The clutch connects the engine to a manual transmission, and the friction disc wears every time you engage it. When it slips, chatters or will not release you feel it immediately. AutoTech Clinic replaces clutches, resurfaces or replaces flywheels, and repairs clutch hydraulics at our Dearborn shop.
We check the hydraulics first. A failing master or slave cylinder produces a clutch that will not disengage, and it is a far smaller repair than pulling the transmission.
- How Long
- Usually 1 to 2 days.
- Same Day
- Time frame confirmed before you leave the car.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Clutch Repair
- Engine speed rises without matching road speed, especially in higher gears
- A burning smell after climbing a ramp or pulling away on a hill
- The pedal goes soft, sinks to the floor or feels inconsistent
- Grinding when you select first or reverse
- Chatter or shudder as the clutch engages from a stop
- The engagement point has moved very high or very low in the pedal travel
What We Do
- 01
Test the Hydraulics First
We check the master and slave cylinder, the line and the fluid. A hydraulic fault is cheaper to fix and produces very similar symptoms.
- 02
Confirm Slip Under Load
We road test and load the clutch in a high gear to confirm slip rather than relying on the description alone.
- 03
Replace as a Set
Disc, pressure plate and release bearing go in together. Reusing a release bearing to save a small amount is how a clutch job gets done twice.
- 04
Address the Flywheel
We inspect the flywheel for heat cracks and scoring and resurface or replace it. A glazed flywheel will chatter with a brand new disc.
- 05
Bleed, Adjust and Road Test
We bleed the hydraulics, set the engagement point where the vehicle specifies and road test through the full range before handing it back.
How Long Should a Clutch Last?
Clutch life depends almost entirely on how the car is driven and where. A highway commuter can see well past 150,000 miles. A car driven in heavy Michigan Ave traffic with a driver who rides the pedal may need one at 50,000.
Riding the clutch, holding the car on a hill with the clutch instead of the brake, and launching hard are the three habits that shorten its life most.
Do Not Reuse the Flywheel Without Checking It
The flywheel is the surface the clutch disc grips. Heat from a slipping clutch leaves hard glazed spots and sometimes fine cracks, and a new disc cannot grip that surface evenly. The result is chatter from the first week.
We measure and inspect it every time, and we tell you whether it needs resurfacing or replacement before the job goes ahead.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- Front wheel drive versus rear wheel drive layouts
- Whether the flywheel can be resurfaced or must be replaced
- Dual mass flywheels, which cost considerably more than solid units
- All wheel drive models, which take longer to remove
- Whether the master or slave cylinder is replaced at the same time
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.