Clutch Life?

Since there is an individual on this board who thinks the it is a FACT that all 996 owners have to replace their clutch every 2 years, I thought it would be of interest to see what our member's are experiencing. How's you clutch been? I have had 2 porsches before my 996 and eached had over 100,000 miles on the original clutch. My current 996, althought going through back tires every 10,000 miles, has the orginal clutch after 5 years and 45,000 miles. I would be interested in hearing from others on their clutch life.

4 years and 68,000 miles on mine. Daily driver. No problems yet. Who told you that you have to replace the clutch every 2 years anyway? He should drive a TIP.

1998 model with 48000 kms. Still has that strong binding sensation everytime I release the pedal. Oh by the way, how often do you need to change the clutch fluid? Do you ever have to?

I changed my brake fluid myself at 5 years. You bleed the clutch at same time it is feed from brake master cylinder fluid source.

30k and still going, a lot of city driving as well. 5 years plus!

I had to replace mine at 40k and now at 50k it's feeling weird. I think it was negligently installed etc.

Just had to replace mine, with 33000 Kms. But have been tracking the car a bit. Went with the Spec unit which was a horrible idea. If you ever have to change it, go stock. Best Wishes WOT

What an azz this 1999Guy is! My point is that you if are not inspecting the clutch there is a possibility that you could be replacing in as little as two years (you PUTZ) and there are members on this list that have done so. 'PORSCHE SAID' (That is the manufacturer in case you didn't know) that this problem with frequent or early clutch repalcement it was in part due to driver, no argument there however early clutch replacement is not uncommon. Nevertheless, becuase you have got 50K out of your garage queen is not necessarily the experience of most drivers again for your reading pleasure I will again post these infamous letters in your face YMMV . In any case you do not have to look very far to find clutch replacement under 50K miles and like I said all of the 996 publications/buyers guides make the same statement. By the way this issue started around the RMS and whether is was a possiblity that during clutch replacement the RMS could be inspected simultaneously or visa versa. Get a grip on your self son,,, now pull my finger again!

Sorry ******** but you should have someeone read what you wrote outloud to you. Maybe you have difficulty understanding the written word. I'm not going to keep defending those of us who are happy with our cars and don't have any of the problems you say we should have. I am happy for those people and feel bad for those that do have problems. Don't state things as facts when they are nothing more than your opinion. Maybe then you'll get a little respect.

Hehehehe comments from the blue stater... nope not one bit am I a failure but you know that about me already so once again you know the answers to questions that you have no experience around. WHATEVER!!! But before I depart this thread allow me to leave this little clip from other members and the founder of this list regarding CLUTCH FAILURES. http://www.rennlist.org/main996faq/f...utch%20failure Porsche 996 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) The 996 FAQ This is a listing of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) relating to the Porsche 996 C2 and C4. Many thanks to all who contributed, and in particular to: Mike Blaszczak, Bill Economos, John Felker, Howard Groveman, Van Larson, Mike Pumphrey, Todd Serota, Robert Sirico, and Eric Sklut - without your contributions and involvement in the 996 community, we would all be the poorer. A special thanks too to John D, founder of RennList, for hosting this FAQ Clutch failure There have been several reports of clutch failure/extremely rapid ware at very low miles (3-6,000 miles). Most dealers will not replace this under warranty and will claim poor driving on your part. Since some victims are long-time Porsche owners and owners of other clutch-sensitive cars, it seems at least possible that poor driving is not to blame. At the time of writing there is no official response to this issue. Seems to me other members and the FOUNDER OF THIS LIST that you are posting your WRONG INFORMATION ON have already made this available for PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. I guess they are ******** and WRONG TOO and you are still right!

1999Guy doesn't that just stab ya right in the heart that you are wrong again! Ugh its kil'n me!

Obviously suffering from a oral/**** fixation-Put a plug in it!!!

My 996 Turbo is still running on the original clutch despite a lot of track days. And it now has over 192'000 km. Greetings, --Pierre

Did you say one hundred and ninety two thousand km's?

Yep. Which translates to almost 120'000 miles. See http://www.911turbo.com/feature/2003-12/index.php for a few more details (but the page is almost 1 year old). Greetings --Pierre PS: the picture of the speedo shown on 911turbo.com (313km/h) is outdated. I saw 319 (for several minutes!) last August...

Fair enough, I can join you in agreement there with the exception that there are examples of premature failure by very experienced Porsche drivers and members of this list (I am not one of those that has had to repalce my clutch so quickly although I requested the dealer do so when my RMS failed. By the way, my RMS failure was the cause of my engine change by the dealer. Although this is rare there are some of us out there that have complete engine replacements under warrenty due to RMS failure.) My apologies for my abrasive response, however, I don't think the "numb nuts" comment was quite called for especially when we cold find middle ground on this topic ( it was funny though, so on the other hand I got a good chuckle out of it ))

My car has 160,000 km's on it and I had the clutch done for the first time at 158,000 km's.

