Proper clutch use and replacement.

I have just a couple of questions about the clutch. First off, I've been driving manual transmissions for about 16 years, so I'm not new to it, and I feel like I've treated them pretty well. I've never had any go out on me or anything. But it was only recently that I actually learned how they work, and it has made me question my use and how hard it is wearing on the clutch.

I don't "ride" the clutch while driving or anything, my main question is during take off from a stop. I typically like a nice smooth start, not a quick jolt off the line, and not a shaky start, so to achieve that, I slowly let the clutch out every time. But in learning how the clutch works, I realize that I am basically doing a lot of slipping to achieve this nice smooth start, which I've learned will wear down the clutch faster. Now, I don't want to drop the clutch either, I hear that can cause damage to gears and other areas, plus it doesn't give me the smooth start that I want. (unless I'm racing someone off the line, which I rarely do.) Is my clutch use considered normal use? Or is there a better way to do it?

My last question is about the clutch replacement. I just bought a 2001 Mustang GT, and it has about 86K miles on it. I don't know if the clutch has ever been replaced, and it feels fine to me at this point. I can contact the previous owner, but he's only had it for about 4 years, so he may not know if it's been replaced before that. Is the clutch something I can just wait till I feel it slipping before I replace it without damaging other stuff, or should I replace it at a certain point whether or not I feel it going out? I've looked at info on how to replace it, and I'm pretty sure I could do it myself, so I'd just be looking at parts cost, which doesn't seem to be too high. I'm just curious.

If you have not burned up a clutch yet, you are probably treating them fairly well.

For me, I have always tried to minimize slippage. For normal driving, I tend not to rev the engine much and try to release the clutch as quickly as is practical. This means after a second or two, the car is moving off the line, with the clutch fully released and the engine revving pretty low..... so one can gather speed with minimal clutch wear. Frankly, the Mustang V8 torque can accomplish this more easily than your Maxima.... assuming the gearing is comparable.

So, imo, proper clutch technique varies a bit from car-to-car. Depending on gearing and torque you can get a smooth start with an absolute minimum of slippage.

Replacement..... when clutches wear out, they usually give plenty of warning from slippage (usually its very mild at first) or clutch chatter (more common if the clutch has been overheated/abused) Imo don't bother with replacement unless at least one of these symptoms appear.

Push in pressure plates usually suffer from a lack of clutch release as they wear because of the distance the T.O. bearing has to travel before it gets to the pressure plate. So you end up getting to the point where it is hard to shift into first/reverse without it grinding and if it gets bad enough you won't be able to get it into gear at all with the engine running. MOST clutches use a pretty standard push in pressure plate. Pull type pressure plates usually slip their balls off when they start getting worn out because there is a slight pull on the clutch the more it wears since the T.O bearing is captured inside the pressure plate.

If you have not burned up a clutch yet, you are probably treating them fairly well.

For me, I have always tried to minimize slippage. For normal driving, I tend not to rev the engine much and try to release the clutch as quickly as is practical. This means after a second or two, the car is moving off the line, with the clutch fully released and the engine revving pretty low..... so one can gather speed with minimal clutch wear. Frankly, the Mustang V8 torque can accomplish this more easily than your Maxima.... assuming the gearing is comparable.

So, imo, proper clutch technique varies a bit from car-to-car. Depending on gearing and torque you can get a smooth start with an absolute minimum of slippage.

Replacement..... when clutches wear out, they usually give plenty of warning from slippage (usually its very mild at first) or clutch chatter (more common if the clutch has been overheated/abused) Imo don't bother with replacement unless at least one of these symptoms appear.

Awesome, thanks for the tips. Sounds like I handle the clutch quite like you do. I try to get off it quickly, but not too quick. I don't rev it or hold it too long. And actually, the clutch on this stang feels and acts alot more like my old ford escort than it does my Maxima. It engages really early, which I like, so I can keep my heel on the ground and have more control on the clutch pedal. An F-150 for example, seems to engage really late in pulling the clutch out, so I have to use my whole leg to let the clutch out and I don't feel I have near as much control, and it's harder to make smooth starts in the truck.

Anyway, thanks, I feel better now about the way I drive a clutch, and will just let it go before worrying about replacing.