Clutch wear at 4500 mi
 

I have a 03 WRX with 4500 mi. and the clutch seems like it's alot less grabby than when it was new. I feel like the car accelerates with a tiny bit less punch. I'm not sure if this is normal wear or if the clutch is really wearing excessively. Is there some way I can know for sure? I drive modestly and never clutch drop.

Anyone have the same issue and/or advice?

lllRedline,
When you accelerated, did your rpm just went up in an instant without any speed! if so, your gonna need a new clutch my friend and that should fix your clutch judder also....

Bastos, my car definitely moves when I let out the clutch. If I didn't move at all then yes, I would have a problem on my hands :P Thanks for the suggestion tho.

Redline, what Bastos meant is that when you are cruising in gear, and you floor the accelerator (but don't touch the clutch), does the rpm shoots up sharply, but without any gain in speed?

When you leave first gear, what rpms do you leave at (just driving normally)?

Is 45k typical for a clutch to start wearing?

I have an '03 WRX Wagon. Stock.
I don't race it or anything. I just do normal aggressive ... oh sorry I mean ASSERTIVE ... driving in commuter traffic.
I'm at 35k miles - and my clutch started slipping.
(cruising at hwy speed, floor it, revs go up but car does not accelerate well)

Its so long since a clutch has gone out on me that I cannot remember what is a 'resonable' life on a clutch.

Does 35k sound reasonable?
Is it HIDESOULY low milage?
Or amd I lucky to have made it to 35k?

oh, and for a stock WRX Wagon ... with fairly 'normal but fun' driving, what would be the best clutch to get?
Just the standard stock replacement?

MANY thanks
Andrew J.
Houston, TX

[QUOTE=lllRedline]I have a 03 WRX with 4500 mi. and the clutch seems like it's alot less grabby than when it was new. I feel like the car accelerates with a tiny bit less punch. I'm not sure if this is normal wear or if the clutch is really wearing excessively. Is there some way I can know for sure? I drive modestly and never clutch drop.

Anyone have the same issue and/or advice?[/QUOTE]

This might sound like a dumb theory... but hang with me here. ;) It could just be that you are becoming more used to your vehicle, and perhaps a little spoiled. If you only drove civics before your rex, you probably thought it felt like a rocket ship when you first bought it. Now that you have owned the car and driven it for some time, everything may feel less potent, but is infact, not. It's the same "getting used to" the performance that drives us all to modding our cars. :D I had this same problem, but after driving my girlfriends focus for two weeks, and hopping back in my car everything felt better again. The car SEEMED to acelerat faster than the last time I drove it, the clutch SEEMED to grab better than before, and the car SEEMED to handle better. I reccomend driving a focus for two weeks then going back to your rex. It just may feel all better. ;)

-Chris

Ok, my clutch is not slipping, but I do have to let the clutch out further than I used to in order to get the car rolling. To clarify, I know my clutch isn't totally worn down because there's no spike in revs when I accelerate, in gear. I'm just wondering if the fact I have to let the clutch out further than before in order for it to "grab" indicates excessive wear for such low mileage. Do you think a clutch adjustment is in order? Of course, the alternative is that i'm going insane and this is all psychological! :) Maybe I should drive a focus... although I do think the SVTs are really quite good.

Let me rephrase... drive an '01 light metallic blue focus with a slushbox. That's what I had to drive.

-Chris

p.s. I don't know how much this will affect the tranny feel of the focus you choose to drive, but the one I drove also had a "Scrapbook Girl" sticker in the rear window and a pink heart gem thingie hanging from the rearview. I figured you just might want to replicate my experience as closely as possible. ;)

Redline...my clutch has become the same way. It releases higher then what it use to. Anyone know if this is a bad thing? Is there anyway to adjust it?

I'm guessing the clutch is cable actuated? not sure but if so, maybe there's some way to adjust the cable position?

[QUOTE=lllRedline]I'm guessing the clutch is cable actuated? not sure but if so, maybe there's some way to adjust the cable position?[/QUOTE]

I was under the impression that the clutch (other than the adjuster cable for an EAT) was hydryalic.

Our clutches are indeed hydrolic.

-Chris

Just FYI, I have 'closure' on my worn clutch. (03 Wagon, 35k miles)

The car went into my local dealership (Gillman, Houston) on Wednesday.
I wanted to get the clucth fixed, plus have the 30k mile service (my laste service was at about 1.5k!).
After they'd had a chance to check it over, they called me to confirm that the clucth was worn - and they also said the front brakes needed to be replaced.

They said that if I paid for the 30k Service ($589) and the front brake job ($199) - they would do the clutch under warranty. I was expecting it would be a tough find to get the clutch done under waranty, so I was happy with this offer. Sure, I could have done the brakes myself for less, but, on balance, I'm happy with the outcome.

The Invoice shows that the clutch replacement would have cost me $868! (568 parts, 300 labor)

Many thanks all the info from everybody.
Andrew, Houston TX

clutch under warranty???
 

when i bought my wrx '04 they specifically said my clutch was not under any warranty. They said if something is wrong with the clutch you will notice it under 500 miles. So I am kinda baffled how you got them to replace your clutch when they told me the clutch isnt covered under any warranty because its a wear and tear part. Please give me your tricks of the trade so i can get my clutch replaced for free or half the price :-D