First off, what is the clutch? The clutch is obviously one of the most important components of any vehicle. In fact, if the clutch of your car were to stop working properly, then you can bet that you’ll have a hard time driving at all.
If you want to learn more about how a clutch works, what does the clutch does, and how to adjust it then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll provide you with all the information you need, including average clutch replacement cost, which can be anything from $200 when you do it yourself, to $1,000 when you hire a professional to do it.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Clutch?
Repairing a clutch is actually quite affordable, and in most instances, the only components that need to be replaced are the throw-out bearing, clutch disc, and pressure plate. The average retail cost of these parts together is usually between $80 and $450 depending on the type of car that you’re dealing with. Most cars are on the lower end of this pricing spectrum, while high-performance vehicles are on the higher end. Hydraulically operated clutches contain two additional cylinders that you’ll also have to replace every now and then at a cost of $20 and $60 each. Generally speaking, you can expect that this service will cost much more compared with the cost of an oil change, wheel alignment price or brake service cost.
Once you get a professional involved, you’ll also have to pay for labor costs, which can really add up when combined with the price for components. On average, labor costs range between $400 and $750, while the total cost of the repair can go up to $550 and $1,000. Average prices rarely fall outside the $600 to $850 price range. Remember to ask for a quote from your mechanic before you hire them so that you can inspect the entire scope of work.
You can also get quotes from different mechanics by searching online. Use phrases like “clutch repair near me”, “how much does it cost to replace a clutch” or “cost to repair a clutch” so that you can get accurate results.
How long does it take to put in a new clutch?
On average, this repair takes about 3-4 hours. Of course, it all depends on the vehicle model and the experience of the mechanic.
What’s the Use of a Clutch?
The car clutch is responsible for connecting your vehicle’s engine to its transmission. Because the car’s engine is always on even when the wheels are no longer turning, the clutch needs to play the double duty of linking and separating. Automatic transmissions have a lot more clutches, and yet they’re still made up of the same basic elements that are responsible for doing the same job.
What’s a Clutch?
In order to connect with your car’s engine, the clutch has to use the flywheel. You’ll know that the clutch has been engaged when you don’t feel any pressure on the pedal, as the powerful springs push the clutch disc against the flywheel. These two parts create friction, which forms a strong link that transmits the engine’s motion onto the transmission itself.
How does the clutch work exactly?
Well, you basically press down on the clutch pedal with your foot to relax the springs that are keeping the clutch disc beside the flywheel. With nothing to keep it in place, the clutch disc stops spinning and this is what ultimately breaks the connection between these two components.
Ideally, your engine shouldn’t come to a halt immediately when your vehicle is coming to a stop. So, pressing your foot against the clutch pedal enables the flywheel and the engine to continue running even though the clutch plate, gearbox, and wheels are no longer spinning. Placing your vehicle in neutral is basically creating an opening in the arrangement where the gearbox is located, which enables you to let the clutch pedal out. Essentially, this means that while no gears have been selected in the gearbox, the flywheel, engine and clutch plate all continue to spin even though the wheels are not moving.
How Many Miles Should I Get Out Of a Clutch – The Clutch’s Normal Lifespan
As with all of your vehicle’s components, the clutch is built to last. Be that as it may, the ongoing friction caused by the contact between the flywheel and clutch plate is capable of wearing out even the hardiest clutch plate. Also, if you regularly carry heavy loads with your car, then you shouldn’t be surprised when the powertrain wears out quicker than expected, at say 35, 000 miles.
Most clutches are supposed to work well for at least 50, 000 miles minimum when you use them for normal driving. Modern vehicles work even better because their clutches are built to work well for at least 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Check the owner’s manual of your car to find out what the manufacturer’s recommendations are when it comes to the lifespan of the clutch.
How to Replace a Clutch
The scope of work required for a clutch replacement is quite vast, and even though it can be done at home, you should at least be knowledgeable on how auto repairs work and have a hoist on hand so you can lift up the car. Also, you’ll have to take out the driveshaft and take the transmission apart before you get to the clutch, and if any of these sounds too complicated for you to attempt, then it’s advisable to just leave it to the professionals.
How Do You Adjust a Clutch Pedal?
There’s a particular clutch repairing task that’s so easy that literally any car driver can do it, and that’s adjusting the clutch pedal’s play. Oftentimes, it becomes necessary to adjust the pedal due to changes in the clutch system’s tolerance, which happens naturally as the disc gets worn out. Other vehicles also come with an automatic clutch adjustment that works by drawing the clutch up and away from the floor and allowing it to fall back down again. The way in which the clutch adjustment is designed, as well as its exact location, vary according to each specific model, but the most common places you’re likely to find it in is under the hood opposite the firewall.
What you’ll be adjusting here is the section where the clutch pedal meets the clutch mechanism. A lot of cars also allow you to modify the clutch’s travel distance and physical height. Surrounding the clutch rod is a locking nut whose job it is to protect the rod by preventing it from accidentally altering the engagement point.
After you’ve removed the locking nut, you can then increase or decrease the distance between the rod and the clutch pedal by turning the rod around. If the distance is long, the clutch will take longer to engage when you press the pedal, while a short distance will translate into a faster engagement.
Clutch adjustment is quite a biased issue and differs from one car owner to the other. After the adjustment, listen and watch your clutch closely to check if there are any problems with engaging or disengaging it. If your clutch is no longer responding seamlessly when you engage it, then you should tweak it again until it reaches the level of performance that you want from it.
How long does it take to replace a clutch? Well, this depends on the type of vehicle that you have but it’s a pretty straightforward process and it shouldn’t take more than an hour.
Bearing in mind how important the clutch of your car is to the vehicle’s overall performance, it’s important to maintain it properly so that it’s able to continue serving you for a long time.
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