What the clutch?

[BlackGT2000]

A few months ago I got rid of the Mustang because it couldn't seem to keep a clutch. In the 2 years I owned it I went through 4 clutches. Every car I have ever owned has been manual (with the exception of the taurus) and I have never lost a clutch prior to the mustang. I was not even very hard on the car. I only put about 7000 miles on it over a 2 year period. Has anyone else experienced any kind of clutch trouble in this way? I am now convinced that my particular mustang was haunted.

[silverstangs]

Originally Posted by BlackGT2000

A few months ago I got rid of the Mustang because it couldn't seem to keep a clutch. In the 2 years I owned it I went through 4 clutches. Every car I have ever owned has been manual (with the exception of the taurus) and I have never lost a clutch prior to the mustang. I was not even very hard on the car. I only put about 7000 miles on it over a 2 year period. Has anyone else experienced any kind of clutch trouble in this way? I am now convinced that my particular mustang was haunted.

I can see 1 clutch a year, if your putting 15~20k miles, but not 4 in two years... with ONLY 7000 miles. If your doing that, then it's the style of driving that you have. Your clutch may not have been the right choice to match you.

The people that I have seen tear up clutches typically rest their foot on the clutch petal, or downshift a lot to slow down. Some people shift too soon quite often. Other people flat out abuse the clutch and car and do lots of burnouts because they think anything with a V8 is indistructible. There is another set of people that will keep the clutch partially engauged when stopped at a incline all the time, that will take life out of a clutch.

Generally speaking, a clutch should last atleast 12k miles... hence that is why most auto makers only warrenty the clutch itself for 12k miles. Beyond that, and your on your own.

[TheStang00]

my clutch has lasted 91k miles so far. what happened to your clutch? just curious. because if it was squeaking really bad, then thats no big deal. mustangs do that all the time. mine has been doing it for quite a while. its just the throw out bearing needing some lube. the clutch will still work just fine.

[silverstangs]

Originally Posted by TheStang00

my clutch has lasted 91k miles so far. what happened to your clutch? just curious. because if it was squeaking really bad, then thats no big deal. mustangs do that all the time. mine has been doing it for quite a while. its just the throw out bearing needing some lube. the clutch will still work just fine.

The throwout bearings shouldn't ever squeek, if it is, then you already have dry bearings and metal to metal contact... and in that case...

I toss them, especially since they are cheap anyways.

[BlackGT2000]

The first clutch was worn through, it came with the car so there is no way I can say how the first owner drove the car. The second one squeaked from the minute it was installed. Everytime I would bring it in, the thing stopped until I had it back in my hands. I was fed up with it so I had it replaced, clutch TOB and all. Again, I was never happy with that clutch. Eventually that clutch (possibly more accurately the clutch adjuster) left me with a short pedal travel, squeeling and an overall mushy pedal feel. I decided to take things into my own hands and install everything myself, I replaced the entire setup with a Centerforce unit thinking this would take care of the problem. A couple months later some of the fingers came off the centerforce and that was all she wrote for that. None of the clutch surfaces other than the first showed any real wear. I do not exhibit any of the driving behaviors listed above.

[SkylineUSA]

I had a Centerforce on my old Stang. I sold the car with 24k on it. I abused the hell out of, and it was still strong the day I sold it. This is with a S-Trim pushing about 325 to the wheels, and a World Class T5.

Maybe there is an issue with set-up on your Stang. Just throwin it out there, because as far as I know, this is an anomaly.

[TheStang00]

the T/O bearings making noise seems to be pretty common from what ive read, on mustangs that is. i probably would put a better one on mine, but im broke so it stays for a while longer.

[BlackGT2000]

Stang00, I have heard that the TOB was a common cause of squeeks, and one of the times I did experience that. I have no idea what was up with that particular car, especially since those mustangs are generally pretty reliable mechanically. Maybe there was some other cause of error that I wasn't aware of. Skyline, you aren't the first person to have high praises for Centerforce, and thats why I bought it. Oh well, I still don't have a bad taste in my mouth for mustangs. I will get another one. I am thinking of getting a Fox and getting it working well mechanically than in a few years tearing it apart to build the Factory five cobra.

[silverstangs]

Originally Posted by TheStang00

the T/O bearings making noise seems to be pretty common from what ive read, on mustangs that is. i probably would put a better one on mine, but im broke so it stays for a while longer.

Alot of people forget to pack the T/O bearing with grease because they think what is on the TB is good enough...

[72' Stang 351 H/O]

When you shift do you push the clutch to the floor?

[TheStang00]

Originally Posted by 72' Stang 351 H/O

When you shift do you push the clutch to the floor?

if your talking to me, yes.

[silverstangs]

Originally Posted by TheStang00

if your talking to me, yes.

Really? I only push about 1/3rd the way...

[TheStang00]

Originally Posted by silverstangs

Really? I only push about 1/3rd the way...

thats about where mine releases too. i just push it all the way out of habit... i remember someone telling me one time that its better for the clutch to do that. while i didnt necessarily believe them because i dont see the benefit, i thought it could hurt to do it anyway, in case they are right.

[BlackGT2000]

I push it all the way to the floor, I don't slam it to the floor but I do push it all the way down every time.

[TheStang00]

i was watching myself on my way home tonight. i push it all the way to the floor partly because i like to sit close while im driving so i dont have to extend all the way to get the peddle all the way down. so my normal foot motion pushes it in all the way.