As far as if it is worn out, I think you would be able to tell. When
mine was wearing out, it was becoming difficult to shift in and out of
gears. The replacement time came when the slave cylinder was trying too
hard to push the clutch out, then it broke open, with a puddle of fluid
under the car (this happened at the '96 British Car Meet in Palo
Alto!). If this happens, then your pressure plate deffinetly needs
replacement. The screwy thing was that the clutch only had about 8k
miles! But that was replaced by the second owner who I got the car
from, with the receipt to prove it. Being that the engine has to be
romoved to replace the clutch, I would wait until your car starts to
tell you that it is time to be replaced. But I would do it at the frist
signs of difficult shifting, BEFORE you need to rebuild the slave
cylinder as well!
The mechaninc told me what causes premature wear on the pressure
plate. He said that when you are stopped and hold the clutch in for a
long period of time, not putting it in nuetral and letting the clutch
out, it wears down the plate. Appereantly the bearings aren't as goood
as some of the newer cars. As long as you do not hold the clutch in
while waiting at a traffic light, your pressure plate should last a good
30k+ miles. I don't think time has much of a factor on it's life.
ADAM
'74 Midget MK III
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