Friction Is the Whole Point
Every time you pull away or change gear, the clutch plate slips against the flywheel for a moment until the two lock together. That friction material is designed to wear, a little at a time.
How long it lasts depends far more on how the car is used than on kilometres. Stop-start traffic, towing a van or boat, heavy loads in the tray and riding the pedal all speed it up.
Once the plate is thin enough, the pressure plate can no longer clamp it hard and the engine starts to spin faster than the wheels. That's slipping, and from there it only gets worse.
Is Your Clutch on Its Way Out?
Why the Gearbox Has to Come Out
The clutch is sandwiched between the engine and the gearbox, so the only way in is to separate them. Because that's where most of the labour goes, everything in that space gets checked while it's apart.
Clutch plate
The friction disc that wears. Always replaced.
Pressure plate
The spring-loaded cover that clamps the plate. Supplied in the kit.
Release bearing
Pushes on the pressure plate when you press the pedal. Replaced with the kit.
Flywheel
Measured and inspected. Dual-mass types fitted to many diesels and utes often need replacing too.
We also look at the rear main seal, the spigot bearing and the slave cylinder. An oil leak onto a new clutch will ruin it quickly, so it's worth fixing at the same visit. You get a clear quote covering exactly what your car needs before work starts.
Working Vehicles Wear Clutches Faster
Manual utes and 4WDs spend their lives pulling caravans, carrying tools and crawling off-road. All of that puts heat and load through the clutch, so they tend to need one sooner than a car used for the school run.
- Dual-mass flywheels on common diesel utes checked properly, not just the plate
- Heavier-duty clutch options discussed if you tow or go off-road regularly
- Gearbox and transfer case checked for leaks while they're on the bench
Pair it with 4WD servicing before a big trip and the car comes back ready to go.
Done On Time, Priced Fairly
“just hald holden colarado LTZ in for service and cv boots replaced and a full diagnostic check , customer service was second to none , job was done in the time frame i was told , and was very happy with the price”
“They got the car in for a major service at a short notice and replaced the rear tyres and brake pads and had the car back within a couple of hours.”
“Great service from Stephen. Great workmanship from the team. Fair pricing and and a job well done.”
Clutch FAQ
How long does a clutch replacement take?
Because the gearbox has to come out, it's often a full day's job, and some 4WDs and all-wheel-drive cars take longer. Your quote comes with an honest estimate of when it'll be ready.
Can I keep driving with a slipping clutch?
For a short while, but it will get worse, and it can leave you stuck when it finally lets go. Slipping also heats the flywheel, which can turn a clutch job into a clutch and flywheel job.
Do I need a new flywheel as well?
Not always. We measure and inspect it once it's off. Some single-mass flywheels can be reused; dual-mass flywheels that are worn or have too much play are best replaced.
My automatic is shuddering. Is that a clutch problem?
Conventional automatics don't have a clutch pedal or plate, but dual-clutch automatics do. Shudder can also come from the transmission or engine mounts, so we diagnose it before quoting.
