How to Extend the Life of Your Clutch

The clutch is essential as it allows you to change gear to suit the speed of your vehicle, as well as enabling you to reduce speed to manoeuvre and prevent obstacles. New clutches can cost you up to £1000, so it is important to try and keep them in the best condition. The way you drive will affect the lifetime of it also. Here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your clutch, so you can save your money!

Do Not Ride the Clutch!

The clutch pedal should either be pressed all the way down, or completely untouched. This is so there is no extra wear to it. Riding it adds pressure to the pads. But, it is important to raise the pedal smoothly after changing gear. Make sure that you are not leaving it partially down whilst driving as it will wear out sooner. So, unless you are changing gear, do not have your foot on the pedal at all.

Neutral is For When Your Car’s Stationary

When you are stationary you should put it into neutral straight away, and raise the clutch. If needed you can also apply the handbrake to stop the car rolling. By doing this it will stop any unnecessary strain on the vehicles clutch. Also, a good tip is to slow down in advance when you see stationary traffic. As on some occasions, you may not even need to stop at all!

Do Not Leave It In Gear

When you are parked the vehicle should always be in neutral before applying the handbrake. Leaving it in gear even when the engine isn’t running can cause strain on and cause further wear. Some people like leaving their car in gear when parked on a hill so they don’t roll back. However, if this is the case you should get your handbrake checked, as it’s likely to be a handbrake problem.

Get It Checked

A free clutch check may be the answer to potential clutch problems. Our check covers thorough inspection of the clutch system to identify any faults. You will receive a report from our technicians with details of the condition. This will also include quotations if repairs or replacements are needed. We only use original component parts in line with our 12 month or 12,000 miles guarantee.