My clutch went out in my 5spd over the weekend. I can't seem to win, i've had a couple of unexpected out of pocket expenses which have prevented me from getting my new one ordered. Anyway long story short a guy told my girlfriends mom today that a clutch should last 500k miles in a diesel truck. He's got a construction/excavation business and was doing some work for her parents where we are living. I figured getting 100-150k on a stock clutch in a truck like ours would be a pretty good life, but am I wrong? Are they designed to and strong enough to last that long at normal use?

Also could it be he's going from experience with dump trucks and other heavy duty equipment? I don't know what kind of clutches are in those things and tractor trailers, or how long they are designed to last. I just want to be able to put this guy in his place should I need to....

 

The original clutch

on my NV4500 went out at 110K miles... so it can be done, but it all depends on ur driving, and what u tow, Mods also help to shorten the clutch life as well if you are hard on the truck... and well I know a good buddy that had 240K on his stock clutch and the truck was still holdin...

Rick

 

that good buddy wasn't thebignasty was it rick?



-schoolbus

 

Nope

but if his clutch has 240K then it was a cat in its past life...



Yall are good friends of mine tho...

Rick

 

i think its pushin its 9th life

 

It really has alot to do with who is driving it. 100,000 miles to 150,000 miles would be what I would expect to get out of a stock truck with a stock clutch.

 

my stock clutch lasted 22K.

 

My stock clutch is still there at 169,000. Does have a little chatter at times.

Dave

 

500k on a clutch wouldn't be unusual in a long haul semi operation. A good quality clutch with a careful driver ought to go 150 - 200k in a pickup.

 

Mine was fine up to 140000 miles until I started adding HP. Then the original one started smoking. Hmmmm.... Go with a SB, can't beat them in my opinion.

 

my first clutch lasted 16,000 miles, my second lasted about 7,000 miles both stockers, my third clutch was a valair that i pulled out after 1200 miles because it was noisey, and grabby, and would have ruined my trans if i left it in. now on my forth clutch a Southbend OFE has about 15,000 on it and has held a whole lot more power than it was designed too by far. you guys who's stock clutch does go after some time, dont sell yourself short, buy a southbend and never look back. it will most likely be that last clutch you will ever have to install.

 

My clutch has +160k. But I might have to change that soon. Oh well...

 

Since you guys are on the subject, I have an 04 with the edge juice w/ attitude and I have noticed that if I bump it up to level 5 and get on it pretty hard I can see anywhere from 11-17% slippage. I know that it needs to slip some but is that to much?

 

you will know when it is too much. the rpms sky rocket and the truck will not go any faster.

 

with a percentage of slipage, he is talking about an automatic. continue slipping that slushbox, and you'll be spending lots of money.