Clutch Repair & Replacement In Chesterfield – Excel Automotives

What Is A Clutch?

Why Do I Need A Clutch

newly fitted clutch close up photographed from underneath with the cars gearbox still off

Your car clutch has two main jobs. It allows you to change gear and it enables you to set off from stationary. It achieves both these by simply fully or partially disengaging drive from the engine to the gearbox, dependent on how far down you press your clutch pedal.

Top 3 Car Clutch Problems

classic mg midget car in bright sunburnt orange getting the excel clutch treatment
  1. Slip – Clutch pedal comes up fine but either no drive or partial drive (high revs, slow MPH). Mostly caused by a worn clutch plate (friction plate).
  2. Judder – Also known as clutch snatch your car vibrates and judders when your vehicle moves off from stationary in 1st gear. A worn or warped clutch plate (friction plate) or broken transmission mountings is usually the cause here.
  3. Noisy – Any noises emanating from the clutch area of the transmission. A broken clutch pressure, usually a broken spring mechanism or occasionally caused by foreign objects.

Excel Automotives Car Garage Services For Chesterfield

Pressure Plate

close up of a typical clutch pressure plate this one being for a ford

What Is It?

A diaphragm spring arranged around a thick central steel alloy plate.

What Is It’s Job?

When pressure is applied to the diaphragm spring the pressure plate moves back slightly which breaks drive transmission to the pressure plate.

Typical Issues
  • Clutch slipping
  • Excessive clutch noise
  • Engine Revving Higher Than Usual
  • Gears Difficult To Select
How To Fix

Replace your clutch pressure plate.

Friction Plate

ford clutch friction plate in good condition close up

What Is It?

A relatively thin circular outer metal alloy chassis attached to a metal splined center plate with a bonded heavy duty lined surface.

What Is It’s Job?
Clutch Pedal Up

Clutch pedal up your friction plate is sandwiched between the pressure plate and the engines flywheel allowing straight through one to one drive.

Clutch Pedal Down

When your clutch pedal is fully pressed the clutch pressure plate is forced away from the friction plate allowing the clutch friction plate to spin freely from drive.

Clutch Pedal midway

When you partially press your clutch pedal drive transfers at less than one to one. This is what you will recognise as clutch control.

Typical Issues
  • Clutch slipping
  • Excessive clutch noise
  • Engine Revving Higher Than Usual
  • Difficulty Selecting Gears
How To Fix

Replace your clutch friction plate.

Thrust Bearing

new clutch thrust bearing about to be fitted in a volvo

What Is It?

A circular metal alloy body containing bearings which allow the bearing face to spin freely.

What Is It’s Job?

As the bearing is thrust on to the pressure plates diaphragm central circular springs the thrust bearings face contacts and spins freely as the force operates the clutch pressure plate.

Typical Issues
  • Clutch slipping
  • Clutch juddering
  • Excessive clutch noise
  • Gear Selection Issues
How To Fix

Replace your clutch thrust bearing.

Specialists Clutch Services For All Manufacturers

  • Honda
  • Kia
  • Skoda
  • Alfa
  • Nissan

Clutch Fork

close up of a typical car clutch fork

What Is It?

A machined metal allow fork shape with pivots engineered towards the middle.

What Is It’s Job?

Transfers the motion action from your clutch cable or hydraulic system to the thrust bearing.

Typical Issues
  • Clutch slipping
  • Clutch juddering
  • Clutch dragging
  • Excessive clutch noise
How To Fix

Replace your clutch fork.

Hydraulic Clutch Operation

hydraulic clutch system close up view

What Is It?

Consisting of a plastic hydraulic reservoir attached to a thick hollow metal alloy tube from which a pipe connects at one end. The clutch pedal linkage connects to the plunger seated inside the chamber at the other end.

What Is It’s Job?

When you press your clutch pedal the motion presses the plunger into the cylinder forcing hydraulic fluid under high pressure out of the cylinder, down the pipe to physically move the clutch fork via a slave cylinder.

Typical Issues
  • Clutch slipping
  • Clutch juddering
  • Clutch dragging
  • Excessive clutch noise
How To Fix

Look for fluid leaking around your clutch master and slave cylinders as well as any associated pipes and connections and replace accordingly. Check for worn cylinder seals at the pedal end.

Cable Clutch Operation

cable operated clutch system close up

What Is It?

A simple sleeved wire–wound cable similar to a bikes brake cables but thicker to deal with the forces involved.

What Is It’s Job?

Attached between your clutch pedal and your clutch fork. When you press your clutch pedal this pulls the cables inner core which pulls the clutch fork at the other end operating your car’s clutch.

Typical Issues
  • Clutch slipping
  • Sloppy clutch pedal offering no resistance and no clutch
How To Fix

Replace your clutch cable.

Popular

Excel Automotive’s CLutch Center

Our clutch center is in Chesterfield’s Sheepbridge. We fit the best clutches to all cars and light commercial vehicles. From Ford & Audi to Vauxhall & Volvo we can fit a new clutch to your car super quick.

volvo car getting a new clutch in excels very large chesterfield garage

For over 30 years we have been right here keeping Dronfield’s cars clutch problem free.

Clutch Experts

  • Popular Clutches In Stock
  • Clutch Replacement For Petrol & Diesel Engines
  • Free Local Collection & Delivery
  • Minimum Of 12 Months Parts & Labour Guarantee
  • Fully Trained Technicians
  • Free Loan Car
  • No Work Done Without Approval
  • We Only Use High Quality Clutches
Most Popular Car Clutch’s Repaired
  1. Ford
  2. Volkswagen
  3. Renault
  4. Citroen
  5. Mercedes
black shiny mercedes car being lifted on a ramp by a mechanic about to repair the vehicles clutch

Need Our Clutch Services?

If you need your car clutch replacing you can call us on: 01246 455 863. You can book clutch repairs Monday, Tuesday & Friday from 8AM to 5PM and Wednesday & Thursday 8AM to 6PM at our Chesterfield garage near Sheffield.

Telephone: 01246 455 863

wide angle photo of a clutch friction plate front face
Opening Hours
  • Monday Tuesday & Friday:
    • 8am – 5pm
  • Wednesday & Thursday:
    • 8am – 6pm
  • Saturday & Sunday:
    • Closed
Snail Mail
  • Excel Automotives
  • Units 4 – 7
  • 875 Sheffield Road
  • Sheepbridge
  • Chesterfield
  • S41 9EF
Telephone 01246 455 863 Scroll To Top