Clutch replacement & repair done differently

How much does a Clutch Replacement cost?

The cost of a clutch replacement depends on your car and what parts your car's manufacturer recommends using for the replacement. Find out what you could save by having your clutch replaced by Clickmechanic, by selecting your car below!

What does a Clutch do?

The clutch is a solid metal disc located between the engine and the transmission, it couples the crankshaft and flywheel to the gearbox's clutch shaft. The clutch enables the drive from the engine to be disconnected momentarily from the gearbox.

The clutch disc is simply put a 'friction' disc that, when engaged, presses against the flywheel (which is directly connected to the crankshaft) by way of the pressure plate. If disengaged the clutch disc does not press against the flywheel, which in turn means that no drive is transferred to the gearbox, allowing for a gear change to be made.

How do you know there is something wrong with the Clutch?

• When the clutch slips whilst driving.
• When you cannot use the gearbox to change gear as usual.
• When the car does not move at all.
• When the transmission makes an unusual noise whilst engaging/disengaging the clutch.

When should you consider a Clutch replacement?

Clutches wear with use, past a certain point of wear the clutch will start to slip. The clutch disc is especially affected by wear, its thickness diminishes with time leading to a reduction of the amount of force the pressure plate can put on the clutch disc to force it against the flywheel.

Clutch slippage can also be caused by reduced tension in the pressure plate's springs. In most cases, the clutch should last fairly long, only if the clutch has been used incorrectly over extended periods of time or after a lot of miles will problems with the clutch occur.

Maintaining and using the clutch in an appropriate way is therefore key to ensure a prolonged and unproblematic clutch lifespan. Always service the components of the clutch as and when stipulated in the guidelines set out by your car's manufacturer.

What happens during a Clutch replacement?

• Mechanic will inspect and test the functionality of the clutch.
• If necessary, the mechanic will replace the clutch.
• Mechanic will first separate the gearbox from the engine.
• Mechanic will replace the clutch plate, cover and release bearing.
• Mechanic will advise if other components like the flywheel also need to be replaced.
• Mechanic will rejoin engine and gearbox.
• Mechanic will inspect the clutch and test drive the car.
• Mechanic will make adjustments if necessary.

What happens if I don’t replace a faulty Clutch?

Over time, a worn out clutch will make driving your car more difficult and dangerous as the parts do not work and react as efficiently as they should.
Tell-tale signs of a failing clutch are your pedal starting to feel spongy when you press it, or it might stick, vibrate or even feel loose. Another common sign is a squeaking noise when you press the pedal. Changing gears will increasingly become difficult as the discs fail to connect and disconnect.

In the worst case, prolonged driving with a damaged clutch and putting extra stress on the teeth of the gears, as a result of the mechanism not working correctly, will even damage your gearbox.

Can I do a Clutch replacement by myself?

In many vehicles, getting access to the parts of the clutch which need to be removed and replaced can be difficult, and require the car to be firmly supported above head height. To be sure that a clutch fitting is successful your car should be hoisted on a hydraulic lift so that the components which need to be removed and replaced are at eye level.

Because the car’s wheels also need to be removed to get to the axle, it is fraught with additional potential problems. If you don’t re-fit your wheels properly and they are out of alignment as a result, this can lead to problems with other components, including premature and uneven tyre wear, and possible problems with your brakes.

We always recommend that fitting a new clutch is done by a professional mechanic with the right experience, equipment, and tools.

How common is a Clutch replacement?

As with most parts of your car, the time until you need a new clutch fitted depends on the driving style. While clutches are designed to be long-lasting, consider how often you change gear while driving – each time the gear is changed, the pressure is put on the moving parts which allow it to be done smoothly.

What are common Clutch brands on the market?

Names you might find quoted for a clutch repair by mechanics and garages include LuK, Valeo, Sachs, and Mapco.

Are there any differences between the Clutches used in old and new vehicles, or between petrol, diesel or electric vehicles?

One major technological difference in some manufacturers’ vehicles is that they may have a single clutch, or what is called a dual clutch transmission (DCT). A vehicle fitted with a DCT gearbox has not one, but two clutches, with one shifting the odd-numbered gears (1, 3 and 5), and the other the even-numbered ones (2, 4 and 6).
This has resulted in a gearbox which can shift between gears more quickly, with the smoothness which had until recently only been associated with an automatic transmission.

How to extend the lifetime of your Clutch?

Unsurprisingly, how you drive your car is the main factor which will determine how soon you will need to have your clutch replaced.
Here, we have a few tips which could help you prolong the life of the clutch in your car:

• Don’t ‘ride’ the clutch: This simply means that should avoid keeping your foot lightly pressed on the clutch pedal so that you were ready to press it down fully when you needed to change gears. This habit will increase the friction between the discs and wears them down faster.
• Put your car into neutral gear when stopped for more than a few seconds, e,.g, when you’re stopped at traffic lights or sit in a long line of stationary traffic.
• Change gear quickly but smoothly: Press down on your clutch pedal, change gear, then release the clutch as quickly as you can, as this minimises the amount of time for which the clutch discs are engaged.
• Never leave your car in gear when it’s parked: This puts extra strain on the clutch, even when the vehicle isn’t moving and the engine not switched on.
• Learn how to ‘read the road’ well and anticipate what’s ahead: The sooner you spot potential hazards, the more time you have to act accordingly, which usually means changing down through the gears.

Taking care of how you use your clutch in your everyday driving will mean that it will stay in optimum working order for as long as possible.