Replacing a clutch disc and pressure plate is probably on your “take it to the mechanic” list. It shouldn’t be -- replacing a whole clutch assembly is something the skilled DIYer can do in a home garage or, as YouTube mechanic ChrisFix shows, a driveway. Now, it’s worth mentioning that replacing your clutch without a lift means dropping your transmission without a lift, which is not exactly as easy as the video makes it out to be -- though, it’s mostly just heavy and awkward.
After you get the transmission out of the way, you can get a good look at all the pieces that allow the power to travel from your engine to your transmission. Basically, you’ll see a pressure plate bolted to a flywheel. On the transmission, you’ll still see your clutch arm and clutch release bearing -- often called a throw-out bearing. Obviously, there are different styles of clutch release bearings, many of which now have the hydraulic slave cylinder built into the release bearing itself. On older external slave cylinder hydraulic clutch systems, you’ll probably want to replace that too. Though, on even older mechanical clutch linkages, you’ll just want to replace your throw-out bearing and inspect the clutch linkage.
As ChrisFix shows, hiding behind that pressure plate is your clutch disc -- the common culprit in clutch problems. You’ll also have a better look at your flywheel friction surface and pilot bearing. The pilot bearing, or bushing, is what the input shaft of your transmission rides on after it slips into the back of your engine’s crankshaft. These are always a good idea to replace, but heavily worn bushings or failed bearings could be a sign of a tired transmission. Spoiler alert: ChrisFix finds this out later in his video, which leads him to replace the transmission. In the video, ChrisFix also shows how you can replace the pilot bearing with a special tool or by forcing it out with grease and bread. The tool is far, far cleaner.
From there, you can remove the flywheel. Now, ChrisFix shows a way to get by with just hand tools and locks his flywheel with a wrench fighting a pair of loosely screwed-in bolts. That’s definitely a way to break the flywheel bolts loose -- or, you can just buy a flywheel turner, which locks into the ring gear and holds your flywheel steady and doesn’t risk breaking a bolt into your old flywheel or engine block. After you drop your flywheel, you’ll want to inspect it before resurfacing it -- that means you'll need to check for cracks. Or you could do as ChrisFix does and just replace it.
ChrisFix also notes that this is a great time to replace your engine’s rear main seal. With modern one-piece seals, that’s true. Although, it can open a can of worms if you’re trying to replace a vintage engine’s rope rear main seal.
After that, it’s about as straightforward as a job can be -- basically just replace all of your wear parts: flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disc, pilot bearing and throw-out bearing. With new parts, you’ll want to reference a service manual for all of the proper torque figures. Yeah, that means dusting off the torque wrench you bought a few years back and using it instead of just relying on your internal torque gauge.
The video is about 30 minutes long, so it’s longer than that episode of “Friends” that you were probably going to watch, but you’ll learn that replacing your clutch isn’t more than a day-long job if you have all the parts handy.
H/T Jalopnik
Wesley Wren Wesley Wren has spent his entire life around cars, whether it’s dressing up as his father’s 1954 Ford for Halloween as a child, repairing cars in college or collecting frustrating pieces of history—and most things in between.
Download Article
Download Article
The clutch plate is the mechanical device that allows you to shift gears in a manual transmission, and over time, it can wear down. If you notice your car is struggling to change gears, your vehicle vibrates, or it doesn’t change gears at all when you shift, it may be time to replace your clutch plate. If you’re an experienced mechanic, you may be able to handle the job yourself, but you may want to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop to make sure it’s done right. To help you out, we’ve put answered a few common questions about what it takes to fit a new clutch plate into place.
-
An experienced home mechanic can handle the task with the right tools. If you don’t have any experience working on cars, save the job for a licensed mechanic who can make sure it’s done right and safely. You’ll need to be able to raise the vehicle and know how to drop a transmission. You’ll also need special tools like a torque wrench and a flywheel turner.[1]
- Keep in mind if the job isn’t done right, you could seriously damage your transmission. If you’re in doubt, have a licensed mechanic handle it.
