Clutch Replacement in Churston

Churston sits between Paignton and Brixham, close to the steam railway line, and plenty of local cars spend their days on the routes towards Brixham and Dartmouth. That means a lot of short hops, junctions and queues, which is exactly the sort of driving that wears a clutch.

At Automaster we are known for clutch work, and we trade as Clutchmaster at Automaster. If your clutch is misbehaving, this page explains the symptoms, what a replacement involves and what to tell us when you ask for a quote.

What are the signs I need a new clutch in Churston?

The classic warning is slipping: the engine revs rise but the car does not pick up speed to match, especially in a higher gear or going uphill. Other signs include judder when pulling away, a biting point that has crept up near the top of the pedal, a burning smell after a hill start, and a gearlever that grinds or refuses to go into gear.

Not every symptom means the whole clutch is worn. Some come from a hydraulic or cable fault, so a proper inspection comes before any promise about the repair.

• Slipping under load
• Judder when moving off
• High, low or vague biting point
• Burning smell
• Difficulty selecting gears

What does fitting a new clutch actually involve?

On most cars the gearbox has to come out so the old clutch can be removed. A full clutch kit normally means a new pressure plate, a new driven plate (the friction disc) and a new release bearing, fitted together.

We also inspect the flywheel surface, the crankshaft seal and the gearbox input shaft seal while everything is apart, because leaks onto the new friction material will ruin it quickly.

Why are the clutch parts replaced together?

The pressure plate, friction disc and release bearing wear as a matched set. Fitting a fresh friction disc against a tired pressure plate or a noisy bearing usually means taking the gearbox out again soon afterwards, and the labour is the bigger part of the job.

So the sensible approach is to renew the set in one visit rather than patch one component.

Do you cover clutch repair and flywheel replacement, not just a full clutch?

Yes. A pedal that sinks, sticks or feels heavy can point to a failing slave or master cylinder, a leaking pipe, air in the hydraulic system or a worn cable, and these can sometimes be put right without a new clutch kit. Many modern engines also have a dual-mass flywheel, which can rattle, shudder or wear out and may need replacing with the clutch.

We will tell you what we find and explain whether repair or replacement makes more sense for your car.

Can drivers from Churston, Brixham and Dartmouth bring their car to Automaster?

Yes. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Churston, Brixham, Paignton, Dartmouth and the wider Torbay area come to us for clutch work. We are an RAC Approved Garage.

If your clutch has failed completely or the car will not select gears, tell us when you call so we can talk through the safest way to get it to us.