All You Need to Know to Get More out of Your Clutch

Posted by Auto Repair Centre on October 22nd, 2018

Every start, stop, and gear change requires the involvement of the clutch with the flywheel. During the engagement, the friction between the clutch disc, pressure plate, and the flywheel generates heat and leads to wear. Over a long period of time, your car’s clutch will wear out leading to a decrease in performance as well as efficiency.

Signs of a bad clutch

Your car starts slowly even after applying high gears.

Your car struggles to accelerate.

The clutch pedal itself will give you a clue. It will vibrate or chatter or pulsate, or will be stiff and hard to push, or will feel loose and spongy.

Your transmission makes noise in neutral gear. You hear grinding sounds while shifting gears.

It’s hard to get into reverse.

If you are noticing these issues in your car, consult your nearby garage for a clutch repair service in Wolverhampton or elsewhere.

A clutch is meant to last for 50,000 to 100,000 miles, but its longevity reduces drastically in the stop-and-go city driving. One of the most common problems with them is the clutch slippage. Slippage occurs when the clutch disk has worn out. With worn out disks, it will be hard for the clutch to grip the flywheel and the pressure plate.

How to know whether you have a slipping clutch?

Set your transmission at 3rd or 4th gear.

While pressing on the accelerator, press on the clutch and release it.

Engine revs or RPM should come down immediately. If it does not come down, that means your clutch is worn out.

The only way to solve this problem is to repair the clutch or completely replace it. However, it is quite possible to prevent your car’s clutch from wearing out faster.

Few ways to prolong your clutch’s performance

Disengage at the right time

To minimise clutch wear, you need to remember its biting point. It’s the point where the clutch plates meet, and the car starts to move when you slowly get off the clutch pedal. You should release the clutch pedal completely after it reaches the biting point.

Change gears the right way

Press on the clutch before changing gears. Then change gears and gradually release the clutch again. It’s vital to make sure that the car doesn’t travel too slowly or too quickly causing slippage or resulting in a clumsy gear change.

Use only brakes to decelerate

Never disengage the clutch abruptly to stop your car. Only use the brakes as much as possible.

Your car’s clutch will wear out with time. What matters is getting the optimal performance and longevity out of it. This applies to numerous other car components as well. Opt for expert auto garages such as Auto Surefit for a comprehensive car repair in Wolverhampton. They employ expert technicians who can even help you out with an oil change, air condition recharge and multiple other services.