| Author | Message | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
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I am not concerned anymore. That is pretty much what I do every day. I have heard from a Ferrari tech that a clutch on a Ferrari lasts 40-50K if driven right. Don#t worry, drive faster! | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
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But whatever we say, you cant avoid more than ususal (not excessive) use of clutch in traffic. I mean in all standard cars, you de-clutch for control. Surely Ferraris aren't made for use on clear roads only. If used correctly any clutch should last several tens of thousands of miles. Why not a F-cars? | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
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I've driven several cars, all manual, well over 100K without needing a new clutch, in fact, my Honda Accord made it 232K miles on the original clutch...but everyone here has me concerned that I may not be shifting my 308 correctly! | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
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Daniel, I felt it in the high gears on harder accelleration. Your engine RPM goes highand the car does not pick up speed. You get a feeling for your cars accelleration and capability and when that changes you do realize it. ..but then you actually have to do something about that... ;-( Magoo, now that makes sense. Just not so fast that the car hops , right, that is when the clutch is hopping on the plates, right? | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
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My theory is, The quicker you can get your foot off the clutch pedal and stay off it, without popping it, the better off you are. The less that clutch turns against that pressure plate disc and the flywheel the less wear on the clutch lining. | ||
| Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
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Thanks, Octavio! | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
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I went to lunch with a young lady last week that thought the "left" pedal was a footrest. The problem was, it was an automatic. I wanted to slap her! | ||
| Octavio Mestre (Alfab4308)
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Daniel, what happens is you accelerate and the engine will rev bit before the car actually reacts to the added power. Its kinda like trying to take off and holding the clutch pedal down half way. It usually starts on the lowest gear. It happened once to me and trust me it's obvious. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
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A lot of people think the left pedal is a foot rest... not good for the old clutch. | ||
| Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
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Stupid Question--- I've never had to replace a clutch before (125000 miles on a GTI and 135000 miles on a Sentra SE-R). What does it feel like when your clutch is slipping or going bad? Is it obvious? Thanks | ||
| Howie F. (Brokerofexotics)
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Charles, Isn't is still possible to race Formula Fords in one of the vintage racing clubs? | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
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Becker, that sounds like something I want to do with my Ferrari.... :-))) | ||
| Becker Cu�llar (Becker)
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My 2 cents: When I was a student I drove from Arlington VA to Baltimore MD speed shifting, an amergency and the car in question was a toyota that wouldn't die, the fork broke so my mechanic told me over the phone to practice around the block and drive up, so did I, the only issue was at a red light I had to cut the engine off and when green start it engaged on 1st gear but from then on by feeling it kinda worked ok. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
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Talked to several mechanics/racers that claim to have never worn a clutch out, even on 120k+ miles. The clutch really only wears when it's slipping between being fully engaged and not. Their only hints to me were get on and off it quick. Don't play with it partially engaged. One of them sets their clutch pedal to engage the clutch only a little distance off the floor. Also, not really related, but a clutch requires more pressure in higher gears. That's when you'll noticed a clutch slipping most of the time. | ||
| Charles Gault (Knox_Charles)
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Howie, You are correct. A formula ford box has "dogs" , raised tabs, on the two gears in a set with a "dog ring" in between. If you get the gears moving at the same speed with a throttle blip, you can get them to engage easily. Formula fords are great! I stopped racing them only because the number in races had dwindled down to 4 or 5 in a race. During their heyday 30 or 40 would be in a race. The racing just wasn't any fun. Driving the car was still a blast! | ||
| Howie F. (Brokerofexotics)
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Charles, I love those Formula Fords. I went to the Skip Barber school in Lime Rock a few years back. The handling on those cars were terrific. Years ago, I "speed shifted" on an '83 308 that belonged to my very good friend. I use to do it all the time when I had an'84 300zx. I probably could not do it smoothly now.  Perhaps the sychromesh helped, but the timing of your shifts matched against that "certain" rpm is what makes it smooth and without grinding. I believe there's is no sychromesh on Formula Fords. Correct? | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
