Clutch Replacement in Stoke-in-Teignhead

Stoke-in-Teignhead is a village on narrow lanes between Torquay and the Teign estuary, near Shaldon and Teignmouth. Lane driving means slow speeds, tight bends, gateways and the occasional reverse into a passing place, all of which keep the clutch working.

We are Automaster, known as Clutchmaster at Automaster, based at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby towns come to us for clutch work.

What clutch symptoms should lane drivers watch for?

On narrow lanes you spend a lot of time in first and second gear and feathering the clutch. That makes slipping, judder and a high biting point easy to spot. Reversing uphill into a gateway is a good test: if the car struggles or you smell burning, take notice.

Gear selection trouble, a sinking pedal or a heavy pedal also need attention.

Rural driving also tends to involve longer gaps between services, so a clutch fault can be put off. A small problem noticed early is easier to deal with than one found when the car will not move.

• Slipping in low gears
• Judder on gentle pull-away
• Burning smell after reversing
• Pedal sinking or sticking
• Grinding on selecting gear

How is a new clutch fitted?

We take out the gearbox to reach the clutch, remove the worn parts and fit a new pressure plate, driven plate and release bearing. The flywheel and oil seals are inspected at the same time, since a leak or a damaged flywheel would harm the new clutch.

Afterwards the pedal and engagement are checked on the road.

Because the gearbox has to come out, it also makes sense to mention any other noises from that area, such as whining or a clunk, so we can look at them while access is open.

Do I need a new flywheel with the clutch?

Sometimes. A dual-mass flywheel can wear internally, causing rattle, vibration or judder, and a damaged single-mass flywheel face can be resurfaced or replaced. We assess it once the clutch is off and explain what we see.

Leaving a bad flywheel in place can ruin a new clutch, so it is not something to ignore.

Could it be a hydraulic or cable fault rather than the clutch?

Yes. A pedal that drops to the floor, will not return or feels heavy can come from a slave cylinder, a master cylinder, a leaking pipe, air in the fluid or a cable problem. These are separate repairs that may not need a new clutch.

Because the symptoms overlap with a worn clutch, we inspect before promising anything.

Is Automaster close enough for Stoke-in-Teignhead drivers, and which areas do you cover?

The garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Stoke-in-Teignhead, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, St Marychurch and Milber come to us for clutch work.

If the clutch is badly affected, say so when you call and we will advise on the safest way to bring it.

The car does not need to be perfect to get a quote. A clear description of what the pedal and gears do is enough to start.