Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000) EG/EH/EJ/EK/EM1 Discussion

Long life clutch

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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 04:44 PM
  #1  
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Default Long life clutch

My clutch feels like its wearing out, its easier to depress, and feels loose, and has less friction to grab. b18c/y80lsd This clutch has been on the car for around 6 years: its a clutchmasters stage 3, alas no turbo was ever added but 6 years is very good lifetime. The previous owner told he wore out factory clutches about twice a year on average before he switched to this clutch.
Anyone else have experience with this kind of clutch life?
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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 05:00 PM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

Originally Posted by jughead
My clutch feels like its wearing out, its easier to depress, and feels loose, and has less friction to grab. b18c/y80lsd This clutch has been on the car for around 6 years: its a clutchmasters stage 3, alas no turbo was ever added but 6 years is very good lifetime. The previous owner told he wore out factory clutches about twice a year on average before he switched to this clutch.
Anyone else have experience with this kind of clutch life?
Pardon me for asking but you only just now (literally) figured out how to change your oil and Seafoam your car. How do YOU know what is "very good lifetime" (whatever that means) for a clutch or what a clutch feels like when it wears out?
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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 05:00 PM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

Twice a year?! Good lord.

OEM clutches have been know to last 130k miles.

My friends dad's 99 ex has 135k on, orginal clutch.

Have you checked the fuild level? Color?
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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 05:11 PM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

I figured both of those out before I even got a reply...99% of people probably never use seafoam or change their own oil. Physically doing something and knowing about something are completely different and theirs always little details there to get in the way.
The "good lifetime" is based on previous knowledge that high performance clutches sometimes have less life, others more depending on the application. Twice a year for his last clutches...yeah the guy drove it hard as **** but was probably exaggerating some and thus I exaggerated some too. But in return your dads EX probably doesn't get driven hard, drag raced, auto crossed etc. Nor is it dyno tuned for max hp.
I believe when I last checked the clutch fluid it was brown colored.
I'm asking whats the best clutch, price/performance wise out there? I was surprised that some discussion of that was not in the faq. Also the clutch fluid, is there any benefit to getting something like synthetic there, which one you recommend blah blah etc.
I will surely confirm that the clutch wearing out is actually the problem here before needlessly replacing it. It could of course be dirty, low, leaking fluid etc.
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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 05:35 PM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

Regardless of what clutch, 2 a year is crazy.

Just run regular old break fuild.
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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 05:51 PM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

clutches can last 10+ years depends on if you know how to drive or not. I sold my sedan with 280k miles with the original clutch, it was just starting to fade. my chevy 1500 has 225k on the original clutch and it still grabs strong.
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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 07:17 PM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

Originally Posted by jughead
The previous owner told he wore out factory clutches about twice a year on average before he switched to this clutch.
If you're replacing clutches twice a year on a stock engine you can't drive, period. Stock clutch should be good for 200 - 300k if you can drive. Generally speaking if you don't abuse a clutch it should be good for the life of the vehicle.
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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 08:58 PM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

Originally Posted by 94EG8
If you're replacing clutches twice a year on a stock engine you can't drive, period. Stock clutch should be good for 200 - 300k if you can drive. Generally speaking if you don't abuse a clutch it should be good for the life of the vehicle.
Indeed, we put 400,000 miles on the OEM clutch in my uncle's Toyota work truck in high school. Started slipping at about 430,000. It's still driving last I checked.
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Old Apr 23, 2011 | 12:03 AM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

my lx has the oem clutch with over 200k miles on it and feels and grabs the same from when i 1st got it.

2 a year is crazy
my mother couldn't wear out an 80s camaro clutch that fast (they are very hard clutches)
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Old Apr 23, 2011 | 02:34 AM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

I replaced a stock clutch after going turbo and it still looked nearly brand new at 175K.
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Old Apr 23, 2011 | 02:52 AM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

I've got 170k on my 96 hatch original clutch, no slippage. Some may argue but I've used Exedy clutches in all my civics/integras (3 civics 89,89,96, 1 integra 90) with no problems. I've used both the factory replacement and the street/strip discs. I guess it depends on your goals and horsepower.
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Old Apr 23, 2011 | 06:09 AM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

After seafoaming and an oil change the engine runs smooth as glass, idle dropped prob 100 rpms and now when warmed up its right at 800.
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Old Apr 23, 2011 | 08:32 AM
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Default Re: Long life clutch

Originally Posted by HondaPartsHero
I've got 170k on my 96 hatch original clutch, no slippage. Some may argue but I've used Exedy clutches in all my civics/integras (3 civics 89,89,96, 1 integra 90) with no problems. I've used both the factory replacement and the street/strip discs. I guess it depends on your goals and horsepower.
Exedy/Daikin is the only clutch I'll run
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