Clutch Repairs
Clutch Repairs or Replacement at your local clutch garage: Along with brakes and shocks, your clutch is one of the most essential parts on your vehicle. It’s important to pay close attention to early signs of clutch issues as leaving it unchecked could cause major problems later. A clutch repair is likely to set you back a fair amount of money, which is why you should always use an accredited and qualified service centre. At Elite Garages, our clutch specialist technicians will advise you on any clutch repairs or clutch replacements required. We offer competitive prices and provide you with dealership quality service from the onset and throughout.
What does a clutch do?
A clutch is essentially two metal plates inside the engine. When you press down on the clutch pedal, the plates come apart separating the engine from the drive wheels allowing you to change gear. Releasing the pedal again re-engages the plates which then connect the engine to the drive wheels. As your car engine is constantly running, a clutch is necessary to separate the engine from the drive wheels when you stop the car. This is exactly what happens when you push down the clutch just before you stop otherwise the car would stall.
Signs I need a new clutch?
While a clutch is essential for driving your car, it’s not always easy to know when you need a new clutch or a clutch repair. Clutch symptoms come in different forms, from odd sounds and poor performance to mechanical problems. Depending on the type of vehicle and how it is driven, a clutch can last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles.
Here are some common signs that you may need a new clutch fitted:
- Clutch pedal making a noise when pressing or releasing it (or both)
- Changing gears is difficult
- A rattling or grinding sound when changing gears
- The clutch pedal vibrates when you accelerate
- Revving the engine while driving but your car barely increases in speed
- Engine revs randomly higher or lower
- The clutch seems to ‘slip’ causing a loss of acceleration, or a complete loss of drive
Problems may come from small components like bushes, pilot bearings, springs, screws or larger parts such as the clutch disc, flywheel, pressure plate, or release bearing. Often, you may even find problems in the drive train or the chassis itself. These are all signs that you either need a new clutch or good clutch repairs. The cost of a clutch replacement depends on the nature of the problem and the type of vehicle. Our expert clutch fitters at Elite Garages only use original parts that manufacturers recommend. They will let you know what is needed and how much it will cost before doing any work. Visit any of our centres for a free clutch check and clutch garage specialist advice if you think your clutch doesn’t feel right.
FAQs on Clutches
Click the + to read any answer or visit our most FAQ page to review the most frequently asked questions across all our Elite Locations.
If you click on a ‘Category’ or ‘Tag’ link, the page will ‘refresh’ and reload the page showing the top of the page first, you’ll then just need to scroll down to the FAQ section to see the results for the Category or Tag you selected.
Category:
Winter Tyres
Winter tyres provide superior traction and control in cold conditions, especially when temperatures drop below 7°C. They have deeper tread patterns and softer rubber compounds, which allow them to perform better on snow, ice, and wet roads. All-season tyres, while versatile and convenient, don’t match the specialised performance of winter tyres in extreme winter conditions, but they are a good option for milder climates where extreme cold is less common.
Category:
Winter Tyres
Even though the legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, it’s recommended to replace tyres once they reach 3mm, especially during winter. A deeper tread provides better grip on wet and icy roads, improving tyre safety. Regular checks at a tyre garage or a free inspection at Elite Garages can help determine if you need a tyre replacement.
Category:
Winter Driving Tips
An emergency car kit should include items such as a first aid kit, flashlight with spare batteries, mobile phone charger, jumper cables, reflective triangles, ice scraper and snow brush, non-clumping kitty litter for traction on icy roads, blanket or sleeping bag for warmth in case of an unexpected breakdown and a shovel.
Category:
Winter Driving Tips
You should avoid leaving items in a car during the winter months, as cold temperatures can damage or ruin them due to freezing. This includes electronics like laptops and cell phones, liquids such as beverages or fluids for your car, medications, food items like fruit and vegetables, and plastic or rubber parts.
Category:
Winter Driving Tips
There are several things you should check on your car before the start of winter to make sure it is in good condition and ready for the colder weather. This includes checking your battery, antifreeze, tyre pressure and tread, car brakes and all your fluid levels (engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and power steering). Book your winter safety check now!
In simple terms, budget tyres are the cheapest and often don’t last as long or hold up as well as mid-range or premium tyres. Mid-range seems to be the happy medium as they provide better grip and longevity which is only superseded by the more expensive, premium tyres that offer even better performance, including Bridgestone.
If the damaged area on the tyre is larger than 6 mm, and on the sidewall, you should not get a repair and rather opt for a replacement tyre.
Rapids are also budget tyres but they are more high-end and rated as premium economy. Whilst they provide more grip than standard budget tyres, Rapids don’t perform as well as a good quality mid-range or premium tyre. However, Rapid tyres do offer a great in-between offering quality and value for money.
No, as part-worn tyres are not safe and there is no guarantee they won’t fail.
We can usually repair punctures if they are on the central part of the tyre (the middle three-quarters). If a puncture occurs outside this area and near the tyre sidewall, a repair is unlikely and you should get it replaced.
We will always try and explain this in detail, providing all the pros and cons. Put simply, budget tyres are the cheapest and often don’t last as long or hold up as well as mid-range and premium tyres. Mid-range seems to be the happy medium as they provide better grip and longevity which is only superseded by the more expensive, premium tyres that offer even better performance.
In the UK and Europe, the legal tyre tread depth for cars is 1.6 mm around the tyre circumference and the central three quarters. However, most tyre experts recommend replacing your tyres when the tread depth is at 3 mm for better braking distances.
In short, you should nearly always fit four of the same tyres to your car. The size will be stated by your vehicle manufacturer.