from autoextreme.....

What is the best way to lengthen the life of my clutch disk?

Everybody knows the clutch is a consumable item and has an average lifetime of anywhere from 80,000 to 160,000 kilometers to it. But with proper care, you can make it last much longer than that.

There are actually two parts of the clutch that wear out.

First is the clutch disc -- which is basically a metal plate covered in frictional fiber that goes between the flywheel and the pressure plate. When the clutch is engaged, the disc is "squeezed" or “grabbed” between the flywheel and pressure plate, and power from the engine is transmitted to the input shaft of the transmission. In simple terms, the clutch disc has to be “squeezed” to allow for smooth starts from a stop and for smooth shifting from one gear up or down to the next. The way you ruin the disc is by taking a long time to get into, and out of, each gear. That's called "riding the clutch" and avoiding this is the key to long clutch life.

The other part of the clutch that wears out is the throw-out or release bearing. That's the part that presses against the pressure plate and "releases" the disc. How to help preserve it? When you're driving a manual transmission car and you stop at a red light, simply shift into neutral and take your foot off the clutch. Of course, some things simply can’t be avoided. For instance, city driving usually wears out the clutch faster than long-distance or “super-highway” driving -- simply because you have no choice but to depress the clutch pedal more often during rush-hour traffic. But the worst clutch abuse usually happens when you hold the clutch part-way in to make the car go slower. Under this condition the clutch is continually engaged, and a lot of wear takes place. To lengthen clutch life, “baby” the clutch. No "jack-rabbit" starts, ease the clutch out when shifting, and don’t "pop" the clutch.