What kills a clutch?
02-20-2006, 06:52 PM
#1
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What kills a clutch? Sorry for the dumb question. What exactly kills a clutch? Is it just the HP/Trq, or is it slamming gears and launching?
If I am careful not to pop gears and dont take it to the track, will the stock clutch handle 500hp? 2001 SS w/M6
If I am careful not to pop gears and dont take it to the track, will the stock clutch handle 500hp? 2001 SS w/M6
02-20-2006, 07:43 PM
#2
TECH Apprentice
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: olathe, ks
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heat, then normal wear.
Heat kills them the fastest. They slip, they get very hot, hot enough to turn the steel and cast iron parts shades of blue. Then you have high spots.
It is downhill from there.
Guessing an answer to your question, if it never slips, it will probably last. I toasted a stock PP/z06 disk with only 400tq, and never intended to slip the clutch. Ever. I did slip it badly in a 2d-3d-4th shift. After that it would slip WOT in 3d.
Heat kills them the fastest. They slip, they get very hot, hot enough to turn the steel and cast iron parts shades of blue. Then you have high spots.
It is downhill from there.
Guessing an answer to your question, if it never slips, it will probably last. I toasted a stock PP/z06 disk with only 400tq, and never intended to slip the clutch. Ever. I did slip it badly in a 2d-3d-4th shift. After that it would slip WOT in 3d.
Originally Posted by clemsondave
Sorry for the dumb question. What exactly kills a clutch? Is it just the HP/Trq, or is it slamming gears and launching?
If I am careful not to pop gears and dont take it to the track, will the stock clutch handle 500hp? 2001 SS w/M6
If I am careful not to pop gears and dont take it to the track, will the stock clutch handle 500hp? 2001 SS w/M6
Last edited by Zeta; 02-20-2006 at 08:19 PM. Reason: diction
02-21-2006, 05:00 PM
#6
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, but what if I baby changing gears... once it is solid in each gear, then punch it? In other words, does slipping an heat only occur when changing gears?
02-21-2006, 05:54 PM
#7
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Las Vegas, from Crystal Lake IL
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
top 3 killers
1. Drivers that think they can drive manual
2. heat
3. too weak of a clutch for the hp.
1. many people think they can drive manual but dont realize they are toasting their clutch. My z28 m6 has 94,xxx miles, full bolt on mods many mid 12s 1/4 miles passes, multiple street races and autocross races all on the factory clutch from day 1...
to make a clutch last you have to beable to feel the clutch when you drive, in other words know how to feather the gas and clutch together at the appropriate RPMs, power level and amount of traction.
To many people either rev high and dump the clutch or rev high with the clutch partially engaged which will create heat and kill your clutch.
The spinning, slipping or riding of the clutch will leave burn marks on the pressure plate and roast the friction plate. This is where knowing how to properly feel and feather the gas and clutch together upon soft or fast launches will prolong your clutches life.
Also knowing how to cleanly shift between gears without spinning the clutch...
1. Drivers that think they can drive manual
2. heat
3. too weak of a clutch for the hp.
1. many people think they can drive manual but dont realize they are toasting their clutch. My z28 m6 has 94,xxx miles, full bolt on mods many mid 12s 1/4 miles passes, multiple street races and autocross races all on the factory clutch from day 1...
to make a clutch last you have to beable to feel the clutch when you drive, in other words know how to feather the gas and clutch together at the appropriate RPMs, power level and amount of traction.
To many people either rev high and dump the clutch or rev high with the clutch partially engaged which will create heat and kill your clutch.
The spinning, slipping or riding of the clutch will leave burn marks on the pressure plate and roast the friction plate. This is where knowing how to properly feel and feather the gas and clutch together upon soft or fast launches will prolong your clutches life.
Also knowing how to cleanly shift between gears without spinning the clutch...