Had to change my clutch @ 45K miles. When I asked the dealer what was the average milage a 996 where you would require to change the clutch, I was told around 30K. I have a C4 and do some city driving. I wonder if there is a difference of clutch life between a C2 and C4?

approaching 90k miles, orginal clutch. it grabs fine, but i think the pressure plate has seen better days... the car gets tracked a lot. i never side slip the cltuch under high revs or try to win at stoplight drags.

Hmmmmm, interesting... the dealer said that. So it is not just my opinion...very interesting.

Hmmmmm, interesting... the dealer said that. So it is not just my opinion...very interesting. Talked to the service manager at the Porsche dealer today (largest dealer in Midwest) and told him what you stated to be fact as to clutch life. He kept a straight face while he called over a mechnic. Then they both started laughing. He suggested that I tell you to trade your car in for a TIP. He also said that if he was asked what the average mileage is on a 996 when they have changed the clutch, they would say between 30,000 and 40,000 miles. However, they say that is because they have not seen many of the higher mileage 996's for clutch problems because they are stil accumulating the miles. He estimated that maybe 5% of the 996's sold since 1999 have had clutches replaced. They also wanted to know what dealer you used that "removed the engine" to change your clutch? (more laughing) Since you seem to take the word of a Porsche Dealer as the word of GOD, then I guess the following statement you made is wrong: "First of all you are positvely NEVER going to get a 996 clutch to last 100K miles. I don't care how well you drive it and Porsche can confirm that (don't take from me talk to a dealer 100K on a 996 clutch is simply madness, I mean absolute and sheer LUNACY). It is a well know fact, that if you have owned a 996 longer than 2 years chances are really good that your gonna be doing clutch work... it is simply a known and recognized fact." I guess the others on this board that claim to have high miles on the clutches are lieing? I would recommend that, in the future, you might get a little more respect by not attacking people whose experiences differs from your own. You want to state you opinion, fine, but to make up facts that do not exist just to make it appear that you know more than you do is unwise.

Ahem Ahem (as I take another bite from my apple)....Ahhhhh Did somebody here say they I needed to remove my engine to change a clutch? Hmmm seems I can't recall that being said anywhere but as long as you are going to make things up...ok, I can live with it. But if you were refering to the fact that I had an engine replacement becuase of my RMS failure and I "elected" to replace the clutch while the engine was out, now that is is another story, in fact, a correct one. Of course I could post the receipt from Sunset Porsche here in Portland, OR to prove that but since you have a hard time reading all the posts that are listed here you probably would not see it. You see, uh what was yer name again??? Lets just call you- Ten Poster, ok? If you check the FAQ's on this Rennlist under CLUTCH REPLACEMENT here you will find that there are experienced Porsche Drivers that are founding members of this list that you are currently posting on, agree and have experienced what I have been saying here. In fact, clutch failures were occuring in as little as 6-10K miles. OH, but THAT COULD NEVER HAPPEN DOUBLENUTS!!! YOU AND ALL THOSE OTHER LIST MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVING PORSCHES FOR YEARS MUST BE IDIOTS AND FURTHERMORE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A PORSCHE CLUTCH. Yea, yea, yea...I bet you want to buy me and all the others on this list that have expereinced premature 996 clutch failure a pack of gum so you can show us how to chew it. The supreme insult to the founder and contributing techincal staff of Rennlist . BUUUUUUT ya gotta be right, so, OK what ever you and your phantom Porsche dealer mechanic have to say is ok in your head but there are many here before you "Ten Poster" that have had a very different experience over the years that this list has been in place. By the way let me re-post the following statement that I made and do your self and READ IT CLOSELY then go check your service manuel (WRITTEN BY PORSCHE and let me know WHAT MILEAGE POINT THE MANUFACTURER "PORSCHE" RECOMMENDS THAT CLUTCH WORK OR SERVICING NEEDS TO BE DONE, minimally an inspection)- "It is a well know fact, that if you have owned a 996 longer than 2 years chances are really good that your gonna be doing clutch work... it is simply a known and recognized fact." Yep I said and stand by it, of course that is my opinion but the are several posts here in this thread that suggests your could be replacing a 996 clutch under 50K. So my point is, "Ten Poster", your post here is waaaaay late ( good job there bub) on this topic and the experience of other users here, some unfortunate and under 50K and admittedly so, many more over 50K simply means that my original point of why this thread has become a thrash DoubleNuts opine soapbox is YMMV , and still holds true.

Just replaced my original slipping clutch @ 90000 miles and replaced a perfectly working IMS bearing with an LN ceramic bearing +RMS which was still good and not leaking on a 2002 996 C2. I drive normal mostly 60% city 40% Highway and don't race. Clutch life depends on driving and road condition so a driver in San Francisco could get less miles than driving on flat road.