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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: der_kaiser on 27 September 2011, 10:10

Title: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: der_kaiser on 27 September 2011, 10:10
Having only driven 50 thousand miles I was quite surprised when my clutch went, and when I seen the state of it when it was changed I was even more surprised! My question is how bad is it for the clutch driving fast? Having recently moved to Germany I've been driving rather excessively on the motor way, before I moved I rarely drove over 80, obviously the temptation is too great here and I have topped the clock on a few occasions. I was always of the opinion that it's your city miles that would be the most harmful for the clutch. Could pushing it on the autobahn be the cause of the premature death of my clutch?
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: s-l-i-x on 27 September 2011, 10:42
I'd say stop start driving/riding the clutch would have been the main issue maybe in its previous owners. Top speed would affect gearbox more surely as you're only using the clutch to change gear?
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 27 September 2011, 10:44
Clutch shouldnt be harmed by driving fast.

rriding the clutch or crap gear changes could have damaged it.

Or red lining it then putting clutch in changing gear and keeping the revs up at 7k rpm will most likely do damage.
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: der_kaiser on 27 September 2011, 10:53
That's what I thought too. I was always careful with it, not riding it etc. Dunno how it went so badly, I don't drive like an old woman but I didn't think I was pushing it hard enough to do that damage.
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: s-l-i-x on 27 September 2011, 10:56
What mileage did you get it at? Some cars have some proper bad previous drivers!
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: der_kaiser on 27 September 2011, 10:58
It was 27,000 when I got it, I've done about 22.
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 27 September 2011, 11:00
You live on a hill? My mate does and its quite steep so has to have about 3k revs when setting off on a morning otherwise the car doesent pull enought and it stalls. his clutch went so quick :grin:

also you ever use clutch to hold you on a hill
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: der_kaiser on 27 September 2011, 11:19
I try not to hold it on the clutch too much, but I do occasionally. I have got into a bit of a habit of coasting a little around corners, which I will be cutting out. I don't live on a hill either, I have habits like everyone but I can't see how any of them are bad enough to snap an otherwise good clutch in 3 pieces.
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 27 September 2011, 11:37
Personally ide put it down to wear and tear / the previous driver
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: Wayne on 27 September 2011, 13:33
Depends how it has been driven, lots of hard starts will soon kill a clutch.
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: der_kaiser on 27 September 2011, 15:16
By hard starts do you mean aggressive starts?
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: Wayne on 27 September 2011, 15:18
By hard starts do you mean aggressive starts?

Yes  :smiley:
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: der_kaiser on 27 September 2011, 15:22
Ok I am guilty of this from time to time. :undecided:
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: +49 on 27 September 2011, 18:07
Yeah driving fast won't damage the clutch much more than normal driving unless you include race Starts and lots of clipping the clutch..When i shifting fast througth the gears its a quick stab of the clutch pedal and i'm in the next gear...On my bike the clutch doesn't even get touched..

Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: Wazzzer on 27 September 2011, 19:49
bikes are soooo good for this  :cool:
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: dom on 27 September 2011, 20:34
I bought my mk4 on 50k miles and had already had it's 3rd clutch installed :shocked:

Previous owner must have been a crap driver :grin:
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: Wayne on 27 September 2011, 20:39
I bought my mk4 on 50k miles and had already had it's 3rd clutch installed :shocked:

Previous owner must have been a crap driver :grin:

 :shocked: :shocked: from what I can see mine has had 2 in 117k
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 27 September 2011, 21:14
as far as i know mines still on its first at 110k and still going strong, touch wood
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: Wazzzer on 27 September 2011, 22:08
it's proper hit and miss and is mainly down to driving style

Mine died on about 58k but it's spent it's life over here with plenty of stop/starts :angry:
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: golf-sib on 27 September 2011, 22:45
Mine started to slowly slip, but very rarely at 70mph with a full car at around 69k. All depends how its driven, how much load its had etc... to many variables, main one to look for is a woman owner  :smug:
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: der_kaiser on 28 September 2011, 07:35
Ha ha my car was indeed last owned by a woman! I know this because 1. it says so on the registration documents and 2. there are fag burns in the footwell. Thankfully the lingering smell of tobacco has dissipated, perhaps the clutch was the real legacy!
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: bullzeye on 28 September 2011, 10:51
mine was fine when i bought it was on 94k but had been owned by a pharmasuticals comapny as a company car  :laugh: why they had a 1.8t is beyond me but after only 3 months on hard driving it started to slip and got worse and worse every day till it was virtually undrivable, ive gone for the clutch conversion now and hoping i wont have to do it again any time soon
Title: Re: Is driving fast bad for the clutch?
Post by: jamie16v on 28 September 2011, 11:17
mine lasted to about 115k until i had the remap put in and got my right foot on the pedal. i have done the SMF/VR6 mod now and its all lully... :kiss: