Your car’s clutch is a central component of your driving experience as it allows you to change gears. Understanding how they work and how to tell if it’s faulty is crucial, as is understanding how to keep them better maintained in the future!
What Do Clutches Do?
A clutch is made up of three different components; the clutch plate, pressure plate and flywheel. When a driver presses down on the clutch pedal (which is the pedal furthest to the left), a set of springs push the pressure plate against the clutch plate which is connected to the engine via the flywheel. When the clutch pedal is engaged, the springs loosen which creates a gap between the clutch plate and the flywheel. This allows the two to rotate at different speeds, allowing the gear to be changed.
This is why, in manual cars, you need to press down on the clutch if you want the car to come to a complete stop with the engine still running and why you need to release the clutch pedal past the ‘biting point’ if you’d like the car to accelerate. In automatic cars, this process is automated for you so you don’t need to worry about creating this gap yourself. However, automatic car transmissions are more complex as they have more intricate moving parts.
How to Tell If Your Clutch is Faulty
It’s normal for your clutch to wear over time and gradually develop problems. For example, the pressure plate or clutch disc will wear out at some point and the flywheel may become warped in some instances. The key is being able to identify these issues early so they don’t cause any further unnecessary damage to your vehicle.
Some of the main symptoms of an unhealthy clutch include:
● The pedal vibrating or sticking when it’s pressed
● A grumbling or squeaky noise when the pedal is pressed
● Poor acceleration despite engine revs
● The gear doesn’t shift very smoothly
● When the clutch ‘slips’ which results in a loss of acceleration
If you notice any of these problems you need to take your car to a reliable specialist company like us here at Gearbox Specialists to have a look at it before it causes any damage to yourself, the car, anybody else, or your wallet!
How Can I Maintain My Clutch?
There are a few ways you can extend the life of your clutch:
● Don’t ride your clutch as you’re accelerating as this needlessly wears it down
● Go into neutral when you come to a full stop rather than keeping the clutch engaged
● Try not to downshift each time you slow down
● Leaving your car in gear to prevent it from rolling will strain your clutch over time.
If you need your clutch replaced or repaired, look no further than us here at Gearbox Specialists. Get in touch with us today on 01202309830 to chat through your options, whether it’s for a manual or automatic gearbox!
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