Flyin Miata Clutch Break In???
 

I installed my clutch yesterday and haven't drove the car yet. Is it best to do the 500 mile break in on the interstate or around town. I did't know if a constant speed or starting and stopping is better for it. I bought the level 1 happy meal (Clutch Kit and Flywheel) Thanks a lot.

Do not drive it at a consistent speed. You should be going throughout the RPM range, plus starting at stopping. Just don't dump the clutch or do some crazy high power pulls. Just drive it like a regular car.

I'm pretty sure that "going through the RPM range" applies to breaking in engines, and specifically piston rings. The clutch doesn't have a clue what the RPM is once it's engaged. From its perspective, RPM is zero whenever your foot is not on the pedal.

Just drive the bloody thing like a normal person for a little while.

But the flywheel will experience different heat cycles based on how you are driving it, and it's my understanding it should be put through as many different heat cycles as possible during the break in period.

Its not like your 6psi greddy kit makes any torque in general. Just dive it and no launching.

I drove for 6-months on a Spec S3. After I put the turbo shit in the cluth slipped for a little while...I didn't make enough torque to break it in properly. lol

Again, when the clutch is engaged (ie: you are not stepping on the pedal) the flywheel, pressure plate and clutch disc are all locked together as a single assembly. There is no relative motion, no friction, and no heat being generated in it.

The heat that is being transmitted into it via the physical contact between the crankshaft and flywheel assembly is both minuscule and not going to vary by RPM either, unless there is something pitiably wrong with your cooling system, in which case the clutch is not your biggest concern.

Varying engine RPM has absolutely no effect whatsoever on the clutch assembly when it is not being operated by your foot.

I think he meant don't just get on the interstate and cruise for 500-1000 miles. Do some stop and go like in a normal trip. My break-in consists of regular driving. No need to take it real easy or do anything fancy. Don't drive like a fool and it will be fine.

I fail at communicating :) Yes that's what I meant.

I drove it just around town for 200 mile and spent about 30mins. in a neighborhood so I had a lot of stopping and starting. I got on the interstate for just 10 miles if that. I did about a 1/4 of a mile pull tonight and everything seems fine. Thanks guys