[Gymguyjeep]

I know that the answer is probably subjective and that the life of a clutch depends upon lots of variables. My Jeep has about 54,000 miles and realistically 10% of those miles are off-road. Of this 10% probably 50% has been some pretty rough stuff. Still, I have always tried to use the low gearing to idle up most everything and keep the clutch out of it. Street driving is always done with clean shifting at good rpm's. Right now, I don't have any slipping that is detectable and everything is quiet whether the clutch is in or out in gear or in neutral. I am just wondering how long I can expect a stock jeep clutch to last before replacing. I often take long trips and would hate for a trip to be ruined by having a clutch going out on a trail.

[Jerry Bransford]

Unless it has been just horribly abused, 200K miles should not be a surprising amount of mileage for the OE TJ clutch. Just out of concern so it wouldn't fail on a very tough trail I was about to drive on, I replaced my TJ's clutch with 167,000 miles on it. I had literally (!) smoked that clutch enough times on some of the more difficult trails that I figured it needed replacing.

However, I was surprised just how good of condition it was in when I got it out and compared it to the new clutch. I'd say my OE clutch probably would have had no problems making it to at least 200K miles. And that's with my clutch having been seriously abused over the years while offroading and rock crawling.

See that smoke in the below pic? That's from my clutch and it went probably 40K miles more after that pic and it was still good when I removed it.

[Sweeney]

As is the same with brakes, the number of miles driven is inconsequential. What matters is how often and HOW you use the clutch.

[hawkguy]

Had to replace my throw-out bearing at 88K cause it totally disintegrate but the PP and CP were still good.

[Boodyrider]

Dunno, Dad's CJ is at 300k + on the original clutch.

The answer lies with the nut behind the wheel. My ex-girlfriend could toast a clutch in a day.

[wushaw]

I have 126K on my Jeep and I replace my NV3550 for a NV4500, the pilot bearing was dry, TO bearing ok and clutch disk was only .004 thinner than a new clutch disk.

[needa9inch]

My throw out bearing went bad at 100,000. My friend convinced me to just buy a whole clutch assembly since we had to take it all apart anyway. Once we got inside only the bearing was bad, the old clutch was in no worse shape then the new one that replaced it.

[ute]

255k and still going

its all about the abuse and also how you shift ...never use it on the upshifts and majority of down shifts

[Gymguyjeep]

From these posts, it looks like I have nothing to worry about for a while! Thanks for the info.

[pat ryan]

135.863 and still runs out like new and yes it has been wheeled hard

[2003X]

Just did mine at 57K last month

[SillyPutty]

I had to have my transmission replaced at 140K. The clutch still had good life in it, but I figured since we were in there, may as well take care of it.

[superslayer]

Still going strong at 140,000. I'll consider a replacement at 200K.

[skyscooter]

my throw out bearing was bad at 57K, but the plates were fine, replaced everything while i was in there though. already had a clutch kit bought. They are cheap enough to replace just for the piece of mind if you can do it yourself.

[Pillswoj]

From the replies so far you have hopefully figured it out, The clutch itself will last forever BUT the throwout bearing or some other part will go at some point. When that happens you will replace the clutch because your in there.

I have never heard of anyone wearing out a jeep clutch.