Clutch question

[HuGo]

My dad was telling me that im gonna have to replace the clutch soon cuz its wearing out. He says its because of the way i drive. Hes says i pull to hard. Maybe its when i shift gears pretty fast, but does that hurt the clutch?? I know its those times when i drop the clutch at 4k rpms but i havent done that lately. But is shifting gears pretty fast a problem to the clutch?? My dad says that i dont let the engine breathe between gears, like im from 2nd, to 3rd instantly. I guess he wants me to take a second or 2 atleast between gears. I dont want a racing clutch cuz those things are really hard and stiff. ANy tips??? OR is me switching gears fast really hurting the clutch??

[andyman7931]

revving the engine and dumping the clutch is bad for it, but quick shifting if you rpm match isn't bad at all. You may want to practice RPM matching, it's not hard once you get use to it. When downshifting and you press the clutch in, try to press the gas just enough to increase the RPMs to where the clutch will be when you let it out. This will minimize slippage. Also if you get good enough with this you can change gears without using the clutch.

I don't know on these cars, but I'd guess that a sport clutch will not be much stiffer than stock and you'd probably not notice it. If we had mechanical clutch systems it'd be tougher. For me, I think my clutch is going bad soon, but I'll just put the stock one in unless I decide that I'll supercharge in the future. More HP is usually why you'd want an upgraded clutch.

[cali-ti]

the trick is matching getting on the gas as the clutch engages so you reduce wear. i'm on my stock clutch at 212k miles. certainly dropping the clutch will be bad. i also tend not to downshift much at all. for example, when coming to a stop, i put it in neutral and let the clutch out, just using the brakes to stop. do you hold the clutch in while at a stop? that's also bad (for the throw out bearing).

[JPerfect]

I also rarely ever downshift, unless I am in race mode... autocross, twisty mountain roads, etc. I have had the car for over 25k miles now, since Oct. 2004. Clutch was replaced when the car had 50k miles on it. It now has 75k miles on it, and feels the same as it was the day I got the car.

Over the last year, I have practiced rev matching, and it's the only way to go. When shifting from 3rd-4th-5th under normal circumstances I barely even use the clutch. I just slide the gear right in, almost seamlessly.

[aceyx]

Hugo, unless it's slipping, you don't need to replace it. I'm on my second clutch, going on for about 85k and I taught someone how to drive stick on this one.

Launches do burn your clutch a little more, because you're meant to slip it a little. When you pull it, you'll see a lot more wear on the pressure plate than the flywheel side of the clutch disc (NOTE: they make cool clocks).

Downshifting is fine, as long as you rev-match. If you know you have to stop, it's kind of pointless though. I generally do it if I can time the light.

As far as shifting speed, that's wear on your synchros, not the clutch. Again, if you rev-match, it's not a big deal. If you're just going along (shifting at a lower RPM), give it a little time between shifts. If you're pinning it all the time, it's more problematic in other areas than the clutch.

Originally Posted by cali-ti

do you hold the clutch in while at a stop? that's also bad (for the throw out bearing).

Dangit, that might explain the problem I'm having getting it into 2nd when it's cold.

[HuGo]

Originally Posted by cali-ti

do you hold the clutch in while at a stop? that's also bad (for the throw out bearing).

Actually sometimes i do hold it down with the brake. I got used to that. But now im just trying to brake when i get to the stop, then use the clutch to go to neautral. Another thing i do also is. when i know i have to stop, i go neautral, and glide to the stop and using my brake.

Another thing i do is, if im in 3rd and i make a turn to my street, i hold down the clutch, go 2 second, still holding the clutch, i make the left turn, i make the turn, when im align straight again, i let the clutch out and go on in second.

When i down shift on a turn, if im in 4th pretty fast or so i guess, i slow down, and go 2nd and drive. Or if im in 3rd at 3rpms, and down shift to 2nd it will jump to like 3,500 or lil less, depending how much i slowed the car down, but when i take out the clutch, the car doesnt hop or anything.

Ill try recording my driving one day. I DID RECORD MY TOP SPEED CLUSTER, CHECK IN THE THREAD, TOP SPEED, I POSTED THE LINK.

[cali-ti]

Originally Posted by aceyx

Dangit, that might explain the problem I'm having getting it into 2nd when it's cold.

probably the shift fork issue. i guess they fixed it in later models ... maybe only 99s had the fix, i forget.

[1996 328ti]

Don't talk about transmissions.
The other day I couldn't get into 3rd and had a hard time with 5th.
It felt like something was restricting the travel of the shift lever.
Drove 2 more days with no problem.

My mechanic tells me to bring it in. He had a hard time getting into 2nd when test driving. Put it on the lift, all looks good. Later that night I can't get into 2nd.

Saturday I went for a 250 mile drive of back roads and no problem.