Clutch Replacement in Pear Tree

Pear Tree is a small rural hamlet in South Devon, reached by narrow country lanes. Between the lanes and the busier roads towards Totnes, Dartington, Paignton and Churston, a clutch spends a lot of time at low speed, and that is where wear builds.

Automaster, trading as Clutchmaster, is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Clutches are what we are known for, and drivers from Pear Tree, Totnes, Dartington, Paignton and Churston come to us when theirs plays up.

Is my clutch slipping or is it something else?

Slipping means revs rise but the car does not speed up to match, typically uphill or when overtaking. Judder, a high biting point or a burning smell point the same way.

A clutch can also be blamed for faults elsewhere, so we inspect before suggesting a new kit.

Busy roads around the nearby towns can mean a lot of waiting in traffic, so a clutch that has had a hard season may show its age in autumn.

If the car feels different when pulling away, or the pedal has changed its feel, note when it happens and tell us.

• Revs rising without speed
• Judder
• Burning smell
• High biting point

What does a new clutch kit contain?

A pressure plate, driven plate and release bearing, fitted as a set. We check the flywheel and seals at the same time because anything worn will damage the new parts.

Reaching the clutch means separating the gearbox from the engine, so most of the cost of the job is labour. That is why we fit a complete set, so you are not paying twice for the same work.

If the release bearing is noisy or the pressure plate has weak springs, leaving them in place would shorten the life of the new friction disc.

Do I need a new flywheel?

With a dual-mass flywheel, quite possibly. Wear shows as rattle, judder or short clutch life. We inspect it and advise. Solid flywheels can sometimes be machined, depending on the vehicle.

We look at the flywheel with the clutch off, and tell you honestly whether it should be replaced, machined where suitable, or left alone.

Replacing a worn dual-mass flywheel at the same time as the clutch is usually more sensible than stripping the gearbox out again later.

What if the pedal feels wrong rather than slipping?

Sinking, sticking or spongy pedals can come from a leaking slave or master cylinder, a damaged pipe, air in the system or a cable fault. These can be repaired without a full clutch replacement in some cases, though we only confirm after inspection.

We always check the simple things first. Fluid leaks, a low reservoir or air in the system can be sorted without replacing the whole clutch, but we cannot say that until we have seen the car.

Can I bring a car from Pear Tree?

Yes. The garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby towns use us. Ask for a quote with your model, engine and symptoms. Cost depends in words on access, flywheel condition and hydraulic parts.

Since Pear Tree is a hamlet, we will keep the local detail light: the garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby places come to us.

In words, the cost depends on the model, the labour needed to reach the clutch, whether the flywheel is replaced and whether a hydraulic part has failed. Send us your details and ask for a quote.