Factory Clutch After 150K Miles?

[smacdonald]

I had never driven/owned a standard transmission until my '02 Explorer, excluding several motorcycles, and miraculously managed to get through the dealership test drive, and make it home without any stalls. Somehow after 3 years of ownership and another 100K put on the engine by myself alone, the clutch still appears to be in working condition.
My question is if this is normal; was I fortunate enough to keep from burning out the clutch within the first few years, or have I gradually forgotten what a decent clutch should feel like? I occasionally take my brother's WRX out, which has tight tolerances throughout the entire transmission, but I have a feeling that comparing the clutches on the two vehicles is apples to oranges...

Any ideas or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Carguy3J]

It's plausible that the stock clutch could still be good, but I'm sure it's coming near the end of it's life.

As for "feel", well that requires being able to "feel" the clutch; something not possible over the internet. Maybe have several other people who frequently drive manual trans vehicles check it out, and give their opinion. You could take it to a shop and have them inspect it,by removing the inspection plate and trying to get a look at it. Unless it's slipping, or shifting hard, it's really difficult to give you any other advice on it.

 

[Squirrelmaster]

I have heard of a few vehicles making it that long on their stock clutches, but it may not be a bad idea to prepare yourself for having to replace it sometime soon. My brother was able to go 170k miles on the stock clutch in his old Toyota Tercel, but right around the 165k mark he began to notice a fair amount of slip in the clutch, notably late engagement and pulsation in 4th gear (it was only a 4-speed) at highway speeds.

All in all it sounds like you've done pretty well for yourself, and if it makes you feel any better there are probably many on this message board who are jealous of you owning a stick-shift 3rd gen Explorer (they are pretty rare).

Tom

 

[imp]

Slipping Clutch?

Squirrel, you reminded me of my "mice"......'96 F-150 w/5-speed, 94K, started slipping in 5th. going up hills around here, then 4th, in a week or so, I realized the clutch must come out....

So, began the job, no lift, working on floor, pulled starter, saw something funny in clutch housing.....reached in, pulled out 3 mummified mice! And part of their nest. Gradually, it began to dawn on me, these little buggers had something to do with the clutch failing. Pulled trans. out, and could not believe my eyes!

The piles of grass the little *******s had brought into the clutch housing had wound themselves into a "rope", like hemp, almost, and wound up in the pressure plate back-side, wedged between the release fingers and the clutch cover, preventing the fingers from releasing fully back to place full force on the disc, causing semi-slip.

I had already bought a new clutch, even though the old disc still had unworn spots on it here and there, so put in the replacement. If you like, I will post pics of the "rope" wound up in the pressure plate!

They got in through 2 25-cent-piece sized vent holes on the back of the bellhousing, which I covered with pieces of screen wire siliconed over them.

imp

 

[irocdupi]

My dad owned a 95 escort that had over 400k on its original clutch. The clutch just started to get a little high before it died in the driveway. What a great car all original besides oil, plugs, timing belt,and tires