Should I change my clutch even though it doesn't slip?

Hi everyone, new to the forum. I bought the truck new in 2012. Now it has 135k miles on it and it's been darn solid. Right before it went out of warranty it had a problem with the cruise control switch, but no problems since then. The truck even still has the original set of brake pads on it, and a set of almost worn out Michelins with 103k miles on them. Needless to say, I'm pretty happy with the lack on money I've put into the truck in the last 7 years. I've done all the 30k mile services, mostly on time. I plan on keeping the truck until the engine goes or I wreck it.

So, I don't know how this truck has any clutch left. I learned to drive stick on it (a bad idea), and also pulled many a trailers with it. I can remember the first week I had it backing up a trailer in the dirt in close quarters and slipping the clutch hard, with a big ball of blue smoke coming from under it. I did the same thing in NJ trying to back over a 8 inch curb pushing a trailer up a driveway. I've also done my fair share of racing and burnouts with it over the years.

The clutch doesn't slip at all. The problem I'm having is a noise when it's cold. There's a whine coming from the transmission, which I assume is the throwout bearing, as it changes when I push in the clutch. Last winter it only did it when it was extremely cold, but now it seems to do it every morning.

I'd hate to replace the clutch with the possibility of getting another 50k or so miles out of it. The problem is, if it fails while I'm out on the road, it's probably going to cost me a lot more to fix than if I just did it on a weekend while the truck is still driveable. I live in an apartment an hour and a half from my parents' house, where I'd have to change the clutch. Also, all my tools are at my job near my apartment. Say if it breaks during the week, that means I'd have to have the truck towed, get a rental car, probably miss work or school, and drive the rental car the rest of the week until I got back to their house on Friday.

What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards changing it in the next few weekends. If I did, any brands you guys recommend? I was thinking of getting one from the dealer because this one seemed to take a lot of abuse. Should I replace the clutch hydraulics?

I really don't want to spend the money or do the job right now, but I feel like I have to. If there's any way you guys can talk me out of doing this, I'd appreciate it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40Voe2L6R5E

 

Have you ever changed a clutch? If not maybe leave it to a professional.

 

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

 

No, but I've swapped plenty of automatics, rebuilt a differential, swapped engines. I can do the job lol.

 

I drove my 06 for 295K miles on the original clutch until one day, my clutch pedal went to the floor. Thought it was the master cylinder, changed it and pedal still went to the floor. Fluids were topped off. It ended up being the pressure plate being stuck and the input shaft was ate up, due to it being aluminum. My clutch didn't slip either, but going that long on the factory clutch, cost me more in repairs. Now that just about everything has been replaced, it runs like a sewing machine! It got rid of that chirp when in neutral as well.

If your truck is making that awful cricket chirp in neutral, it's the throwout bearing wobbling on the shaft and it's time to do some maintenance on your transmission. My transmission guy put a steel sleeve over mine. Whoever thought making that shaft out of aluminum was a good idea, should be tarred and feathered...

 

If your near central Texas I can swing by. I’ll get it to slip in about 20 minutes,. If you decide to do it on the ground I’d split the transfer case from the tranny just so it’s not so damn heavy.