Advertisement
-
Choose a clutch kit so you have matching parts. Clutch plates can be made out of organic, ceramic, and metallic materials. Organic materials switch your gears smoother but wear down faster than metallic materials, and ceramic clutch plates are an even mix of both. Choose a material that suits your needs and go with a full clutch kit that also includes a pressure plate that matches your clutch so everything lines up consistently.[2]
- You can also customize your pressure plates, but it’s important that they’re designed to fit over your clutch plate.
- For a simpler option, choose a clutch plate that’s the same as the one you’re replacing.
-
Lift the vehicle, remove the driveshaft, and support the transmission. Use a floor jack to lift your vehicle and then place jack stands beneath the axles to keep the vehicle safely raised. Drain the transmission oil and disconnect the driveshaft. Remove the electrical connections and bolts holding the transmission and then use a transmission jack to move it out of the way to access the clutch plate.[3]
- It’s extremely important that you support the raised vehicle with the proper jack stands so it doesn’t fall off.
Advertisement
-
Remove the pressure plate and pull off the old clutch plate. Once you’ve got the transmission out of the way, you’ll see the pressure plate. Use a wrench or drill to remove the bolts holding the pressure plate in place and remove it. Then, slide the clutch plate off of the pilot bearing shaft.[4]
-
Use a guide tool to fit the clutch plate onto the pilot bearing shaft. A clutch guide tool, also known as a clutch alignment tool, is a cylindrically shaped metal tool with slots that fit into the center of your clutch and a ring on 1 end. Insert the guide tool into the center of your clutch, then push the thinner end of the tool into your drive shaft as far as it will go.[5]
- The alignment tool is designed to hold your clutch at the perfect distance from the transmission.
- You can find alignment tools at your local auto supply shop.
Advertisement
-
Always place the flat side of the clutch plate against the motor. Take a look at your clutch plate. You’ll see springs that stick out more on 1 side, leaving the other side more or less flat. The flat side faces against the transmission in the bell housing.[6]
-
Replace the thrust bearing, pressure plate, and slave cylinder. Your thrust bearing helps your clutch spin freely when you change gears and takes a lot of abuse over time. Your pressure plate also has to deal with a lot of tension and can start to bend or crack. The slave cylinder helps your clutch plate move when you press on the clutch pedal and can eventually leak or seize. Since you’ll already be accessing the inner components when you change your clutch plate, it’s a great time to also replace these parts.[7]
- Additionally, many clutch kits come with matching clutch plates and pressure plates. Replace both at the same time so they line up perfectly.
Advertisement
-
Install the pressure plate and torque the bolts in a criss-cross pattern. Cover the clutch with the pressure plate and insert the holding screws into each of the slots by hand. Check your the owner’s manual to find the torque specs for your specific vehicle’s pressure plate and adjust your torque wrench to match. Torque 1 bolt, then torque the bolt directly across from it. Continue torquing in a criss-cross or star-shaped pattern until all of the bolts are tightened.[8]
- For example, if your owner’s manual says your pressure plate needs to be torqued down to 24 foot-pounds (3.32 kilogram-meters), then set your torque wrench to match it.
- You can find torque wrenches at hardware stores and auto supply shops.
-
Drive for at least 500 miles (800 km) to properly break in your clutch. Breaking in a new clutch is similar to breaking in a new engine—you drive around and give it time. Spend the first 500 miles (800 km) or so driving normally. Don’t rev up the engine or stress your clutch too much by driving really fast or downshifting aggressively. Once the clutch is broken in, you can start pushing your vehicle a little harder out on the road.[9]
Advertisement
-
The average cost is between $1,200 to $1,400 USD. The actual parts you’ll need usually cost between $700-$750 USD. The cost of labor generally runs from about $500 to $650 depending on how long the job takes. The advantage of having your clutch professionally installed is you can rest easy knowing that it was done right.[10]
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Buy a clutch kit that comes with a clutch plate, pressure plate, and bolts so all of your parts match.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
Advertisement
Installing a clutch improperly can lead to serious transmission damage. If you’re unsure, let a licensed mechanic handle the job.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
Advertisement
References
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 11,844 times.