Clutch Replacement in Brixham

Brixham is a working fishing port with a busy harbour, steep hills and strong holiday traffic in summer. Hill starts, stop-start crawls along the harbour and loaded cars in peak season all put heat and strain on a clutch.

We are Automaster, trading as Clutchmaster at Automaster, and clutches are what we are known for. Here is what to watch for, what the job involves and how to get an accurate quote.

Is my clutch failing on Brixham's hills?

Steep gradients show up a weak clutch fast. If you hold the car on a hill using the clutch rather than the handbrake, or you pull away on a slope and the revs flare without the car responding, the friction disc is probably worn or contaminated.

Other warnings are a burning smell after a hill start, a pedal that feels different from how it used to, and a gearlever that crunches when you select first or reverse.

• Revs rising without drive
• Smell of burning after hills
• Judder from a standstill
• Pedal sinking or sticking
• Hard to find first or reverse

What happens when you replace a clutch?

The gearbox is separated from the engine so we can reach the clutch. We then fit a new kit: pressure plate, driven plate and release bearing. We check the flywheel face for heat marks, scoring or play, and look at the seals either side for oil leaks.

Why is the labour such a big part of the job?

Time depends mostly on how the gearbox sits in the car. On some models it drops out neatly; on others, driveshafts, exhausts, subframes or tight engine bays add a lot of work. This is why two clutches of similar parts value can quote very differently.

The parts themselves vary by engine, and a dual-mass flywheel adds to the bill when it needs renewing. We explain these things in words when you ask for a quote.

Do you repair clutches as well as replace them?

Where the fault is hydraulic we look at the slave cylinder, master cylinder, pipework and fluid. Leaks and air in the system can make a clutch seem worn when it is not. Cable clutches can stretch, fray or seize and may need adjustment or a new cable.

Where the friction parts are worn or the flywheel is damaged, repair is not a lasting answer and replacement is the honest route.

Do you cover Brixham, and where do I bring the car?

Yes. Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Brixham, Churston, Paignton, Dartmouth and the rest of Torbay bring cars to us. We are an RAC Approved Garage.

If your car will barely move, call the quote line first and tell us what it is doing.