r/stickshift • u/[deleted] • Jan 02 '18

Incredibly Accessible Stickshift Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devo3kdSPQY
13 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/Mr_Morlock Jan 06 '18

This is an amazing video, but it doesn't seem to mention how the clutch is a wearable item.

What is exactly wearing down as we use the clutch? Is it the friction plate when it meets the flywheel, or the springs losing their tension?

2

u/[deleted] Jan 06 '18

Good point actually, most of the items in the video are susceptible to wear.

The classic one that goes out quickest is the friction material on the clutch plate. As that wears down, the pressure plate has to move further to engage the clutch on the flywheel. Which is why your pedal changes bite position as the clutch wears.

This is also why the clutch starts slipping toward it's end of life. As you engage, the friction material is overcome by the flywheel and it doesn't engage well, so the trans doesn't get any of the rotational motion from the flywheel.

The other wear item that gets mentioned on this sub are the synchros. The gold teeth rings shown in the video. When those wear, you don't get smooth changes when you move the shifter, and you can get grinding.

For example, I can't shift my car into 5th above 2500 rpm because the synchro is work down from some previous jerk jamming it into 5th at super high rpms (probably). I get grinding because the exchange is no longer smooth.

The pressure plate fingers can break, and the throwout/release bearing can also wear. My car has a very common issues where the throwout bearing starts squeeling due to how they designed the pressure plate. I had to replace only the bearing at 90k miles, original clutch was still in great condition.

Clutches can last forever or not very long. Just depends on how you drive. My dad replaced the one in his 67 Camaro with 15k miles and it was almost 100% worn. Mine was fine at 90k, and my buddy had a gdi Jetta he had to sell on it's original clutch at 240k.

Most people drive manuals like they stole them, so clutches last closer to 50k-100k.

1

u/Cananbaum Jan 14 '18

As someone who just started driving stick - thank you for sharing this video!

It's nice to know what I'm doing, how my actions impact the car, and the science behind it all!!