Dealership is charging me $1725 to replace my OEM clutch for BR-Z

[mattles]

how did you manage that... The only way I could think of to destroy a clutch in such a short amount of time is that the clutch was always slipping while the car was running.

That is nuts.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by kludger

Don't sweat it too much, I had similar worries with my first stick a '90 Civic Si, and I had it for 130,000 miles and never had to change the clutch ever...

If you are nice to the clutch it should last fine, only people who abuse it, wear it out prematurely, and often it's the experienced stick drivers that do the stupid stuff.

Originally Posted by Wattage

Interesting.

I always thought just from the mechanical construction of the automatic gear box, ie using the torque converter "slushbox", that it was naturally less efficient at power transfer than a manual transmission with a clutch.

I mean I guess real, tested numbers don't lie, but generally is this not the case?

it is! it's because the gears are enclosed in an "oil bath",and a certain amount of 'slippage" is inherent in the design no matter how well it's engineered.a
"direct drive" manual has a miniscule amount of slippage compared to a "slush box",and the gear ratios in a manual are different too.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

it is! it's because the gears are enclosed in an "oil bath",and a certain amount of 'slippage" is inherent in the design no matter how well it's engineered.a
"direct drive" manual has a miniscule amount of slippage compared to a "slush box",and the gear ratios in a manual are different too.

The planetary gearset in an automatic doesn't really slip. The place where you would get slip is the torque converter which uses the viscosity of the fluid in the converter to transfer power while allowing differences in speed between the input and output halves (no direct mechanical linkage) much the way slipping the clutch would allow you to do. The thing is, it can also lock the torque converter when slip isn't needed. Modern automatics do a great job of doing this early and seamlessly, which is why you see autos these days with just as good if not better fuel economy than their manual equivalents.

[cwik]

Originally Posted by Jayde

I hope the OP didn't learn to drive stick on that car...

My mom learned to drive (not just stick, but *drive*) on my dad's manual '76 vette when it was new, and my BRZ is the first stick car my girlfriend ever drove. Aside from tricky blindspots, I think the BRZ is a wonderful car to learn manual on; it's light and easy to get going, the clutch is not heavy, it's a small car, giving you very little to worry about other than understanding how the shifter and clutch. I felt that even more so on my brother's S2K (it felt unstallable :P).

Every modern day car should be able to hold up to a few people learning to drive with 3 pedals on it without puking out. You shouldn't have to learn on a beater.

[Turbowned]

I just finished reading Ezra Dyer's column in Automobile about how the clutch prematurely failed in a Dodge Dart he was testing, with just 2,300 miles. Rob Benson, Chrysler's senior manager for manual transmission/driveline/4WD, stated that "at some point, the clutch was heated to the point that there was bluing on the pressure plate and flywheel. When you heat it to that level, the binding agents lose their ability to hold, and you lower the burst speed."

Sounds like this is exactly what happened to your clutch. Unfortunately this is not grounds for warranty repair because it is due to operator error, not mechanical defect. Expensive way to learn how to drive stick

[Justin.b]

With the clutch getting to those temperatures, is there also the possibility of damage tot the rear engine and front transmission oil seals? That clutch sits right on the input shaft for the trans and flywheel is obviously bolted to the trans. I wonder if they transfered enough heat to mess something else up.

-Justin

[NeedsmoreCowbell]

This guy is living the dream well done sir! I learned to drive Manuel Transmission )) in a 90s VW golf. Peeling out every stop so I would not stall out, when you braked hard the doors would open I hated that car.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

I just finished reading Ezra Dyer's column in Automobile about how the clutch prematurely failed in a Dodge Dart he was testing, with just 2,300 miles. Rob Benson, Chrysler's senior manager for manual transmission/driveline/4WD, stated that "at some point, the clutch was heated to the point that there was bluing on the pressure plate and flywheel. When you heat it to that level, the binding agents lose their ability to hold, and you lower the burst speed."

Interesting quote. There may be an implication there that the primary cause of premature clutch failure is heat, not slippage. So slipping your clutch might be fine, just don't do it repeatedly to the point of heating it up and "bluing" the pressure plate and flywheel.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

Just about every auto since the late 80's has had a lock up torque converter. Lock-up converters are what makes overdrive possible. It just allows the trans to couple the crank to the wheels at an engine speed lower than the torque converter's stall speed.

-Justin

yeah i know that but the frs just feels like its more locked up than other autos... :/

[Zadkiel]

I think this guy is trolling. Only 2 posts on this thread and no mention of what the process has been? I know if it were me I would've been posting and updating on the situation unless I was taking legal action. I didn't know the Twins came with Exedy clutches either. Not saying that isn't the case, just pointing out an interesting observation.

[M-17]

Really enjoying all the comments so far and analysis of this fiasco. My thought is the OP either really lived it up with his BRZ or trolled the hell out of most us.

[jeebus]

Originally Posted by BRZfan

Are you SURE baby boy?
Lots of us girls (see my photo) prefer automatics, because dresses don't ride up so much and high heels make manuals more difficult.

See my photo, do you abuse your 'manual' stick much?

yeah, I'm sure grandma. My wife has no issues with her dress or heels and she only drives a manual. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

[BoxeRZ]

Burnt out the clutch on my 01' Celica GTS at 7,000 miles, after a short discussion about how I drove it according to owners manual recommendations, they replaced it under warranty at no cost to me. Full disclosure: I learned how to drive stick on this car and maaayyyybeee slightly due to user error :/
I had fantastic service from Toyota while owning that car. If they released the 86 as a Toyota instead of RiceARoni Scion, it would have been a very tough decision over BRZ.

[JohnS_Rosamond]

Well according to the EXEDY part number stamped on the abused clutch it came out of an Impreza (something around 2004 or so).

Exedy 30100AA870

So, I vote Troll.