rjz@ihnss.UUCP (12/07/83)
I just bought an Audi Coupe with a 5 speed. This is the first time I owned a car with a clutch. How will I know it is time to replace the clutch? Bob Zurawski ihnss!rjz
emma@uw-june (Joe Pfeiffer) (12/09/83)
When it needs replacing, you'll know. -Joe P.
kds@intelca.UUCP (Ken Shoemaker) (12/12/83)
the popular method I have heard as to how to check your clutch is to
1. set the parking break
2. put the transmission in 4th (or 5th for a 5 speed)
3. let out the clutch and try to rev the engine, if you can, the clutch is
slipping
I've never had it "fail" on my rabbit with 85Kmiles, so I assume my clutch is
still good....I would assume that you would notice some loss of power if you
did need to have it worked on, though.
--
Ken Shoemaker, Intel, Santa Clara, Ca.
{pur-ee,hplabs,ucbvax!amd70,ogcvax!omsvax}!intelca!kdswarren@ihnss.UUCP (12/13/83)
I would guess that clutch wear is probably much more sensitive to the number of shifts and the driver's technique than to miles or time, making it very hard to predict how long it will go. You can probably sense the wear by the need to readjust a mechanical linkage, or by fluid loss in a hydrolic system. (I can tell when to replace my brake pads by the fluid level in the reservoir). I've heard lots of pessimists say plan to replace it at 50K miles, yet the clutch in my rabbit is at 80K with no outward sign of trouble. I probably have a much higher proportion of highway driving than normal and don't many quick starts, and I hope it will go another 80K (the replacement procedure looks as easy as open heart surgery). If you are buying it used, of course, you have no idea what kind of abuse it's had, and I don't think that there is any easy way to check it. -- Warren Montgomery ihnss!warren IH x2494
billr@tektronix.UUCP (Bill Randle) (12/15/83)
It will become obvious when it is time to replace the clutch. Generally what happens is that the clutch will start slipping - i.e. when you step on the gas the engine revs for a moment before you start moving forward. If you have a hydralicaly operated clutch, your rubber bushings/plungers will usually wear first. The usual symptom for that is no clutch at all - i.e. you push in the clutch but it doesn't disengage. This usually requires rebuilding the slave and/or master clutch cylinders. Over the 135,000 miles I've owned my SAAB, I've had to replace the clutch twice and rebuild the hydralics four times (usually just the slave cylinder). An interesting experience I had once was driving though down- town Vancouver, BC with no clutch. It can be done - just turn off the engine, put the car in first gear and start the engine. Downshifting can be tricky, but it is doable. -Bill Randle tektronix!billr