Manual Clutch Durability?

FlatLander72

Active member
Joined
Apr 25, 2012
Location
Chicago
TDI
2012 Jetta Sportwagen
I have a 2012 with the 6 speed manual. The vehicle has 135k miles on the ticker. At what mileage are we seeing the clutches wear out? The VW is about 25k past any of my previous manual transmission vehicles, point of the clutch calling it a day. Those cars were from various other manufacturers and this is my first German made car ownership experience. Just wondering what a good point of preventative maintenance is?

Thanks,

FlatLander

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Last edited:

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
I wouldn't replace it until it starts slipping. Clutch life is highly variable. A gentle shifting driver could easily get 300k+ miles on a tdi clutch.
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
I have put over a quarter million miles on several clutches. Assuming that your engine is not seriously modified, clutch life depends mostly on how you drive it. If you limit clutch slip and let the clutch fully engage before you stomp on the go pedal, modern clutches are actually not easy to wear out. The last time I have replaced a clutch was in a '68 VW Squareback and it was not worn out. I only replaced it because I had the engine out of the car already and it was easy.


Unless you car has been beaten or you have noticed some slipping, I would not worry about your clutch. However, teaching new drivers how to use a clutch can be hard on a clutch.


Have Fun!


Don
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
On modern VWs typically the dual mass flywheel fails before the clutch, usually at 200-250K. Of course some owners get more out of them, but that's a good average.
 

PRY4SNO

Veteran Member
Joined
May 15, 2016
Location
Edmonton, AB
TDI
2013 Touareg Execline
Also, driving conditions will impact durability more. If your car and daily drive is more highway oriented, you'll get more mileage than a city car with the same style/driver.
 

FlatLander72

Active member
Joined
Apr 25, 2012
Location
Chicago
TDI
2012 Jetta Sportwagen
I wanted to ask, because I had a 1995 Eagle Talon that went about 95,000 miles. Then before that I had a Ford Escort right out of high school that went about 104k.

I know this is yet a different MFG. But my driving style really hasn't changed that much. The Jetta has been driven as a technician's car for the first three and a half to four years of ownership in the Chicago Land area. For the last couple it had been a grocery getter and dog Limo. Then it gets to take me places fishing. Just don't want it all to go to hell in the middle of the Northwoods. With myself fishing and camping gear, luggage and upwards of two other people in the car. I guess I feel like I am on borrowed time.

The other idea I am kicking around, is getting it tuned. To bring back some of the pep in it's step, that the car lost when VW and the Feds neutered it. So I am trying to figure out how to guess at how many more miles I have left.

Thanks for the input and keep it coming,

Sincere regards,

FlatLander

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
 

Kevinski4

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Location
Nebraska
TDI
.
I wanted to ask, because I had a 1995 Eagle Talon that went about 95,000 miles. Then before that I had a Ford Escort right out of high school that went about 104k.

I know this is yet a different MFG. But my driving style really hasn't changed that much. The Jetta has been driven as a technician's car for the first three and a half to four years of ownership in the Chicago Land area. For the last couple it had been a grocery getter and dog Limo. Then it gets to take me places fishing. Just don't want it all to go to hell in the middle of the Northwoods. With myself fishing and camping gear, luggage and upwards of two other people in the car. I guess I feel like I am on borrowed time.

The other idea I am kicking around, is getting it tuned. To bring back some of the pep in it's step, that the car lost when VW and the Feds neutered it. So I am trying to figure out how to guess at how many more miles I have left.

Thanks for the input and keep it coming,

Sincere regards,

FlatLander

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

I'd expect it to last a minimum of another 100k.
 

ihatespeed

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Location
holbrook, ma
TDI
11 tdi wagon 6mt 15 golf 6mt (Wife's) 2000 Ford 350 7.3l 6mt 4x4 (technically a TDI)
I'm tuned and at 160k, no issues, but my previous high mileage manual car, '98 civic had the input bearings on the transmission get noisy before my clutch was half gone at 200k, so I guess i drive em pretty easy..
 

atsffan

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2013
Location
SoCal
TDI
2013 Golf United Grey 6M 2 doors, no waiting.
I've owned 6 VWs with manual transmissions; the highest mileage was my '79 Scirocco at 180k w/the original clutch.

Three of the others all cleared 100k+ w/o replacing the clutch.

The other two I currently own, the '02 Beetle, has 100k with the original clutch, the Golf TDI is at 60k.

Never had to replace a VW clutch or flywheel.

That being said, it's all on how you drive them. Even in the L.A. traffic I'm in daily.
 

ttcheung

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Location
Sudbury, MA
TDI
2011 TDI Sportwagen 6MT
I have about 171k miles on my Kerma'd wagon, and I have learned to be wary so that I don't make the clutch shutter with the extra torque. The previous owner primarily highway'd the car, and I have been doing the same. I would assume my flywheel would go out first.
 

ksing44

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2010
Location
Southeast PA
TDI
2010 Golf TDI
I have 175K+ miles on my 6-speed manual 2010 TDI that I purchased new. I'm a commuter, so lots of highway miles, but I also drive around town and I have some hills to pull out on. I don't have any slipping that I'm aware of and I hope I make it a good long time more!
 

IXLR8

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2003
Location
Cushing, ME
TDI
12 Passat Platinum Gray, 02 Golf Black, 01 Jetta Black
It might be a different beast, but my 02 Golf tuned with RC3 at 298K miles is still running the original clutch. Although I do need to be careful on how I push it in 5th gear, there are signs the clutch is starting to slip.
 

prsa01

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2000
Location
mpls,mn usa
TDI
14 jsw 6m, 96 B4v, miss my a4 :(
A fairly clear demonstration of driving style determining clutch life. PO of my a6 (Malone 1.5) put ~ 260k primarily hwy miles with clutch still working fine. His son destroyed the clutch in less than 20k.

My a4 had ~240k hwy on original clutch when sold. It didn't hold great parked on hills anymore but did fine driving.
 

ihatespeed

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Location
holbrook, ma
TDI
11 tdi wagon 6mt 15 golf 6mt (Wife's) 2000 Ford 350 7.3l 6mt 4x4 (technically a TDI)
Im at 192,000 now with a stage 2 tune, no sign of slip and I lean on it pretty hard, but only after full lock up, IE I don't slip the clutch at all hardly and when taking off seldom exceed 1000 rpm. I also tow a trailer occasionally, generaly limit it to 2500lbs, no problem.
 
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