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YOUR RESEARCHclutch lifespan with regular driving
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Repair tranny
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The tranny was repaired at 104k and the clutch still had plenty of life left so I didn't replace.
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I'm thinking next year I'll have the clutch replaced along with RMS/IMS/AOS/water pump as I'm in this for the long pull.
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My clutch was changed by previous owner at like 56,000.
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I bought the car with 49k miles, and changed the clutch shortly after at 55k.
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Suggestion
Yes, I realize clutch life is dependent on how it is used (had a high-school buddy who used the clutch in his parents car as a speed control-- you can imagine how long that lasted), but the majority of mileage figures I've seen fall between 60 & 80K, and that seems rather short-lived especially within a community of what I would assume to conscientious owners/drivers.
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Mine needed replacement when I bought it at 38k. Depends entirely on how you drive, though my mechanic says 996 clutches don't last as long as many other cars.
I have had five previous Porsches as listed below and all went over 100,000 miles on the original clutch. My 996 needed a new clutch at 48,000 miles . Only difference I know of is that I bought the car with 4,000 miles and my wife drives it on an occasional basis.
You do see a lot of these cars having new clutches installed at relatively low mileage.
Once you see how small the 996 clutch is, it will be clear why they don't last as much as all the other cars on the road. The surface area of the disk is slightly larger than a Civic and has to hold 300hp.
My '99 needed a new motor at 45K miles so I bought a new disc, PP and T/O brng. for the dealer to install. I measured the friction material of the original disc and it was about 60% good. I installed the new stuff anyway and think I could have easily made over 100K miles.
Another way to put it in my case the clutch lasted over twice as long as the motor. Motor failed due to intermix, cracked cylinder. Lucky to get it goodwilled in its 7th year, 3 years after warranty expired and being the second owner. It was a bit of work though.
Did you measure the total thickness of the disk or the distance between the top of the rivets and the top of the disk? Unlike brake pads, the clutch disk can't wear down to the metal centre plate. The rivet heads will fist contact the flywheel and pressure plate and at that point, the clutch will start slipping more and more.
My '99 is at 67K w/original clutch. I was experiencing some shudder at take off when cold. Then I had the system flushed & filled, and the shudder seems to have gone away.
I'm thinking next year I'll have the clutch replaced along with RMS/IMS/AOS/water pump as I'm in this for the long pull.
relinuca
All depends on the driver and in what conditions the car is racking up miles, i.e., city driving with lots of shifting or highway miles where you are just cruising. I have a 99 C2 w/121,000 miles on original clutch, no slippage or any problems...about 60% highway miles and 40% city driving. My shifts are clean and no start from stop drag racing so I'm pretty easy on the clutch. Since I'm the only driver/owner and DIY garage mechanic for everything (and I love the car), it does get babied in the garage, but driven normally as a daily driver.
Bought my 2000 996 used in April 2011 with 20K miles on the clock. When I had the IMS/RMS upgraded, the shop informed me the clutch was 99% spent.... at 40K miles! Original owner never drove it and when did, must have slipped it all the time.
'01 C2 Cab purchased new.
60k miles and lots of life left on the clutch. It was inspected this spring when the IMS upgrade was performed. Virtually no city driving, 12k plus DE miles, balance highway or rural roads.
The lifespan of the 996 clutch doesn't seem to be one of its selling points.
Yes, I realize clutch life is dependent on how it is used (had a high-school buddy who used the clutch in his parents car as a speed control-- you can imagine how long that lasted), but the majority of mileage figures I've seen fall between 60 & 80K, and that seems rather short-lived especially within a community of what I would assume to conscientious owners/drivers.
Hell, I got 275K out of an Audi 4KQ clutch with double-clutch/H-&-T driving habits, & I would imagine most everyone here drives that way.
My info is clutch disc wear is not linear. In your car's case the 60% thickness remaining didn't mean there was 112 K miles left. Likely there was much more than 112K miles of life left in the clutch.
Also, my info is if the clutch wears enough that the rivets contact the pressure plate/flywheel the clutch doesn't slip but becomes grabby upon take off from a stop.
There is a risk that as this condition is allowed to continue one of the rivets could come apart and the debris result in more serious problems that could need immediate attention.
The rivets will wear a circular depression in the flywheel (and the pressure plate) but the techs I've talked too tell me as long as the flywheel is still in good condition (among other things this means the dual mass feature still works right) the FW can be resurfaced and reused with no issues.
The worn pressure plate gets replaced of course.
Getting ready to turn 60K and I am just starting to notice higher RPM's coupled with slower acceleration. Looks like Santa will be bringing me a new clutch for Christmas.
109k on the 986, original clutch (wife has a light foot), 67k on the 911 (99 C2 original clutch). The 996 is slipping a bit but I do beat the living hell out of it on a daily basis. Sooooo all you guys saying 60k, go smack your mechanics, 'cus you been lied to.
Not sure how previous owner drove it but I had to replace clutch, flywheel and pressure plate at 41k miles on 996. I bought the car in Feb '12 with 36k miles.
Mine was first replace at 47k(purchased at 37k). The tranny was repaired at 104k and the clutch still had plenty of life left so I didn't replace. @120k now. This clutch has been through every scenario from daily rural back roads and city driving to 500 mile trips and it's max speed.
my car is sitting at 117k KM and its still got plenty of meat on it.
I have seen videos that show the wear on the factory clutch plate, in most cases , its almost premature or just a case of someone not driving it properly.
i guess i got lucky.
The rivets have a higher coefficient of friction than the disc material which is why the clutch starts to grab upon take off from stop.
If the disc, pressure plate, or the flywheel are heat glazed then slippage occurs because while the rivets grab better the rest of the friction surfaces are hard and slick.
92,636 miles as of today. Original clutch and associated parts. Plenty of city, highway, and lots of track time, autocrosses, and TotD throughout its life with me since 2004. Car only had 6,000 miles on it when I bought it in 2004. Spent its first five years in Hawaii. I gues not many places to go there with a Porsche. First owner averaged less than 100 miles a month.
If it lasts past 100,000 miles, I will change it out proactively and also do the RMS (original) and IMS (original) as well.
I have three track events in the next 8,000 miles (based on average monthly mileage), so we'll see.
Clutch on my 996 was replaced at 76K by PO, currently have 156K on the car with no slipping or any indication of impending clutch issue. My Dodge Dakota Truck went about 98K on its original clutch. It all depends on how the car is driven.
OK well the original question is just plain BORING!!!
I dont want to drive a Porsche "regular" thank you very much
next question please
on my old pick up I had 180k miles on the original clutch and that poor thing never had a weekend it wasnt hauling a load of some sort - driving habits and the amount of slip/release are HUGE and uncalculatable factors
I have taught a few people how to drive a stick and the first step is a flat parking lot where the only pedal they are allowed to use is the clutch and the brake - get use to letting the clutch out without adding ANY throttle - stop and repeat until its buttery smooth...then once the feel is established the only time throttle will need to be used is on UP hills...
About 65K on mine, then had to replace it.
About 68K on trans and had to have it rebuilt.
Bought the car with 57K miles on it so abuse was not due to me.
