General Question (mAC) Pressure Plate Failure

[Kent McLean]

LL wrote:
> Just wanted to know if anyone can describe the
> precursors to clutch pressure plate failure, 
> particularly as it pertains to I-5 turbo Audis?
> 
> Are there any symptoms, or does it just quit?

Depends on the failure.  If it becomes glazed, the clutch
would gradually start slipping.  This is obvious when you
press on the gas, the engine revs, but the car doesn't
move faster in response.  I ran a Honda Accord clutch
to 273K miles, the last 5K I'd be going up hills in 3rd 
gear.

Pressure plates can also fracture (that's one reason
drag racers have the heavy shields around them), 
exploding due to the stress.  I believe that kind of
failure is sudden (noisy, and expensive).

--
Kent McLean
'94 100 S Avant
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy"