Ok here's the deal. I use my clutch to wait for traffic on an upgrade all the time. At my workplace is a big banking where they widened the road. Looks like the banking at Daytona. Should I use my hand brake until traffic clears? Am I using up too much clutch plate by holding her still using my clutch? I try not to ride my clutch while driving. ( I love that dummy pedal). BUT I sometimes use clutch to get at a higher RPM while shifting through 2nd to 3rd gears. ( step on it engage clutch and disengage clutch for an extra boost). I know that will add wear and tear but I do it anyway. How many miles can expect from my lil ole stock clutch and pressure plate. 6800 miles right now. A whole bunch of stop and go driving.. Thanks for any input..

 

Seems the way you described is more wear and tear than usual. No one could really give you an acurate estimate but thats hard wear on it and more than most people give it.

 

well, with us auto guys its not recommended to use the transmission to hold the car on an incline. this puts too much stress on the tranny. So i'm guessing it would be the same for you. what i'd do is put her in neutral and either hold the brakes or use the hand brake

 

Why dont you just hold the foot brake? Also, I think properly taken care of, you can have a stock clutch last from about 60-80k miles, so baby it and itll last for a long time.

 

I think the stock clutch is pretty stout IMO. I am on the original stock clutch right now with 65,000 miles on it. I drive it alot and I spray it alot. The clutch has never felt like it was slipping even with 425-450 ft. pounds of torque.

I always put the car in neutral and let off the clutch whenever I come to a stop, even at a stoplight. You should never use your handbrake unless your parking on a hill. Oh yea Just FYI the handbrake cable is kinda weak. I broke one in my old 97 GT. It was just worn from pulling up the handbrake so much. It wasnt hard to replace though.

 

Use the brakes. Holding the car on a hill with the clutch will just wear it out that much quicker and probably make it start chattering after awhile.

 

lol, was my clutch the inspiration for this thread?

like these guys say, put it in nuetral and hold the brake with your foot