Technical When to change clutch disc

How do you know when to change a clutch disc. Its it mileage or a feel?

 

Mostly by feel, I'd say. And sometimes even by smell . . . If it's slipping bad enough!

 

We ( Pop's ) used a '65 Chevelle wagon/ 410 rear 3/tree. I'd say mostly light hauling.
Myself I would be trying to bust that 283 at any chance. ( only once a failed rocker arm )
When we quit the biz ( 'bout 90,000mi., it went to Mom to use it a couple years then handed over to my sister ( devout automatic user ) who had her husband take it for his daily use.
Ten years back and forth it was p***ed around even back to me winning occasional stop light drag challenges. At 140,000 Dad retired the old wagon ( I need a tissue), with the original clutch.

 

When I couldn't shift into any gear without grinding. Got one going right now that the springs in the Long style pressure plate broke.

 

Set the parking brake and try to start off like you normally would, it should stall quickly.

Phil

 

Depending on the use it has had, it would be wise to look at the flywheel surface.
If you see wavy ( feel for ridges ) surface and blueing, take it off for a trip to your local friendly machine shop for further inspection and resurfacing. Around here the go to guys are NAPA.

 

Last time I changed one it was because it was slipping when I shifted into second gear rather agrressively. Two years later it's still working well. I did change one once because most of it was left back on the road.

 

I’ve got to swap the one in my ‘50 Ford convertible because it’s welded to the flywheel. It’s not going to be any fun moving it out of the spare garage so I can do it. This my friends are why we need to drive them and don’t let them sit……

 

When the center blows out of your AutoZone China bomb. That's at least when I know to swap it. I'm hoping the Sachs I just picked up today is not made out of recycled Kia fenders like this one.

 

If you've driven a stick for any length of time, you'll know.

 

When the rpm's go up, but the car doesn't speed up, it's time to change it.

 

Like tubman says, you'll know

 

A sticky set of slicks will let you know if it's time.....

 

You hook up your scan tool and read the clutch life remaining!

As all have said, mileage is not an indication, how it operates is.

 

Does the clutch engage smoothly from a standing start? Or does it stutter or chatter when trying to start off in low gear?

 

LOL! Do they have that? I think at least some newer vehicles have brake wear sensing systems . . .

https://www.regentcontrols.com/prod...brake-and-clutch-wear-sensor-smartsense.shtml

 

The automated (computer controlled) manuals do! It was tongue in cheek, though.

 

I had an off topic Plymouth that got a complete new clutch ***embly every spring (when I replace a clutch, it gets everything, I do not replace just one part of it). Some stupid guy drove it really hard. 2 months after the new clutch, it was starting to slip while in 4th, the rpm would increase, but the vehicle speed didn't (and the tires were not spinning). By the end of summer, I had to really baby it to go anywhere. 5 summers, 5 new clutches, and they were the best high performance stuff (different brands had pretty much the same result). That same car had 3 pairs of L 60 15 tires on the rear during those 5 summers... It was a fun car, expensive to run, but a lot of fun.

My Plymouth coupe is on its 2nd clutch (the throw out bearing failed on the first one) in 100K miles. Its getting harder to get into gear, and there is noise for the throw out bearing area. There is around 60,000 miles on this clutch.