Clutch and dual-mass flywheel problems: signs and what to buy

Signs of a worn clutch

• Slipping: the revs rise but the car doesn't speed up to match, most noticeable in a high gear going uphill.
• A biting point that's much higher up the pedal than it used to be.
• A burning smell after a hill start or heavy traffic.
• Gears that are hard to select, or grinding going into gear: this can also be the clutch not fully releasing, from a hydraulic fault.
• A pedal that feels spongy, sticks down or goes to the floor: often the master or slave cylinder rather than the clutch itself.

Signs of a failing dual-mass flywheel

Most modern diesels and many petrol cars have a dual-mass flywheel: two halves joined by springs, which soak up the engine's vibration. When the springs wear, you typically hear a rattle or knock at tickover that goes away when you press the clutch, feel vibration through the pedal or floor, get judder when pulling away, or hear a clunk when switching the engine off. A DMF can fail before the clutch is worn out, and a new clutch on a worn DMF won't cure the judder.

Replace it all in one go

Getting to the clutch means taking the gearbox off, so most garages replace the clutch plate, pressure plate and release bearing (often sold as a kit) together, and the DMF too if it's worn. On many cars the release bearing and slave cylinder are one part fitted inside the bell housing (a concentric slave cylinder), which is usually replaced at the same time as it's cheap compared with taking the gearbox off again. Some kits swap the DMF for a solid flywheel; they cost less, but can bring back some of the vibration the DMF was there to stop, so ask a garage what suits your car.

What to buy new and what to buy used

• New: the clutch plate, pressure plate and release bearing. They wear out, and a used one has an unknown amount of life left.
• Usually new: the dual-mass flywheel. Its wear can only be checked by measuring the play between the two halves, so only buy a used one from a seller who has checked it and will take it back.
• Good used buys: gearboxes, clutch master cylinders, clutch pedals and pedal boxes, cables, gear linkages and selector parts, and bell housings. Match the part number and the gearbox code (where to find them).
• A whole used gearbox can be worth it when the box itself is noisy or jumping out of gear. Ask for the mileage, and whether it was tested before the car was broken: see buying a used engine or gearbox.

Making a clutch last

• Don't rest your foot on the pedal, and don't hold the car on the clutch on a hill: use the handbrake.
• Pull away in first, not second, and don't slip the clutch longer than you need to.
• On a DMF car, avoid labouring the engine at very low revs in a high gear: that's what wears the flywheel's springs.

Find clutch and gearbox parts for your car

Search by your registration for gearboxes, flywheels, master cylinders and other clutch parts listed as fitting your car, from UK breakers and parts sellers. Search for a part, browse by make, or read how to find the right part.