Lexus Repair: CLUTCH, clutch disk, stock clutch

Question
Brandon, my question is fairly general and hopefully you can help me, but my car isn't a Lexus. I bought a 1998 Saturn SL2, new. It has a manual transmission. The clutch has had to be replaced 3 times now. The odometer reads 106,000 miles. I'm 50 yrs old and have been driving both automatic and manual for years. I'm not riding the clutch or doing anything to cause the clutch to wear out so quickly, but I can't figure out why it has to be replaced so much. I always thought the clutch shouldn't have to be replaced even once until 90 - 100,000 miles. Am I wrong? Also, I live in Houston, Texas with a lot of stop and go traffic. Could that be part of the problem or did Saturn just make a bad SL2? Thanks for your time

Answer
Well. Depends on the clutch, the driving. The flywheel & pressure plate. GM's suck I guess, I don't know LoL! Joking.
Next time you replace the clutch, service whatever operates the clutch. Be it a hydraulic system like your brakes, or the cable tension.
Also, don't just replace the clutch disk. Use an up-rated clutch, and pressure plate.

The pressure plate is jsut as important as the clutch disk! It supplies the force to hold the clutch against the flywheel! And if the flywheel is out of spec, machine it, or replace it.




I know there is some Saturn aftermarket going around, because I've seen afew DIY turbocharged saturns puttering around here against the DIY turbocharged Honda's. No way the stock clutch / pressureplates would keep up with double-tripling the torque.

Find out what brand / types of clutches & pressure plates they're using & downrate whatever they choose alittlebit so you don't blow your knee out operating it when you don't need that much grabby action! :)



Best thing I can tell ya man.



http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/index.php looks like a descent forum, but I don't know about saturn forums so... probably others out there.

I think Centerforce & ACT make aftermarket clutches & pressure plates for your transmission. Just like... Don't go crazy on a big clutch & pressure plate. They're very, very grabby & the stronger the pressure plate, the stiffer the pedal.

Seems like alot of people like the Centerforce Dual Fricion clutch, but just ask on that forum for people to "recommend a good, aftermarket heavy-duty clutch & pressure plate that will hold up to hard driving on a lightly modified engine" And let them know you've been through 3 stock ish replacement clutches already.




Oh... You'll probably run into upgrading the flywheel to one lighter. That frees up little horsepower, but it does make the engine accelerate faster (Giving you more horsepower over the same time). Now it's great for performance... The problem is that the average driver will NOT like driving one. The lighter the flywheel the easier it will stall when pulling off. ;)

That's why race cars use little flywheels, but *huge seirous* drag racing cars with high rpm, tiny powerbands (Only power at high rpm) use massive flywheels. So they can pull off without loosing rpm!