Fig. 28 · Clutch repair
Manual clutch or torque converter lockup. Both end at my bench.
If your pedal is slipping or your automatic is shuddering at 45mph, here's what I actually fix.
Pedal-clutch replacements on manuals, torque-converter clutch work on automatics. I check the flywheel surface, the throwout bearing, the pilot bearing. And I don't put a brand-new clutch disc on a glazed flywheel.
Fig. 29 · Manual vs automatic
Two different jobs. Same honest quote.
A glazed pressure plate [FIG. 01] tells you the flywheel almost always needs to come off too. One of the reasons I pull the whole assembly instead of guessing at it.
I. Manual clutch replacement
Disc, pressure plate, throwout, pilot.
$900 to $1,800
New clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing, everything that wears together. Flywheel gets resurfaced, or replaced if it is glazed. Labor is the big number on this one: it is a transmission pull either way, so the parts go on the bench and I check them all while we are in there.
1 to 2 days. Heavy-duty upgrade available for tow and work rigs.
II. TCC solenoid
$1 to $2. most highway shudders.
If the automatic is shuddering at 45 to 55 mph, it is almost always the TCC solenoid. Not the whole converter.
III. Full converter swap
$1 to $2. when lockup is gone.
If the converter itself is cooked, we swap it while the trans is out. No point doing the job twice.
FIG. 01 · Glazed pressure plate, 2015 F-350 6-spd, 168k mi.
Quoted my transmission less than any other shop around. Completed it in a few days and now my vehicle runs smooth. Kept me up to date with the entire progress and explained what was being done.
Clutch questions I get
Before you call.
How do I know if my clutch is going?
Pedal feels higher than it used to. Engine revs climb but the truck doesn't accelerate. Burning smell after a hard shift. If you've got one of those, it's time.
Should I upgrade to a heavy-duty clutch?
Depends how you use the truck. Tow rig, work truck, daily driver with occasional hauling: yes, worth the $200 upgrade. Commuter that never sees a trailer: stick with OE spec.
How long does it take?
1 to 2 days for most rigs. Call with your year, make, model and I'll give you a tighter window.
Fig. 08 · Symptoms
Having any of these problems?
Click through. I've written up what each one usually means and what I'd check first.
Diagnostic is free when you drop it off. Call me at (352) 232-8364 – Anthony.
