New Clutch

[wanna986]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Remember:
When that clutch goes it takes a 1K buck flywheel with it that can't be resurfaced.

So when replacing the clutch and the flywheel is still good, do you recommend anything be done to the flywheel to address any wear, burn marks?

[Boxtaboy]

Ok, now I'm not trying to go against the wise expertise of the folks here on this thread, but I know 3 folks with Boxsters with over 150k miles on their original clutch, and one with over 225k miles on their original clutch. As I said before, I also was led to believe that my clutch needed replacement at 30k (because they said my clutch was heavy), but am now at 62k with the same clutch, so I just can't believe that it is normal for a clutch to fail on these Boxsters at less than 50k miles, unless you are abusing the clutch.

Also, I have read of at least 2 threads on this board whereby owners stated specifically that their clutch was starting to slip, and so can't believe that the Sachs clutch in the Boxster fails differently than they do in all other cars. Here's a thread on how a guy experienced clutch slip at 92k miles on his Boxster: Problem with acceleration

Perhaps it is a good idea for the OP to change his clutch now if he is experiencing difficult shifts, but I really don't think he should change it just because he's at around 50k in miles, absent any symptoms.

[JoeFromPA]

Clutch slip test (slightly different from stated earlier): Go into 5th gear (or any top gear) slightly below 2000rpms going up the incline of a hill and floor the gas pedal.

If the RPMs shoot up, your clutch is slipping. If your car is bogging, obviously not accelerating, and your RPMs aren't moving, then your clutch is holding.

Doing this test puts the most load on the clutch that it sees, so if it doesn't slip during this test then it's still able to hold almost any load.

50k on a clutch is normal for:

- Clutches that see a good amount of high rpm launches in 1st gear (i.e. 3000+ rpms and slipping the clutch out during it)

- Clutches that are undersized for the engine's torque

I don't know any reason why either of these would apply to a properly driven street 2.5/2.7 liter boxster....the clutch seems appropriately sized, and my 2.5 liter at least responds easily to less than 2000 rpms when launching (A bit jerky though at 1000...probably just the engagement point moving around on me).

If a mechanic drives a car and pronounces it's clutch going when no slipping is occuring, then I would personally doubt the mechanic's assessment.

[Jake Raby]

Those people with 150K on their clutches are going to need a new flywheel when they do change them..
The clutches in these cars can function fine and be chewing the flywheel all to hell for a few thousand miles.

Needing a preventive for a clutch change and running the car into the ground without preventive measures are two different things. If you run the car until it requires a clutch it will require more money to be spent.

[Boxtaboy]

Yes, but that's 3 clutches to one clutch plus a flywheel replacement (assuming 50k, 100k, and 150k clutch change intervals vs. one new clutch and a flywheel at 150k. Which one ends up costing more? By 100k, he may have decided to sell the car, and thus, he even can leave the next clutch change to the next owner.

[insite]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Yes, but that's 3 clutches to one clutch plus a flywheel replacement (assuming 50k, 100k, and 150k clutch change intervals vs. one new clutch and a flywheel at 150k. Which one ends up costing more? By 100k, he may have decided to sell the car, and thus, he even can leave the next clutch change to the next owner.

it's my understanding that these flywheels (DMF) cannot be resurfaced because of the elastomer between the FW pieces. if that's the case, a proper clutch job would include a flywheel even at 50k. it's that, or you use the old one w/ its glaze & hot spots, thus reducing the life of the clutch you just installed.

[rick3000]

I took my Boxster by dad's (very honest, but non-Porsche) mechanic and he said that the clutch felt fine and he didn't detect any slipping. I also tried the uphill test mentioned earlier three times. I was going about 30mph and shifted from 2nd to 5th and floored it, the RPM's dropped lower then stabilized and I was crawling up the hill. Which I think means it is not slipping.

This mechanic has reasonable prices but I am not too fond of being lied too. I am going to hold off until the clutch is noticeably failing, and from what I found out it only takes a day to get the clutch replaced.

Thanks again for the great advice! (You guys just saved me $1300, for now)

[schoir]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

...
The clutches in these cars can function fine and be chewing the flywheel all to hell for a few thousand miles.
...

What exactly is different in these cars that causes this unusual result as compared to other cars?

Regards, Maurice.