Clutch Replacement in Pounds Gate

Pounds Gate is a small rural hamlet on narrow lanes near the Dartmoor edge. Lane driving means low-speed manoeuvres and awkward starts, and the clutch carries the load.

Automaster, trading as Clutchmaster, has a garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Drivers from Pounds Gate, Caton, Buckfastleigh, Bickington and South Brent make the trip to us for clutch work.

What would make me suspect a worn clutch?

Slipping is the classic sign: the engine revs but the car feels lazy. A higher biting point, judder at low speed, a burning smell or a heavy pedal also point that way.

If the pedal sinks, sticks or gears refuse to select, the trouble may be hydraulic or mechanical, and the car should not be driven.

Think about how the problem has changed over weeks. A clutch that slipped once on a steep lane and then recovered is not necessarily fine, because glazed friction material often slips again, more severely, as the surface heats up.

Narrow lanes leave little room for error, so it is far better to book an inspection when the symptoms first appear than to wait until the clutch gives up completely.

• Slipping or lazy acceleration
• High biting point
• Judder on moving off
• Heavy, sinking or sticking pedal

Why are several parts changed at once?

Pressure plate, driven plate and release bearing wear as a set and sit in the same place. Since the gearbox has to come off to reach them, fitting a whole kit prevents a repeat of the labour.

Fitting these as a set also means the clutch bites evenly. Mixing old and new parts can cause grabbing or judder, and a tired release bearing can be noisy and fail without much warning.

We also check the area around the clutch for oil leaks from the engine or gearbox seals, since contamination ruins a friction disc quickly.

When does a flywheel need replacing?

Dual-mass flywheels can develop play, noise or heat damage. A worn one can make a new clutch judder. Some flywheels can be skimmed, and others must be replaced, depending on the vehicle and what we find when we look.

Signs of a flywheel in trouble include a rattle at idle, vibration through the pedal or a clutch that wore out faster than you expected. We look at the flywheel with the clutch off and explain what is wrong in plain words.

If the flywheel is in good order we say so, and you avoid replacing a part that does not need it.

Repair or replace?

If the pedal is the problem and the friction parts are healthy, a hydraulic fix, such as a slave or master cylinder or air in the system, or a cable repair may do. If the friction disc is worn, replacement is the answer. We confirm after inspection.

The cost of a clutch job depends in words on the model, how many parts need replacing, the labour to reach them and whether a flywheel or hydraulic component is involved. A quote request with your car details lets us give sensible guidance.

We never promise a repair before the car is inspected, because the visible fault can hide a deeper one.

Do you cover Pounds Gate?

Yes, drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby towns come to us at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. When you ask for a quote, give us the model, engine and symptoms. Cost depends in words on how hard the clutch is to reach, the flywheel and hydraulic condition.

Being a small hamlet, Pounds Gate has few local facts to add, so let us simply say that Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes and welcomes drivers from the Dartmoor edge and nearby places such as Caton, Buckfastleigh, Bickington and South Brent.

Give us your registration, engine and a description of the symptoms and we will tell you how to arrange an inspection.