what have you guys found is the average clutch life on f150's? i drive at a normal pace.....i only hit it once in a while. lol. thanks in advance for any replies.

A

 

i've seen people tear out a clutch in 30M miles and i've had clutches go 150M miles. (and that was a VW GTI that i autocrossed! and even then, the clutch was taken out by a bad seal.) you can hit it all you want as long as the clutch is fully engaged. clutch life is all in how you handle the "slippage" times; i.e. start from standstill and the shifts. when you shift, fully engage the clutch and THEN accelerate. if you hit the throttle as you are engaging the clutch, you will have clutch wear that is unneccesary. i am expecting well over 100M miles on my 5 speed.

 

It definitely depends on the driver. I have seen cars that were totally beat on evrey time they were driven and the factory clutch lasted well over 100K. I see other clutches go every 20k.

-Jon

 

Driver! My dad got 180K on his 89 F150...I've seen some go 20K.

 

I am at 91000 on mine. But I think it is starting to slip. I really beat mine between towing and 4 wheelin but 91000 miles later I am a happy camper.

 

Good question.
I haven't had a vehicle long enough to know how long a clutch lasts. 100,000 seems like a good number. I hope mine lasts that long.

I have a question to add. I guess it would be directed to the coments acadianbob made. I get what is ment by riding the clutch, not only on take off but also between gears. When driving, perhaps like in an autocross, is it better to pop the clutch then gas it. I would guess this would lengthen the life of the clutch. I would also guess it might wear on other things like the U-joints. Maybe a less aggressive driver wouldn't cause as much. In a situation where a vehicle is being driven harder, is there a technique that would help to preserve more than just the clutch?

Thanks
Tom

 

It is all on the driver and how much they abuse it out of all the manual trans. I had it the past only one had a new cluth in it and that was my 78 Mustang I bought it used it had over 100k on it when I bought it and the guy that had said he just put a new one in it around 95,000 miles the 3 cars I bought brand new I traded them all in before the clutch needed replacing my 87 EXP had 63,000 on it my 94 Mustang GT only had 32,000 and my 96 Mustang GT had 75,000 on it the the clutches were still going strong I probable tearup this automatic I drive now before 100k if I keep long enough to do so.

 

When I sold my 1997 Ford Escort at around 110,000 miles, it was still on the original clutch, second set of brakes, and original exhaust (Michigan!!!) -- surviving 1 wife and two teenagers. I was confident enough in it to sell it to a friend, where it lasted thru his two daughters in college. Last I heard, it was retired due to swiss-cheeze rust-out at some 130,000 miles still with the original clutch and exhaust.

I was meticulous about preventative maintenance -- replacing the CV boots around 90K, using Mobil 1, etc.. I did go thru 3 steering rack/pinion sets, 3 gas tanks (rust), 1 fuel pump, head gasket, timing belt (preventative), water pump, hoses, tubes, alternator, battery, and paint job, 2 doors & hatchback (at the last month into the 7-year rust-out warranty).

It even survived one collision where my not-yet-licensed 15-yr-old son 'T-boned' a car in the Meijer parking lot -- making the thing look like a pocket knife being folded.

Come to think of it, the clutch was the Least of my worries with that car.

Go figure.