how often are you supposed to change it?

 

When it wears out...depending on how well you drive they can last anywhere from 50,000 miles to 125,000miles on average (numbers might be a little off). I had a friend who have to replace his clutch in his Mustang after 20,000 miles because he raced and wasn't the best at it. I never replaced the clutch on my Geo Metro and it had over 100,000 miles.

 

how are you supposed to tell? does it "feel" different... or? if it does, how does it "feel"

 

I have never had one wear out but from what I have been told, you will hear your gears grind when you try to put it in gear. It is suppose to be hard to put it in gear as well. If it goes out, you won't be able to drive it. If it wears down, you will feel it when you put it in gear. This is what I have been told.

 

Under normal circumstances a clutch should last the life of a vehicle. If you abuse it it may need to be changed. You will be able to tell because it will slip or fail to function, you'll know it when it happens. I've gotten over 200K on a clutch with no problems, only had to replace the slave cylinder.

 

The life of your clutch depends on how you drive. My first clutch on my first car (NX2000) lasted me 15K miles, yes 15k. But after I learned to drive manual I have never burned another clutch. My last car (350z) had 80k miles on it and the clutch was fine. A quick way to tell if the clutch still is good: Put it on 5th gear and let go the clutch slowly if the car stalls out, the clutch is good. If the car starts going is time for a new clutch. I've read this in the my350z.com forums, and I am no expert but it sounds about right. Can any one else confirm this?

 

nope, it is quite possible to release the clutch so slowly that the car can start moving in 5th gear on level ground.