To think clutch should last more than two years

[Lennon80]

Been a driver for 20years two years ago my Volvo needed a new clutch - ended up having work done in the main dealership (only place that had the part needed) to the tune of 4K. Recent mot advisory was new clutch - I’ve only had it two years. Feel like I’ve been scammed?

Depends how you drive really.

If you ride the clutch, dilly dally over gear changes and don’t use neutral or you handbrake then two years would be enough to need replacement.

I work in the motor trade

Like others have said, it depends how you drive.

Don't think I've ever needed a clutch replacing and i had one car about 8 years

...and how much you drive. 40-50k/year and you'd easily wear a clutch out in two years.

Have a driving lesson to see if it's you.

Do you rest your foot on the clutch? Even very slight pressure will cause the clutch to wear. You should take your foot completely off between gear changes. Of course this may not be the case at all - maybe get a second opinion on the clutch if you are unconvinced.

I think most people would agree 2 years is a short time to wear out a clutch.

The last 2 cars I owned for 10 years and neither required a clutch replacement during those 10 year periods (and they were bought s/h).

So one of two things. Since a clutch is a wear item it could be that you have a driving style that for some reason is really wearing the clutch.

Or it could have been a faulty install last time. I would be searching the internet to see if there are any generic complaints about that particular model and clutch replacement and also talking to the dealer who replaced it to get their opinion.

Edit : Or as someone else pointed out, it could be you are doing a huge amount of mileage.

I learned to drive without a clutch.

Thankfully we've not had to endure a manual car for over 27 years

It all depends on how you drive - if clutch was not installed properly, you would have found out very quickly

I’ve just sold my 13 yo car that I’ve had 10 years with 103,000 miles on the clock. Never had a new clutch. 2 years is crazy!

Or it could have been a faulty install

If the clutch cable/cylinder isn't adjusted properly, the clutch could be ever so slightly slipping which will wear over time.

OP hasn't told us what symptom has alerted the garage (and MOTs don't check clutches as far as I recall). There are 2 failure modes for a clutch. The main spring can break, in which case you can't change gear without a really nasty crunch. Or the centre disc wears and the clutch slips so the revs go up, and the car goes the same speed.

My DF ran a garage, and I helped out as a teenager.

A lot. 😀

It's more the mileage than the time, and what your driving style is. Clutches are not covered under warranty because their wear is so much down to how you drive. My MIL thrashes the clutch to a stratospheric level. It's mind blowing hearing her pulling away or doing hill starts. I've never known anything like it. She destroyed the clutch on a new car after 20,000 miles (which for her was about 2 and a half years.)

A lot of it is down to technique. Also, as you age, your hearing isn't as good so can't hear the biting point as clearly.

A clutch should be lasting around 100,000 miles if not more. How many miles did you do before it needed replacing the first time? How many miles have you done with the new clutch?

Wrong! My good god. Where on earth did you hear that.

OP as I said I work in the motor trade, specifically for my husbands mechanics business.

The average life expectancy of a clutch is 30-60000 miles but as I said previously you do need to factor in how you are driving.

From the fact every single car I have driven has got to somewhere between 100,000 and 120,000 before needing a new clutch. 30,000 and needing a new clutch is insane.

30k miles for a clutch? Total bollocks

My last car was at 112,000 miles when I finally disposed of it because of rust. It was still on the original clutch.

The only cars I've heard of that need a new clutch in 30,000 miles are a) high-end sports cars, b) those towing things that are probably too heavy for the vehicle, or c) cars driven by people who weren't taught how to properly drive a manual car.

OP is likely “riding the clutch”

Easily done in heels ..

I thought this would be about handbags.

My mum went through clutches like they were chocolate bars when she was driving. Unfortunately she rode the clutch a lot.

Clutches can go any time. Riding the clutch is an easy habit to get into that needs to be beaten out of us.

My DIL burns through clutches in record time. How I've got no clues and she's not allowed to drive my car.

And 4k for a clutch?