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Tach it up to 7000 and side step the clutch, this is the best to prevent wear. The best way to prevent wear would be to get it fully engaged at like a 1000rpms and then apply gas. If you are riding it at like 3000rpms then you'll be wearing it pretty good. In traffic I engage at low rpms and kind of let it lug along a little (easy to do with a FI car). Definitely don't let your foot sit on the clutch pedal when driving, you'll wear out the throw out bearing faster than you can say upshift. I have noticed that the Ferrari is easier to get the clutch burning than any other car (done it twice, both times taching it up and not engaging it quick enough when starting quickly). Every once in awhile I check to make sure it's not slipping when I'm driving, but have yet to have any problems with the clutch (knock on wood) and it's had about 15K Ferrari miles on it so far. | ||
| Michael A. Niles (Man90tr)
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Had a guy in college show that clutchless shift. We had a genetics conference to go to and he drove his TR7 (remember those). Well, his clutch was slipping so he drove the hour and half each way just blipping the throttle as he shifted. He was very smooth at it to -- no grinding or anything. | ||
| Charles Gault (Knox_Charles)
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Hey Howie, I shifted my formula ford without the clutch, but it had a Hewland dog ring transmition and was made to do that. The only times that I have shifted a street car without the clutch was when the clutch cable broke, and I had to. This was an emergency procedure, and I certiantly can't claim that it was effortless. Have you shifted a Ferrari box without the clutch, or have you been told this by others? | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
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Najib; you do not have to chnage the flywheel every time you chnage the clutch. At least not on my car. If you are an idiot like me and drive the car with a slipping clutch the heat you create will break the seal of the flywheel and then it leaks which in turn means...$3200 for a new wheel. Otherwise you don't have to. William; I think all Ferraris have that rest next to the clutch. Howie, never tried that. Next time I have a rental I will make an effort getting a stick and try that. you still have to give gas? | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
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I would keep my foot off the clutch while driving, My 512TR has a dead pedal to rest my foot on. U might be prematurely wearing out your clucth with slight pressure from your foot resting | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
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Martin The thing you said about changing the flywheel along with the clutch is correct. I am told you should always change both at the same time. So what did you do wrong?!!! | ||
| Howie F. (Brokerofexotics)
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Definitely keep your foot off the clutch while waiting at a red light. And if you're really good and know your car well, you can shift effortlessly WITHOUT using the clutch. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
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William; JA JA, laugh as much as you want....but it is so much fun...well, was, I am not doing this anymore. Did not take long anyway. I am not even sure if that was what caused the clutch to fail but likely it was...:-(( I keep my foot of the clutch during driving. Either on or off the cluthc but never half way. That much I understand. I seems like I drive (clutch) the same way you do Charles. Just sounds like I do it. Maybe all this discussion on how to clutch right is coming up because most Americans learn driving on automatic? (very controversal statement...). Sure made me think that I am doing something wrong. | ||
| Charles Gault (Knox_Charles)
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Martin, I have never owned an automatic transmition car (trucks and vans but not cars)and "heel and toe" and double clutch every shift because its fun. I learned to do this as a kid. With today's transmitions, the double clutching isn't really necessary, but I still like to do it for smooothness. Starting in first gear, I don't "pop the clutch" but let it engage till I feel it start to grip good. I then increase the rev's and let fully out on the clutch in one quick smooth motion. Once moving, I skip the initial "start to grip" part and just work the gas and clutch pedal in unison. What you really need to watch out for is "slipping" the clutch, putting more power to the clutch than its ability to grip. This can happen by holding in the pedal while reving the engine or "poping" the clutch with the engine revs very high, exceeding the clutch's limit of grip. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
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F1 starts in a Ferrari LOL Who do u think u r Schumi ? Remember Schumi doesnt pay for the clutches he burns up u also have to b careful not to drag the clutch when u r in traffic. It wants to be either in or out completely no half way or it will burn up again Have u been to a racing school ? SKip Barber is in Fla & they r excellent | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
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I am getting more and more confused. How do you clutch right? I grew up on clutch cars. Never had a problem. The clutch on my F burned because I did F-1 Starts off the line with the car. Well, now I know. But i appears that when and how you let it come makes a difference. Please explain how you use your clutch. Here is my way: First gear traffic light. Green. Give a little gas and let the clutch grip. Once you feel it let it come a little faster and give more gas. Smooth till you have RPMs. Then press clutch all the way through and shift. I usually kick the gas pedal once while clutch is depressed. Then let it come smooth again. The flow of the car is smooth not bouncing back and forth. Right or wrong? |