Clutch readings: how accurate, how repeatable?

MaserMatt

Junior Member
Messages
47
Happened to be in the garage twice in the space of a month or so, the clutch has gone from 32% worn to 42% in approx. 1k miles. Separately another garage told me that the reading is + or - 10-15% anyway. Since that's the #1 piece of information for buyers/sellers, can it ever go down again? Does warm or cold make a difference? Does driving it round the block so the parts align differently or something affect two successive readings? Does the value have more or less relevance for a GT compared to a 4200 etc. Thanks!
 

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
Not accurate in my experience. Mine went from 49.9% worn to bang it's not engaging gears in a week.
 

MRichards

Member
Messages
278
"Another reason to buy a old school manual. "
The manual clutch is brill.,wish all cars were the same. Just reach up thru the access hole & measure the clutch wear with a gauge.
I think the 8 mm. minimum thickness is a bit too generous,however,the clutch starts slipping & the reluctor rings pick up the rpm./road speed discrepancy & put the car into limp home mode.
Anyone found a way of getting more mileage out of the clutch before slipping ?
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,747
Had 3 CC equipped cars over the last 11 years now.

Like most I was forever worrying about clutch wear until I had tang failure.
So after 10 years of ownership I have had one clutch and used over 3 cars 87% of wear.

So I think that is pretty good going. I don't coast, slip into N at lights, or drive in sports mode just in the hope of saving percent or two...I just drive and enjoy. (Sadly not enough over the last two years).

£2.5K over 10 or so years is very good going.
 

Gp79

Member
Messages
1,393
Had 3 CC equipped cars over the last 11 years now.

Like most I was forever worrying about clutch wear until I had tang failure.
So after 10 years of ownership I have had one clutch and used over 3 cars 87% of wear.

So I think that is pretty good going. I don't coast, slip into N at lights, or drive in sports mode just in the hope of saving percent or two...I just drive and enjoy. (Sadly not enough over the last two years).

£2.5K over 10 or so years is very good going.

That sums it up well.

I think replacing a clutch is almost a minor consideration compared to the other potential problems / parts / labour costs.
 

spyderbags

Junior Member
Messages
40
I've never really understood why shifting to neutral while at rest is supposed to help save the clutch.
Surely the clutch is disengaged at idle revs otherwise the car would be moving forwards?
Mine will happily roll backwards when in first, until revs are increased and the clutch engages.
Am I missing something?
 

hladun

Member
Messages
149
"Another reason to buy a old school manual. "
The manual clutch is brill.,wish all cars were the same. Just reach up thru the access hole & measure the clutch wear with a gauge.
I think the 8 mm. minimum thickness is a bit too generous,however,the clutch starts slipping & the reluctor rings pick up the rpm./road speed discrepancy & put the car into limp home mode.
Anyone found a way of getting more mileage out of the clutch before slipping ?

I'm curious where you got the 8mm minimum thickness. Posts on the Maserati Forum and FerrariChat sites indicate a NEW thickness of 6.1 to 6.4 mm for the disks. This is based on pictures of people measuring new clutches. I accept those numbers but allowing for the metal disk and rivet heads I'm always amazed by how thin the disks are.
 
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CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,543
I've never really understood why shifting to neutral while at rest is supposed to help save the clutch.
Surely the clutch is disengaged at idle revs otherwise the car would be moving forwards?
Mine will happily roll backwards when in first, until revs are increased and the clutch engages.
Am I missing something?

The *theory* is that you are forcing disengagement before there's any chance of slipping *and* you're eliminating some down shifts that the car might do as you slow down.

C
 

RJ237

Member
Messages
107
It's been a couple of years, but on the other forum Craig provided the information that a new clutch was 6.34 mm and a totally worn one 5.34 mm.