miles and the new clutch has already started slipping really bad. I do drive it hard at times, but mostly normal driving, not too many hard launches but maybe every now and then. Could this be because the car has sat a lot or age of the clutch. I believe the guy when he replaced it , got one from advance auto parts oem replacement clutch kit, but this really sucks if i m gonna go through clutches ever 30k or so miles !

 

I got an el-cheapo disk from O'Reillys, lasted about 1000 miles, and I drive like the old man I am.
Put in an ACT street/strip disk, no more problems!

 

on a n/a i like the centerforce D/F 300 passes and still going strong

 

If the flywheel wasn't resurfaced and there was an old pressure plate on it, that could reduce clutch life significantly.

Also, clutch life is related to how long the clutch slips for. If you're shifting very gently, it might be hard on the clutch - do you smell clutch frequently?

-=Russ=-

 

actually i m a hard shifter, so i hardly ever smell clutch actually i m not smelling it now even, so beats me ... i just know when i go from first to second it slips or even in 5th and apply the gas it slips...

 

I took it out after an hour or so and the car drives perfectly fine now, can someone explain what happened?

 

no idea, if it was a cheap clutch set you get what you pay for.

to those who replace the disc only and not the pressure plate and wonder why their clutch is slipping, do a little more homework next time...

 

I have an 1988 Mazda RX7 w 66k original miles, i had to replace the first clutch at around 36k miles and now i have my second clutch in and just last night i did a few hard launches and the pavement was wet so i never really got traction for a while. After i finally came to a stop and them went to take off it was normal but when i shifted to second and then third and forth and so on it slipped each time. I could have been in 5th and it would slip when i apply the accelerator. After i parked it and hour or so later, i got in it and it drove perfectly normal, but to make sure i took it for another hard run minus any hard launches. Drives normal what caused this and what effect will it have on my clutch?

I had installed a complete clutch kit and the flywheel was not even worn or burnt on the install at 36k miles.

 

you should always resurface a flywheel when you install a new clutch, some heat spots you may not see can be burned into the face and will cause spotting with the new clutch, same for brake rotors. if it is a semi cheap clutch it could just be the springs in the pressure plate losing tension and allowing the disc to slip. last thing i can think of is a foriegn material getting between the disc and the pressure plate/flywheel such as oil and not allowing the disc to grab properly.



the most uncommon problem would be a deteriorated line with debris in it allowing the slave to act as a one way check valve so it activates but won't release(pumping the pedal usually causes it to be low then gradually come up or just stick to the floor), or there is binding in the slave or master not allowing the pressure to release properly.

 

It's incredibly unusual to have to replace a factory clutch at only 36k miles. Mine is running about 154k miles and still has about 10k left in it.

Honestly, it sounds a bit like user error to me.

Not resurfacing the flywheel would also be a good reason.

 

it might have well been user error with my hard launch, so what should i do now replace the clutch or just leave it... it drive fine now

 

I have an ACT 4 puck clutch with a perssure plate i payed like 350 - 400 and its def worth it ive had it for months and i drive alot and still aint slippin... btw i love this clutch and would def recomend it to neone and if you want more get the ACT 6 Puck

 

launching is the hardest on a clutch, the harder the launch the more prone to clutch problems you will have, especially if it is not a higher performance clutch.

 

So what clutches you guys would recomend for my vert cause im gonna need a new one !

 

A couple people have recommended the ACT...