Keeping Your Car Clean

I still remember the day that I bought my first car. I thought it was the most perfect vehicle in the world, and I vowed to care for it diligently. Unfortunately, within a few days I had forgotten about my promise, and I started tossing fast food wrappers in the back like everyone else. After awhile I realized that neglecting my car was turning the inside into a garbage pit, and I decided to learn how to take better care of my vehicle. I took a class on auto detailing, and it really helped me to turn things around. I want to teach you what I learned, so you should read this blog.

What You Need To Know About Replacing The Clutch In Your Manual Transmission Vehicle

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If you drive a vehicle with a manually shifted transmission, you will eventually need to have the clutch components replaced. Over time the clutch friction plate and the springs on the pressure plate will begin to wear and become less efficient, but a transmission repair shop can change the clutch assembly to restore the clutch function. 

The Clutch Assembly

A manually shifted transmission relies on several parts to disengage power from the engine to the transmission and allow the vehicle to come to a stop or shift smoothly from one gear to the next. When these parts begin to wear, a transmission shop will need to inspect the assembly to determine what is required to fix them. 

On the rear of the engine is a flywheel with a flat surface where the clutch friction plate meets the engine. A pressure plate mounts to the flywheel and uses springs to apply pressure to the friction plate between the pressure place and the flywheel but releases the plate when you depress the clutch pedal.

This allows the friction plate to slip and the vehicle to stop or be shifted to the next gear. Additionally, a bearing assembly called the throw-out bearing rides on the clutch pressure plate fingers, and any or all of these parts can fail over time. In most vehicles, the clutch will last several years before needing service, and a driver that is efficient with a manual transmission can often extend the life of the clutch with careful use of it. 

Clutch Slip

One of the most common problems with a clutch assembly that transmission repair shops have to diagnose is clutch slip when the vehicle is under power. Most of the time, this is caused when the friction plate is glazed from heat and use, or worn so far that the friction material is no longer sufficient to grip the flywheel and the pressure plate. 

When the clutch plate is changed, it is crucial to change the pressure plate and throw out the bearing with it. Most transmission repair shops will also recommend resurfacing the flywheel when the clutch assembly is replaced to ensure a clean, flat surface for the friction plate to grab when the clutch is engaged. The complete assembly works together and should be serviced at the same time.

Bearing Chatter

In some cases, you may hear chattering in the transmission when the clutch pedal is completely released. Typically this is the throw-out bearing and indicates it needs replacing. If the chattering goes away with light pressure on the clutch pedal, you need to take the vehicle to the transmission shop and have them look at the bearing. If the rest of the clutch is still in good shape, the throw-out bearing can be replaced as a single component. 

Reach out to a transmission repair company like AC Transmission Centers North to learn more.

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23 June 2022