Query - how long do clutches last for

[JohnboyC]

Was watching Wheeler Dealers last night and they were changing the clutch on a Subaru Impreza WRX (Y Reg).....Brewer was saying thatthe clutches in these cars only last for about 75K miles....

Got me thinking....realising Audi's are in a different league Subaru's what sort of mileage are you guys getting out your 2.5TDi Quattros before the clutch needs changing ?

 

[CMD]

Mine lasted or started to slip at 46,327 miles 2 week's after my stage 1 remap. (1.8T)

 

[vorsprung dork]

95000 on my 1.9 tdi remaped quattro still on origional clutch! 85000 on 2.5 tdi still on origional clutch mate!

 

[AndyMac]

180k on my old B6 TDi before I sold it.

 

[murran]

depends entirely on the driver, rather than the type of car tbh.
example;
the (one owner from new) 99 a6 1.9tdi that comes in to our place with 360k on it is only on its second clutch (changed at a little over 200k if i remember right).
but ive also changed the clutch on a 2003 1.8t cab a couple of years ago at just 16k! (yep a woman driver)

 

[PaulTheo]

B5 1.8 170k and still going strong, B6 1.9 th 140k still going stong and B8 2010 2.0 170 TDI Sline 6k and stilll going stong. Its all about abuse.

 

[quattrojames]

Mine was done at 128k when the engine was out. The clutch was fine but it made sense to do it at the time.

 

[aragorn]

Our old A4 FWD i pulled the engine at 195k, no mention of a clutch change in any of the history, and the clutch was covered in Audi logos, so i can only assume it was on the original clutch, was very close to the rivets though.

On the other hand, our new car had a clutch change at 55k according to the service history...

 

[CHRIS555]

It may be worth noting that Audi clutch pedals are very prone to sit "high" after a while yet last for ages - I believe it's all down to the driver, but if your unsure about yours and don't have the cash start saving as they aint cheap unfortunately.

I think I need to listen to my own advise and put some money to one side lol!

 

[paul20v]

..Brewer was saying that the clutches in these cars only last for about 75K miles...

Well ive read it all now ,
i thought this guy was half sensible but what a statement
Ive seen people put clutches out on cars in 12k i also work on cars with 240k still on the original clutch
so to make a statement like that is ridiculous as you cant say how long any driver will make a clutch last as there is so many different types of drivers out there .

 

[CHRIS555]

Well ive read it all now ,
i thought this guy was half sensible but what a statement
Ive seen people put clutches out on cars in 12k i also work on cars with 240k still on the original clutch
so to make a statement like that is ridiculous as you cant say how long any driver will make a clutch last as there is so many different types of drivers out there .

When I was younger I used to like my standing starts etc and everyone of my my cars needed a clutch - now I'm more sensible they don't!

 

[murran]

quick standing starts dont really do any damage. its slipping the clutch, holding cars on hills in traffic and at junctions etc. slipping it during gear changes, getting on the accelarator before the clutch has bitten etc.

 

[paul20v]

quick standing starts dont really do any damage.

Sorry they do
they can destroy clutch springs in the drive plate or with todays DMF they can give them more grief than they need also .

 

[deanski]

my clutch was knackered when I test drove my car. it'd done 52k. deffo down to driving style.

 

[ronny]

I always do hill starts, 260k miles same clutch, if you take your foot off the clutch unlike alot of people who hover the clutch while driving you will get thousands more miles.

Quattros tend to have stronger clutches hence why I think mine went on for ever but i am sure 250k miles is a good innings for a clutch, my last audi B5 2.6q went on for 200k miles + on the same clutch too.

 

[BahnStormer77]

I've asked a few Audi mechanics and they all just say "we change them when they need changing, but it's different for every car / driver".

Maybe that's just the company line, but it makes sense and backed up with seeing people responses to these sorts of threads.

Essentially if you bleed the clutch out while accellerating hard, you'll make very nice, slick progress, but burn clutches out in 40k miles... if you always get the clutch out all the way before giving it the beans, 100k+ should be very do-able.

I've only had my car SINCE about 100k and it's still on clutch #1 (over 133k).

Remaps don't help, but likewise most normal remaps don't cause clutches to fail, but if yours was borderline already or if you've have a massive (50% ish) torque increase on a low-spec clutch, then expect some trouble.

 

[Turkster]

I changed my one at 170k , but only because my DMFW was stuffed, the clutch was ok then, but seeings that it was all being taken out i felt it was wise to change it at that point, yes old one was low and had a few more miles yet to go, but better safe than sorry!

 

[niftyandy]

My half penny of info...
I'm on my 3rd Audi in a row now...
A4 TDI - driven from 46k to 155k - in 2 years
80 Cab - driven from 60k-140k - in 4 years
Present car - 3.0 Quattro - 48k to 86k and still going - in 2years ...

My point?...I haven't had to changed a clutch or an exhaust yet!
My ex's Renault Clio is on its third in 25k!
Go Figure!
We buy Audi's for a reason!

They last....