ryanm

Not sure if there are many 98 GT owners on here that have had their cars since 98, but it's worth a shot.

My particular car had an issue with the gears grinding between 3 and 4th so Ford decided to install the cobra clutch kit on GT's with this particular issue. I've got 148k on the odometer and I'm still running this same clutch (145k on the clutch.) I had the rear main seal and oil pan gasket replaced at 120k and the mechanic said that the clutch still had 40% remaining, but a couple of hot spots on the pressure plate. He tried to get me to go ahead and replace the clutch since they were pulling everything down to do the rear main seal. They were already getting a grand out of me so I said I'll keep my 40% clutch. Is it normal to get this many miles out a clutch? I'm not hard on it and I know that it is starting to slip. How much longer can I expect to drive on this clutch before I get stranded on the side of the road? I know driving habits have a lot to do with clutch life, but just looking for some advice.

teej281

Dude, if your clutch lasted that long, just put it out of its misery and get a new clutch. Youre due for one. Get the king cobra clutch and install an aftermarket clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster while youre at it. Just a piece of mind man. It goes into the theory you dont fix what aint broke...and thats about as broke as youre going to get without it actually being broke. I'd just go ahead and order the king cobra clutch and have it installed while theyre in there.

Z28KLR

I once had an Escort with about 250K on factory clutch. The factory clutch in my Mustang was at 50% when it was replaced at 82K. No slippage on either. Sorry, I know you were asking about 98GT's specifically, but hope this helps a little. You mentioned that yours is beginning to slip, this is pretty much the first warning sign that it's on it's way (difficulty shifting into 1st and/or Reverse is right there, too). Hard to say how much longer you can ride with it; it might go another 10 or 20K easy or start giving you real problems next week.

ryanm

I'll order the king cobra clutch kit. Maybe the quadrant and firewall adjuster...if I have enough saved up. I can do most work on the car, but I'm not going to try a clutch by myself. Local mechanics are trying to gouge me for the labor on the clutch though.

On a side note...I didn't know that Ford offered "Pussyslayer Red" as a color option. Nice.

teej281

If youre going to order those items, order either Fiore or Maximum Motorsports products. I inspected the Fiore pieces last weekend when me and my buddy tried to install them on his car to find out he has steeda quadrant/firewall adjuster already on there. They are top notch quality pieces they are. Im going to order a set sometime soon, or around when i put the 6spd in with a new clutch.