I'm curious because last night I gunned my car and accelerated pretty hard and I smelled burnt clutch. I've been driving stick for over 10 years so it's not user error. I think that it slipped a little, barely. So I'm asking, is the stock clutch... crap? Did it come from the x series? I mean the Camry motor isn't actually Hulk, but I think they could've put a better one.

Anyone have the TRD clutch or aftermarket? If so, did you notice a difference?

 

I have had that same smell, and I think I might be on the same page as you for slipping. I have been driving stick for 8 years.

 

not me.. I have never replaced a clutch under 100k.. and this one holds like day one after 35k

 

ZPI says that the stock clutch can hold an engine making 300whp, though something tells me that a few trips down the 1/4mi would change that. At our stock torque levels, I don't see why this clutch shouldn't last a while. I know personally, I'm still adjusting to the change from mechanical to hydraulic actuation (coming from a VW). After a week with my new baby, I'm still slipping it a lot more (even on gentle takeoffs) than I have with any other car I've driven (including a 1.0L Metro).

 

One way to check is to put in 5th gear going around 5-10 mph and see if it slips. With that much load on the engine, if it's going out, it should slip.

 

You probably smelled something other than the clutch and just mistakenly thought it was the clutch.

Unless you were riding the clutch or slipping under high RPMs (like launching at 3k constantly), which you obviously wouldn't do, then I really can't explain why you smelled clutch.

Maybe there were just some rotten eggs under the passenger seat?

 

Personally, I think the stock clutch isn't that great. It's good for daily driving and everything, but when I was at the ZPI Shootout, the clutch was slipping pretty bad on the track. Halfway down the track, I went to 3rd gear and pressed the accelerator, RPMs were going up, but I wasn't going any faster. I tried 4th gear, same thing. RPMs kept going up, but had no acceleration.

This was when my supercharged tC was basically stock for everything else performance wise, except for the Bosch 110 BPV and coilovers.

I'm still on my stock clutch but plan on going with a better clutch and lighter flywheel.

 

I'm a long time stick driver, but i'm not familiar with the terminology. What does it mean when the clutch is slipping?

 

when the clutch is contacting the flywheel, but is not in 100% sync/lock, then it is slipping.

a little OT, but I keep reading the title of this thread "anyone use their 2nd clutch" and it always confuses me lol

 

^^ thanks!

 

A clutch will slip when it's unable to hold the torque being applied by the engine. Simple as that. Scuff & ride the clutch? It's going to fail earlier. Run a gazillion lbs of boost? Even if the clutch itself is in good condition, it's just as incapable of doing its job as a worn clutch.

If you're curious:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch.htm

 

This thread makes me think of my two loser friends who dump their cars from neutral to drive at 1 million RPMs and think they're the next speed racers.