Wednesday, November 24, 2010

What does it mean to burn out the clutch? And how much would it cost to fix?

I plan to buy, and learn to drive a car with a manual transmission, but I'm a bit worried about the cost to replace the clutch over and over. From what I know, I'm assuming when you, %26quot;burn out the clutch,%26quot; your in fact burning out the clutch disks. So about how much would it cost to replace the disks, as opposed to replacing the entire clutch?What does it mean to burn out the clutch? And how much would it cost to fix?Actually there are four parts to a clutch assembly: Flywheel, clutch friction disc, Pressure plate, throwout bearing and clutch fork.

Depending upon the severity of a %26quot;burned out clutch disc%26quot; there usually are two other major problems. When the disc slips and wears out excessively excess heat is transferred to the flywheel and particularly the pressure plate. The pressure plate has a series of coil springs or what's called a diaphragm spring set-up. If a clutch is subjected to too much slipping the pressure plate heats distorting the face and taking the tension out of the clutch diaphragm or springs.

If you change the clutch disk before slippage happens that's all you'll need to do. Depending what type of car you plan to buy clutches will last 50,000 miles with no problem. If you hot rod a clutch by side stepping the clutch petal for fast starts you'll be buying entire drive train parts.What does it mean to burn out the clutch? And how much would it cost to fix?its a once u have it apart you replace all clutch parts...large part of cost is labour... 400 to800.USA dollars...depending on quality of new parts and labour cost.What does it mean to burn out the clutch? And how much would it cost to fix?Most clutch designs are a single plate style. Most are around $100-150 for an OEM clutch plate. If the car is a rear wheel drive, low to mid horsepower, just replacing the clutch plate will be OK, but.. if the auto is high horsepower or a front wheel drive save the second shop call and also replace the pressure plate $200 %26amp; throwout bearing $20.

Most newer cars have a hydraulic clutch pedal connection rather than a mechanical adjustment linkage. With a mechanical linkage you could keep adjusting the linkage to adapt for clutch wear %26amp; use up most of the clutch plate pad. With the hydraulic style there is no adjustment. ie ...must change it more often. City stop %26amp; go, stopping on hills(slipping clutch to start) use up the plate more quickly.

In a front wheel drive auto, the engine %26amp; trans sits transverse %26amp; is packaged real tight to other stuff, you almost have to 'drop' the engine to do a clutch repair.(think twice as much as a rear drive in labor) When you change one buy a good one(do not go cheap) or you will be doing it again real soon.