How to change the clutch?

The clutch is the mechanism by which you can easily shift gears while driving. It is located between the engine and gearbox.

The main elements that are present in one clutch kit are:

• friction disc;
• pressure plate;
• flywheel;
• release bearing;
• compression spring.

In this review, special attention will be paid to how to understand that the clutch needs to be replaced, and how to perform this procedure.

Why is the node damaged?

The coupling, like all other mechanical equipment, is subjected to heavy loads, which means that over time, its elements wear out and begin to work poorly or completely fail.

Manufacturers have established a period of time during which the clutch must be replaced by a new one. It is usually recommended to carry out such a replacement after 60–160 thousand km, but this does not mean that it cannot break prematurely. How long the clutch and its components will last depends on driving style and maintenance.

How to save the mechanism and its elements from damage?

There are some interesting "tricks" that some drivers use to maintain traction. Here's what you can do to extend the life of your transmission.

Do not hold the clutch pedal partially depressed

Some drivers have the habit of keeping the pedal partially depressed while riding. You can’t do that. When you hold the pedal, you actually keep the clutch half pressed, thereby creating unnecessary stress, and its elements wear out much faster.

Do not stand on a traffic light with a clutch

This is another common mistake that young drivers usually make, and this can lead to faster clutch wear. Instead, it’s better to turn off the gear.

Shift gears without undue delay

You do not need to hold the clutch pedal longer than you need to shift gears, because the longer you hold it, the more you load its components.

Do not shift gears more than necessary

If you can clearly see the road ahead, try to anticipate the obstacles that will cause you to shift gears and maintain a constant speed. Change gears only when it is really necessary, and not every few minutes.

How do I know if a clutch needs to be replaced?

The tricks some motorists use will help you keep your clutch, but there is no way to completely protect it from damage. The most correct and reasonable solution - if you have any doubts that the mechanism has problems, visit a service center and ask for a diagnosis. To save money, you can check the node yourself.

Key signs that the clutch needs to be replaced

If you notice that the crankshaft speed is increasing, but the speed is not increasing properly, most likely the problem is slipping on the clutch discs.

If the clutch “picks up” late (almost at the end of the pedal stroke), it also means that you have a problem with the clutch discs.

If you hear a burning smell when you press the pedal, this is most likely due to the slipping of the discs. When they wear out, they become excessively hot during operation, and their friction coatings begin to exude a smell characteristic of overheating of metal.

If you feel that fuel consumption has increased and at the same time engine power has decreased - the probability of a clutch problem is more than 50%.

Extraneous noise and rattling when the clutch pedal is released, the release bearing is a likely problem.

If the pedal is too soft, too hard, or sinks like butter, you have a 100% grip problem.

How to change the clutch?

If any of these symptoms have been detected, you need to replace the clutch. Sometimes car owners ask themselves: is it possible to partially change the clutch. This is allowed, but not always practical. The fact is that after you replace only a worn part, it will work together with old elements, which will significantly reduce its service life.

Considering this factor, specialists: if there is a problem with the clutch, replacing its kit will extend the service life of the transmission, as well as reduce the number of visits to the service station.

Subtleties in replacing the node

Before considering how to change the clutch, it is worth clarifying that the process is quite complicated, and if the car owner is new to the device of the car, it is better not to do it yourself. Replacing a clutch requires very good technical knowledge, takes a lot of time, and if you make a mistake at the stages of dismantling the old and installing a new clutch, this mistake can be expensive.

To replace the clutch with a new one, you will need a jack or other lifting device, a set of screwdrivers and wrenches, grease, a new clutch, a new flywheel, a new cable or a new pump (if your car uses a hydraulic clutch).

Lift the car

Get ready to remove the gearbox. To get to the clutch, you must first remove the gearbox. To do this, you must first disconnect the grounding cable (if it is fixed on the box in the car), and then prepare the gearbox for removal.

Turn off the engine mount

Remove the bolt holding the support to get to the transmission shaft and disconnect it from the engine.

Disconnect the box

Remove the flywheel and carefully inspect it. If there is no sign of wear, clean it well, but if you notice a defect, it is better to replace it with a new one. Before doing this, be sure to remove dirt and debris that has stuck to the crankshaft flange.

A new clutch is installed and securely fixed.

Put the gearbox back

To do this, you will need an assistant, since reassembly is a rather slow and complex process, and you will need at least two more hands.

Adjust the clutch and check its operation. You can do this by pressing the pedal and shifting gears. If all is well, lower the car to the ground and test it on the road.

Important! You must check the system before testing the car on the road!

How to replace the clutch cable?

Now we will pay special attention to replacing the cable, because thanks to it, the efforts are transmitted from pressing the pedal to the clutch control mechanism, and you can switch gears without problems. Unfortunately, although the cable is quite strong (its veins are made of steel wire), it is subjected to very high loads, gradually wears out and may even break.

If the cable breaks, then it will be almost impossible to start moving (at least to get to the store). The problem is that even if you press the pedal, the clutch will not work, and when the gear is engaged, the wheels immediately begin to rotate. At best, the engine will simply stall, and at worst, attempts to start the movement will end in a gearbox breakdown.

Symptoms that indicate problems with the clutch cable are difficulty in depressing the pedal, if you hear unusual noises when depressing the pedal, and more.

To replace the cable, you must first remove its mount from the pedal, and then from the gearbox. Depending on the model of car, you may need to disassemble part of the dashboard to get the cable and remove it. The installation of a new part is carried out in the reverse order and necessarily requires adjustment.

Important! On some car models, the cable has a self-adjusting mechanism that allows you to adjust its tension. If your car model is equipped with this system, it is recommended to replace the mechanism with the cable.

In conclusion…

Clutch is an extremely important mechanism for smooth gear shifting, and its good condition determines how efficiently your car will work. At the first sign that the clutch is not working properly, take measures and replace the worn parts or the entire clutch kit.

If you are not completely sure that you can perform the replacement yourself, the best solution would be to use the services of the mechanics of your service.

Replacing the clutch, in contrast to some other types of easier car repair, is quite complicated, requires very good knowledge and experience. By trusting specialists, you will save yourself from errors due to which the element will not be installed correctly.

The service center has the necessary equipment, knows the process of replacing the clutch very well and will perform the work with the necessary adjustments.

Questions and answers:

How long does it take to change the clutch? This is a laborious procedure. The time spent depends on the complexity of the design of the transmission of the car and on the experience of the master. An experienced craftsman needs 3-5 hours to do this.

How often should the clutch be changed? It depends on the driving style and the road conditions (how often you need to load the clutch). The clutch must be replaced if the machine starts abruptly even when the pedal is released smoothly.