Is driving fast bad for the clutch?

[der_kaiser]

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?

[s-l-i-x]

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?

[mcgee9t2]

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.

[der_kaiser]

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.

[s-l-i-x]

What mileage did you get it at? Some cars have some proper bad previous drivers!

[der_kaiser]

It was 27,000 when I got it, I've done about 22.

[mcgee9t2]

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

also you ever use clutch to hold you on a hill

[der_kaiser]

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.

[mcgee9t2]

Personally ide put it down to wear and tear / the previous driver

[Wayne]

Depends how it has been driven, lots of hard starts will soon kill a clutch.