Why does my clutch overheat all the time?

Question

I need to know what to buy that's better so it stays cool.

Answer 1

your flywheel is identical to a brake rotor, if you don't have it turned/machined when you replace the clutch, it can be warped andnot having full contact on the clutch disk. Cheap parts+no machining+poor shifting habits=short clutch life. 25k miles on a race clutch is good, 100k on a stock clutch is average, 150k or more miles on stock clutch=good shifter habits on a non raced vehicle.

Answer 2

There are a lot of good answers here.

But one that has been overlooked is adjustment. Is the clutch adjusted right? If the clutch linkage is not adjusted right it will not let the full force of the pressure plate be used, resulting in premature clutch failure and or overheating.

Another thing is that if you use an old clutch disk with a new pressure plate, it is waisted money. Failure to brake the glaze on the fly wheel has the same result. Do the complete job (at least break the glaze on the flywheel, better yet have it resurfaced, new clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing and pilot bearing).

I tend to think of a clutch as either being on or off. In other words either I have it all the way down or my foot is all the way off of it.

But my clutches only last 100K miles, so what do I know.

Answer 3

well for 1 thing, don,t ride with your foot on the clutch and don,t let the clutch hold the car on a hill when your waiting for the stop light to change.look at the flywheel, it could be burnt, glazed or have cracks in it.

Answer 4

If you haven’t replaced it all ready, you need a new clutch, if you have replaced it, I need to ask if you have the fly wheel turned. If you did not have the fly wheel turned this is causing a lot of the over heat issue as the wheel has heat burns and glazing on it that is not allowing the clutch to engage correctly, thus allowing the clutch to slip. If you had everything done correctly, then your driving habits are to blame. Work with the clutch a little more and don't let it slip or smack while shifting.

Answer 5

it might have to be with your shifting. Do you slowly let go while accelerating? If you do it might be burning your clutch up. Try pushing it in just enough to engage it then hit the gas, and don't let go too fast or you'll peel out(bad for the tranny and makes you look like a ricer)

Answer 6

The simple answer is, your clutch is overheating because it is slipping.

You may be riding the pedal, the freeplay adjustment may be wrong or your clutch, pressure plate, throwout and pilot bearings need replacing and flywheel inspected.  As far as what to buy thats better?  Any quality manufactured parts are perfectly usable if proper maintenance and good driving habits are practiced.