Sergeant Clutch Certified Engine & Transmission Shop

6557 Walzem Road San Antonio, Texas 78239 Call 210-239-1600
 
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When You Need Clutch Replacement


If you drive a stick shift, your clutch is your best friend. If you drive an automatic vehicle, you don’t have to worry about it so much – but it could still give you problems. For standard vehicles, your car clutch will most likely wear out before your car does. Each time you shift, you are putting more wear and tear on your gears. So how much longer before your clutch wears out?

There’s really no definite time because there are so many different variables, and every car is different. Some people might have their clutch wear out in less than 300,000 miles, but others might have a perfectly working clutch at over 100,000 miles.

What makes a clutch so important?

The clutch is the peanut butter that connects the engine to the transmission. The clutch basically makes sure the wheels aren’t always turning while the engine is running. The clutch is able to link and separate each part. Automatic transmissions have more than one clutch, but they still work the same way.

Let’s get technical, now. The clutch connects the engine through the engine’s flywheel. Powerful springs force the clutch disc against the flywheel whenever the clutch is engaged (when your foot is off the clutch). The friction between the parts makes a solid connection, and the engine’s motion is transmitted to the transmission. The springs that hold the clutch disc against the flywheel will relax if you depress the clutch pedal. The clutch disc will lose contact and stop spinning if it’s not held in place, which breaks the linkage.

When Your Clutch Needs to be Replaced

Like we said before, every clutch has a different lifespan. However, if you drive a truck and consistently pull a lot of heavy loads, your clutch might wear out around 30,000 miles. The average clutch should stay in good shape for at least 50,000 miles, though. Newer cars have an even longer life expectancy! It’s pretty common for a clutch to remain strong for up to 100,000 miles nowadays. You might be able to find your clutch’s lifespan in the manufacturer’s recommendations section of your manual.

Since a clutch is one of the most important components of your car, it is designed to be durable. Over time, the friction caused between the clutch plate and the flywheel will eventually wear down the plate, and the clutch begins to slip. You can recognize if your clutch is slipping if you notice an unexpected increase in engine revs without any associated acceleration when your car is in gear, the clutch pedal is not pressed, and you push the throttle pedal. This will be most obvious when you try to speed up on a steep hill.

Replacing a clutch is no easy feat – which is why you should see one of our professionals at Sergeant Clutch. It is one of the most complex auto repair jobs that many try to do at home, but it is not recommended. It can be very dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.Sometimes, the issue could be something other than the fault of the clutch itself. It might be that there is a problem with sticking, rather than slipping. There could be a broken or stretched clutch cable, leaky cylinders, air in the hydraulic line, or a misadjusted linkage. This is why it’s best to see a mechanic to diagnose your problem. You wouldn’t want to misdiagnose it yourself! You might not even need a whole replacement and could save yourself a lot of money.

Luckily, taking your clutch to be replaced won’t burn a huge hole in your pocket. With parts and labor costs, most clutch repairs hardly exceed $800. Find a local discount transmission shop, like Sergeant Clutch, to offer you the best deals and find a payment plan that fits your needs.

Premature Clutch Failure

Did you know that depending on where you live, the weather might affect your clutch? We said earlier that there are a number of reasons that your clutch can wear out, and this is just one of those reasons! For example, If you live in Texas (where it’s predominantly hot) your transmission fluid will heat up and put more of a strain on your clutch components. If you live up in the mountains, your clutch will quickly wear out due to gravity taking its toll on your manual transmission. Treat your car well, and don’t try to put your car through crazy gear changes. The less you demand from it, the longer it will last for you.

If your car needs a clutch repair and can’t be driven, no problem! Sergeant Clutch offers free towing with repairs and a free shuttle service. We’ll take care of you while we take care of your vehicle. Save time and money by calling Sergeant Clutch at 210-239-1600!