What should I be looking for to decide whether my '96 Miata with 140K miles needs a new clutch? Is the mileage a good indication? Should I wait until I can detect slippage -- but how do I do that if it happens very gradually?
I don't feel anything different -- but then again, would I?
And if I need a new clutch, what else should I replace while I'm in there?
The first slippage will be at full throttle in fifth gear. You'll see the tach climb, but not the speedometer. Might as well wait, since the car should still be drivable for awhile if you baby it a bit.
"South Ocean Drive" wrote in message news:gvCdnWOqD-z-cqrbnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com...
the throw out bearing and slave cylender.
And the spigot (pilot) bearing. These are notorious for early failure - mine started to seize when the clutch still had another 60,000 miles left on the friction plate, meaning a whole clutch job to get to it.
I also had the two gearbox oil seals and the main crank seal replaced. If you can get them, Sachs clutch kits are good - they're slightly more expensive than OEM, but it guarantees you won't get one of those juddery NB friction plates that caused so many problems (the NA 1.8 and NB clutches are the same).
When it starts to slip when you try to accellerate in high gear.
No.
Yes. It'll be drivable for quite a while after you start to notice slippage.
It will happen gradually. It will happen initially in high gear only when you try to accellerate hard. It will gradually get worse and then start doing it in the next lower gear.
Then you don't need a new clutch.
Yes.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required