Top 7 Reasons Your Cars Clutch Fails
If your cars clutch has failed, we're experts in the field. Call us now on 0300 124 6980
Sudden failure is most often caused by a broken or loose clutch cable, linkages or a failed hydraulic part such as a master cylinder or a slave cylinder. There can also be leaks in the hydraulic line or even the disc could be contaminated with something like dirt or debris. There are also other reasons your cars clutch has failed is a question you may ask. Before we answer the possible issues it could be we recommend getting a quality clutch and think it is absolutely essential to fit only the best parts to keep you on the road rather than off the road. And that's why we only fit OE parts. But before we talk about how we can repair your car or vehicles clutch in the North West, let's look at why it could have failed. Year after year we see a selection of vehicles with reasons for clutch failure. Getting a clutch repair in the North west or the Merseyside area is simple with FL mobile mechanics.
Most common reasons your cars clutch would fail
It really makes no difference where you are located, every town in every location has roads, hills and even mountains that go up and down. However, it's not Necessarily the reason your cars clutch would have failed. Explaining each of these failures if our approach to better helping you understand your vehicle. Here are the top 7 reasons your cars clutch could have failed. Getting a clutch repair in the North West is something that should be carried out by professionals only.
Let's look further into these issues and explain what each one is effecting and how It works
1 - Resting your foot on the pedal
Everyone is guilty of this, its just what we do sometimes. Getting a comfortable driving possession is essential but try and resist resting your foot on the pedal. On many vehicles have a foot rest next to the clutch pedal so that is a much better place to put your foot.
What happens when you rest your foot on the clutch pedal
When you engage and disengage your clutch the pressure plate is pushed away from the clutch plate using the concentric slave cylinder or thrust bearing dependant on the gearbox design of your vehicle. When you rest your clutch on your pedal you are effectively taking pressure away from the clutch loosing friction and causing an almost skimming effect.
2 - Master cylinder failure
A Master cylinder is a part of the breaking and clutch system on many cars, vans and commercial vehicles. It in effect is exactly what it says on the tin. The master cylinder holds the fluid that makes the breaks work and the clutch work. Clutch systems work from break fluid usually DOT 4.
Master cylinder failures and why this happens
Master cylinders are an essential part of your vehicle. there could be a number of reasons why they fail including vacuum pump, vacuum pipes, hydraulic pipes, and seals. imagine a plunger system that looses pressure, it's no good if it looses pressure and there for won't create the pressure needed for the clutch to work.
3 - Slave cylinder failure
Very much like the master cylinder, this part must maintain its pressure. A slave cylinder is essentially a plunger. It has seals and sits on the outside of the gearbox unlike the Concentric slave cylinder which we will look at in item number 4.
Reasons for the Slave cylinder to fail
We've found that the most common way the slave cylinder fails is down to seals. This is a moving item, and as such tension on seals happens. As you push down on your clutch pedal, this part pushes out and pulls back in.
4 - concentric slave cylinder
A concentric slave cylinder is very much like a slave cylinder but with this it is internal to the gearbox and goes in the centre of the pressure plate and acts as a bearing as well.
Reasons for concentric slave cylinder failure
The concentric slave cylinder has two key failures. Firstly the bearing aspect of the part fails and sounds rough and doesn't engage and disengage as it should. The second is the seal on the fluid side of the cylinder which again holds the pressure which acts on your clutch pedals demand.
5 - Pressure plate failure
If you feel like your clutch isn't as smooth or won't engage how it should be, you could hazard a guess that its your pressure plate. Pressure plates are essentially a plate that meets the face of the clutch plate.
Reasons for pressure plate failure
If you press down on your clutch pedal as in item number 1, this will cause a friction mark on your pressure plate which is an indentation in the pressure plate itself.
6 - Clutch plate failure
The clutch plate of your car, van or commercial is essentially the drive of your vehicle. It is what creates the friction and drive of your vehicle.
Reasons for clutch plate failure
This can fail due to age, wear and heat. If another part of your clutch has failed such as the pressure plate, this other part will also fail.
7 - Thrust bearing failure
A thrust bearing is exactly just that, a bearing. It spins around with the clutch to keep it pressured on a spring and moves in and out when ever the clutch fork or clutch arm is pushed in or out.
Thrust bearing failure
If your thrust bearing fails it could be down to general wear, failure of clutch or pressure plate, or from excessive clutch use.
Recap on what we've covered in this blog
1 - Resting your foot down on the clutch pedal
2 - Master cylinder failure
3 - Slave cylinder failure
4 - Concentric slave cylinder failure
5 - Pressure plate failure
6 - Clutch plate failure
7 - Thrust bearing failure
No matter what the issue is with your clutch repair, our mobile mechanics can repair your clutch and get your vehicle moving in no time at all.
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