Prolonging clutch life

[mjb]

So of late I've been driving everywhere as grandad-like as I can but today I was in 5th gear, 1500rpm, gave it slightly too much throttle trying to keep up with a 1.1 fiesta and it slipped

So it's got me thinking since I can still get about sharpish in low gears when the ol' red mist descends ... Would it not help prolong the life of the clutch if I went everywhere around 5000rpm (accelerating slowly) instead of trying to keep revs as low as possible?

[Doggy]

Not sure - if you're right Honda Accord clutches will last forever.

(Recently heard one owner saying he was going to change his for a car with something called torque).

[Welly]

I would probably amble about town in 3rd mostly, say around 3000 rpm....try it and see if it helps?

[mjb]

I would probably amble about town in 3rd mostly, say around 3000 rpm....try it and see if it helps?

That's about 50mph, not quite ambling

Drove to work this morning only using 1st and 2nd. Pedal feels so horribly vague and slow, but I didn't really feel it slipping while in gear. Think I'll be heading down to Wolverhampton in 3rd ;)

[Welly]

To be fair a slipping clutch can be nursed along or ages as long as you don't try 1-in-4 hill starts etc

[jasper5]

Best way is to accelerate gently in all gears, as soon as you feel the slip, back off the revs until it doesn't slip, then gentle acceleration again.

As Welton says, try to keep away from hill starts and avoid the hills as much as possible.

[mjb]

As Welton says, try to keep away from hill starts and avoid the hills as much as possible.

Yeah, that's not much of an option round here

[Welly]

I wonder if clutch replacements are directly proportional to the landscape of the area

*moves to Lincolnshire*

[eoin27]

Speaking of prolonging clutch life. Could anyone tell me the difference between this (a HDi 90 clutch) and this (a HDi 110 clutch). If the 110 clutch is built stronger to take the extra 20bhp of power, i'll get one of those.

[Welly]

They look the same but caution is the key as I believe they should not be the same at all

The 90 has a solid fly but the 110 has a dmf -that shouldn't really affect the clutch itself but I've a feeling the 110's is bigger diameter.

What you need is some kind chap wth Service Box to have a looky.

BTW the LUK ones are supposed to be pretty good.

[eoin27]

ya, the DMF factor entered my head alright. Notice in the auction, they mention that you will recieve a Luk OR a Valeo. Which is it??

[Doggy]

Right then.....
90
00002022J1 Clutch kit £213.26 DW10TD & Gearbox BE4R
0000205145 EXCHClutch kit £113.52 DW10TD & Gearbox BE4R
110
00002052F0 Clutch kit £222.25 DW10ATED & BVM ML5T
0000205142 EXCHClutch kit £165.09 DW10ATED & BVM ML5T
All of above 225mm according to HBOL
136
000205260 Clutch kit £236.25 DW12TED4 & BVM ML5T
000205241 EXCHClutch kit £179.80 DW12TED4 & BVM ML5T
242mm

[Welly]

So they are different then, it seems.

[bangernom1cs]

HI,
Not that I've had the problem ..yet. Apparently D9 clutches arent as good as D8's.
Five people up and going around North Wales all the time would you think cause problems but I'm hoping that mine will last.
On the D8 1.9 I changed the clutch as a precaution when the gearbox came out for a bit of fettling at 200k.
The replacement Valeo clutch is still working well in the car 240k on and thats had solid urban taxi work inc the North Wales hill runs. Compare this to my old Montego diesel which went through a total of four in the same mileage!
I believe that the thing (told by old mechanic)that wears clutches out are sharp fast starts and rough gearchanging and clutch riding. Smoothness it would seem is the key.

T