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Clutch Repair

What does a CLUTCH do?

In your truck or a car you have an engine that is spinning all of the time when it’s running. The wheels on the car don’t run all the time, so to keep from killing the engine; we have to disengage the engine and the wheels (by way of transmission) when we don’t want the vehicle moving. That’s where a clutch comes in. The clutch is pressed and released to control the slipping between the spinning engine and the non-spinning transmission. If you feel slipping from gear to gear during transition or notice that your transmission isn’t engaging, you may need a new clutch!

How do I know if I should have mine looked at and probably replaced?

In general, if your vehicle is slipping or seems to disengage from gear on its own it needs should be looked at and most likely replaced.

How hard is it to replace?

A clutch replacement isn’t an easy repair! Bud’s has ASE certified automotive techs utilizing state-of-the-art transmission and specialty tools; databases and hand-picked, high quality, best available, long lasting parts to make services like this one easier for even a professional.

*A quick overview of clutch job might look like:

  • Jack up or lift the vehicle
    • Support the engine
  • Remove wheels, drain transmission
    • Remove battery cables, hydraulic, starter, speedometer and all other connected electrical components
      • Mark any parts necessary to make sure you can connect them back quickly
  • Take drive shaft out or remove axles
    • You may need a pry bar or CVC axle removal tool to pry the inside of the CV shaft off
      • Both sides need removed
  • Disconnect clutch slave cylinder
  • Remove transmission-to-engine bolts
    • Take out starter bolts
  • Disconnect transmission mount
    • Remove transmission
  • Remove clutch assembly pieces and fly wheel
    • Take off clutch plate
      • Remove bolts
        • You may have to pry the pressure plate free
  • Re-install re-surfaced or new fly wheel
  • Use alignment tool to set clutch assembly in perfectly and fasten
  • Replace throw out bearing and collar
    • Check transmission collar for damage
      • If damage is found, proceed with further inspection on transmission
  • Replace transmission, electrical components, bolts, axles, transmission fluid, wheels in reverse order
    • Torque all bolts to factory specifications
    • Bleed hydraulic slave and master cylinder

If your slave cylinder leaks when the boot is squeezed, that will need to be replaced also!

Of course this isn’t the protocol for every vehicle but it is the short version of what a tech might do on a general clutch replacement job (*NOT an actual step-by-step). As you can see, we know quite a bit about clutches, clutch replacement, and clutch repair. If you would like to have your vehicle diagnosed because it’s been doing things that make you think it’s a clutch issue, schedule an appointment with one of our ASE certified techs to have it checked out…. Here.