The signs
- Revs rise but speed does not — slipping
- Judder as the clutch takes up
- Bite point creeping up towards the top of the pedal
- Hard or crunchy selection into first and reverse
- Burning smell after hills or traffic
- Noise as the pedal is pressed or released
It is not always the clutch
Hydraulics, release bearings, dual mass flywheels and gearbox wear produce very similar symptoms. That is why we road test and inspect before quoting a clutch job.
Why early matters
A badly slipping clutch overheats the flywheel. Replacing a clutch is one job; replacing a clutch and a dual mass flywheel is a considerably bigger one.