Clutch Replacement in Ivybridge

Ivybridge has strong commuter traffic heading towards Plymouth, plus steep roads up to the moor on the southern edge of Dartmoor beside the A38. Morning and evening queues are the toughest test a clutch faces.

We are Automaster, trading as Clutchmaster, at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. If your clutch has started to slip, judder or stick, we can find the cause and fix it without unnecessary extras.

Is my commute wearing out my clutch?

Stop-start queues do cause more clutch wear than steady driving, so a commuter car often needs a new clutch sooner than a motorway one. Signs include slipping, judder, a high or vague biting point, a heavy pedal and burning smells. Gear selection problems, especially first and reverse, are a further clue.

Keep a note of whether the problem appears in first gear only, or in every gear. First-gear slip in queues often points to the friction plate, while all-gear trouble may point elsewhere.

• Slipping when pulling out of a queue
• Judder on a hill start
• Pedal heavy or slow to return
• Burning smell in traffic

What parts make up a clutch replacement?

We replace the pressure plate, driven plate and release bearing as one set. Since the gearbox must come out, replacing the lot at once is far more sensible than a part-job. Your flywheel is checked, and a worn dual-mass flywheel is replaced with the clutch where the inspection calls for it.

We always show the reasoning. If the flywheel has heat spots, cracks or play in the dual-mass design, we explain why it affects the new clutch, and if it is in good shape, we say so and leave it alone.

Do I need a new clutch or a hydraulic repair?

Not always a new clutch. A slave or master cylinder leak, damaged pipe, trapped air or a faulty cable can produce a sinking, soft or sticking pedal. We inspect and tell you honestly which it is, so you only pay for the work the car actually needs.

A clutch that slips on the way out of Ivybridge in the morning is not going to improve by the evening. The more it slips, the more heat builds, and the more likely the flywheel is to be damaged too.

What affects the price and time of a clutch job?

The make and model, how hard the gearbox is to reach, whether the flywheel needs work and whether hydraulics are involved. We prefer to inspect first, so ask for a quote and give us your registration and a clear description of the fault.

Commuters often need to plan around a car being off the road. Tell us when you need it back and we will discuss what is realistic once we have inspected it, without promising any fixed timing before then.

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

Yes, we cover Ivybridge, and also see drivers from South Brent, Ermington, Modbury and Kingsbridge. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes.

If the clutch has begun to fail, avoid the commute until it is checked. A car that stalls or will not select gear in traffic is a risk to you and others.