1993 Clutch replacement frequency

[GRCompton]

I have a 1993 Camry SE with a lot of play in the clutch pedal. I'm not experiencing any slippage, but I've had the car for 70,000 miles without replacing the clutch and it's likely that the original clutch is still in the vehicle which is now at 120,000 miles. How often is a clutch replacement recommended and how difficult a task is the replacement for an infrequent home mechanic?

[Brian R.]

You only replace a clutch when it gives out and you car stops or nearly so. When you give it gas and very little happens, you know to get to a parking lot or side road so you can stop safely.

Replacing a clutch is easy for a mechanic, but for others, it is a chore. The hard part is removing the transaxle which you have to do since the clutch is sandwiched between the transaxle and the engine. They are heavy and bulky with alot of details to be accomplished to get it right. You also need a secure engine support. Installing the clutch is the easy part.