Silly question, how long should a clutch last on a outback? Reason I'm asking is thinking of buying a 96 with only 80,000 miles and they are saying they just replaced the clutch and am wondering if the mileage is BS... Thanks, Jeff

The cars I see typically are far beyond that before needing replaced.

 

However if the baffle plate was leaking.

 

Of if they didn't know how to drive a stick.

 

I'd suppose a lot of city driving or towing.

 

Other things come to mind.

 

But that isn't many miles for any clutch it would seem if they knew how to drive.

It entirely depends on where the mileage was done and what kind of driver was doing it. I just replaced a clutch on a 2003 S10 with 85k on it. The friction surface was getting thin but not gone - it had been a paper delivery vehicle and owned by a kid - the pressure plate was overheated and lost it's spring tension.

 

And I have done Subaru clutches (first one) that lasted 255k miles. When you are on the freeway the miles rack up with no use of the clutch.

 

Mileage is a bad indicator of clutch life. It's basically meaningless.

 

The quality of the replacement is a big issue as well - who did the job and what parts were used. Was the flywheel resurfaced... etc. I've had to swap out clutches that were poorly done with cheap parts after only a 10k or so.

 

GD

Edited March 31, 201115 yr by GeneralDisorder

my 78 toyota camper with 300,000 miles has its original clutch. Driving habit, and probper adjustment plays a lot in clutch life.

 

most failed clutches i see are caused by over-tightened clutch cable.

 

a clutch, with good maintenance and proper driving, should last at least 200,000 miles or more

Thanks guys, I'll report back if I buy it. Cheers, Jeff

The clutch in my 97 OBW went at 175,000. The new one had 65,000 on it when I sold the car. With proper care they go a long long ways, but someone could have fried it, oiled it, or replaced when it didn't need to.

I have seen clutches go anywhere between 10,000 miles and 160,000 miles. It just depends upon the drivers skills and bad/good habits.

 

A worn clutch is never something that should be held against a car.