Ford Focus Mk2 clutch replacement

[David Hearn]

Can anyone give me a realistic cost of replacing a clutch on Mk2 Ford
Focus 1.6 petrol (non variable valve engine).

Just want to have an idea should it ever need replacing.

Thanks

David

[Chris Whelan]

David Hearn wrote:

By the time it should need replacing, labour rates may have doubles or
trebled, so any estimate now will be meaningless :-)

Chris (With a Mk1 Focus on 92K, that's never needed anything significant
replaced.)

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

[David Hearn]

True - but I doubt yours spent 6 months being driven by learners... ;)

D

[Mrcheerful]

at present it is about 500 quid for the whole job

[David Hearn]

Don't things get expensive these days...? A year or two ago our local
Peugeot main dealer charged £250 for a new clutch. It was actually
cheaper than a local independent garage.

Thanks for the info though.

David

[David Hearn]

Incidentally, we've needed replacement clutches on both our previous
cars (C reg Polo which died at 106k, S reg 306 which is just about going
at nearly 127k, we got the car at 56k in 2001).

Might our history of clutch replacements suggest that our driving style
is heavy on the clutch? Something I'm aware that I do is when changing
down gears I tend get a bit of a jolt when bringing the clutch up -
slowing me down. I suspect this is not ideal for long clutch life.

Also, when changing up gears, I think I tend to slip the clutch a little
- either that or again, I'm heavy on the clutch, bringing it up quickly.
It's hard to actually think what you do with a clutch without actually
analysing it whilst you're doing it. Incidentally, both our previous
cars have had very heavy clutch pedals. The Focus seems very soft pedal.

What is the 'correct' (ie. best) way of avoiding clutch wear?

Thanks

D

[Chris Whelan]

David Hearn wrote:

Well, no, but if it's not showing any signs of slipping now and you treat it
right it should be fine.

I don't believe a clutch is a service item; I've been driving a mixture of
old bangers, new cars and pretty much everything in between for 44 years.
I've never replaced a clutch in any of my vehicles, although I've done
plenty for others!

Chris

[Dave Baker]

"David Hearn" <da...@NOswampieSPAM.org.uk> wrote in message
news:63l2s3F...@mid.individual.net...

> Also, when changing up gears, I think I tend to slip the clutch a little -
> either that or again, I'm heavy on the clutch, bringing it up quickly.
> It's hard to actually think what you do with a clutch without actually
> analysing it whilst you're doing it. Incidentally, both our previous cars
> have had very heavy clutch pedals. The Focus seems very soft pedal.
>
> What is the 'correct' (ie. best) way of avoiding clutch wear?

Matching the revs correctly before you release the clutch pedal and starting
from rest with care. Wear only takes place when there is relative motion
between the flywheel and the clutch plate. None occurs when the clutch is
fully engaged in a given gear. Watch the revcounter. On upchanges let the
revs drop to the level at which they'll be when the new gear engages and on
downchanges let the clutch out very gently or better still blip the throttle
to match revs. Make sure in all cases the clutch is fully engaged before
reapplying any throttle. With practice you can avoid almost all clutch wear
in normal driving.
--
Dave Baker
Puma Race Engines

[Chris Whelan]

David Hearn wrote:

The two most important things to avoid are touching the pedal when not
necessary (for example by using it as a footrest!) and holding the vehicle
stationary on a slope using the clutch.

I see drivers every day in traffic for long periods of time just rocking the
car backwards and forwards on the clutch. It makes me cringe! As soon as
you come to a stop, handbrake on, out of gear, and foot away from the
pedal.

Modern cars will creep in first gear at really low speeds with the clutch
completely released; it adds to wear if you keep pulling away, then
stopping in traffic queues.

Chris.