Clutch Repairs in Dapto

The clearest test is in a high gear under load. If the engine revs climb but the car does not accelerate to match — going up a hill in fourth, for instance — the clutch is slipping. A burning smell after a hill climb or heavy traffic is the same message.

Most clutch replacements need the car for a full day, and often overnight. The gearbox has to come out to reach the clutch, which is what makes it a bigger job than the parts alone suggest. We tell you the expected turnaround when you book.

It varies a lot by vehicle, because the labour depends on how the gearbox comes out and some cars are far more involved than others. We quote on your specific make and model before any work starts — give us the rego and we'll price it.

Normally the clutch plate, pressure plate and release bearing as a kit, since replacing one without the others means going back in later for the sake of a small saving. We also check the flywheel, the spigot bearing and the hydraulics while the gearbox is out.

Not always. We inspect it once the gearbox is out. If it's within specification and the surface is even it can often be machined or reused; if it's heat-damaged, cracked or a dual-mass unit that's worn, it needs replacing. Either way you get a call with the finding and the cost before we proceed.

Not always the clutch. A heavy or sinking pedal can be the hydraulics — master or slave cylinder — rather than the clutch itself, and that's a much smaller job. A shudder can come from engine or gearbox mounts. We diagnose it before quoting a replacement.

For a short while, gently, but it will get worse and it can take the flywheel with it — which adds significantly to the bill. If it's slipping badly enough to notice in normal driving, book it in rather than waiting for it to fail somewhere inconvenient.