Towing a standard shift

vic46 wrote:

naturist wrote:
Clutches generally wear out because drivers (a) sit at stop signs and traffic lights with the transmission in gear and their foot on the clutch (wears out the throw-out bearing); (b) release the clutch way too slowly while revving the engine up on takeoff from rest; (c) drive with left foot resting atop the clutch pedal, resulting in continuous slippage.

With the engine shut off and the transmission in neutral, no part of the clutch assembly should be rotating while towing. I, too, doubt very much than any distance towing was the cause of the problem.

Not sure your (a) is factual. I had a Chev Beretta with a 5 speed manual transmission that I put 225,000 kilometres on and the clutch was never touched, or the engine for that matter. I would guess that at least a third of those klicks were city driving with the normal amount of start and stop city driving.

(a) was referring to throw-out bearing wearing, not clutch. Throw-out bearing essentially sits and spins when sitting still and clutch pushed in.

Thanx to all who replied. I have my answer now.

Never changed a clutch in my last three manuals 189,000 139,000 145,000 A/C gave out on all of them time to trade. Two of the three are still on the road.

naturist wrote:
Clutches generally wear out because drivers (a) sit at stop signs and traffic lights with the transmission in gear and their foot on the clutch (wears out the throw-out bearing); (b) release the clutch way too slowly while revving the engine up on takeoff from rest; (c) drive with left foot resting atop the clutch pedal, resulting in continuous slippage.

With the engine shut off and the transmission in neutral, no part of the clutch assembly should be rotating while towing. I, too, doubt very much than any distance towing was the cause of the problem.

Not sure your (a) is factual. I had a Chev Beretta with a 5 speed manual transmission that I put 225,000 kilometres on and the clutch was never touched, or the engine for that matter. I would guess that at least a third of those klicks were city driving with the normal amount of start and stop city driving.

We've towed our 2004 Subaru about 8,000 miles with no effect on the clutch.

I'm with the others.... very unlikely towing was a factor.

But... freak things happen. I was towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and made a panic stop. Pull away and the back wheels where spinning backwards!!! The gal left her purse on the center console, and when we stopped the purse knocked the jeep into gear!

What year and model?

Clutches generally wear out because drivers (a) sit at stop signs and traffic lights with the transmission in gear and their foot on the clutch (wears out the throw-out bearing); (b) release the clutch way too slowly while revving the engine up on takeoff from rest; (c) drive with left foot resting atop the clutch pedal, resulting in continuous slippage.

With the engine shut off and the transmission in neutral, no part of the clutch assembly should be rotating while towing. I, too, doubt very much than any distance towing was the cause of the problem.

Are you implying that flat-towing the Subaru somehow caused the clutch failure? If so, I'm unclear how the two are related. There is NO wear on the clutch whatsoever when the vehicle is being towed.