How much does a clutch replacement cost?
At MotorCar Doctors, most clutch replacements run $1,200 to $2,300. That range comes straight from our own recent invoices, and the vehicle decides where in it your car lands.
That price covers a complete clutch kit (disc, pressure plate, release bearing and pilot bearing), the labor to remove and reinstall the transmission, and resurfacing your flywheel on our own machine. Before any work starts you get a written, itemized estimate for your car. That estimate, not this range, is your price.
What have clutch jobs actually cost here?
Here is how our recent clutch replacements break down by type of vehicle. Figures are for the clutch replacement itself, before add-ons and the shop supplies fee.
| Vehicle type | Price range |
|---|---|
| Compact front-wheel-drive cars (Corolla, Civic, Fit, Mazda3, Focus) | $1,196 – $1,841 |
| Pickups, 4x4s and rear-wheel-drive (Tacoma, Ranger, Frontier, Mustang, FJ Cruiser) | $1,178 – $2,092 |
| Subaru all-wheel drive (Impreza, Crosstrek, Forester) | $1,362 – $1,968 |
The occasional vehicle falls outside these ranges. One recent outlier was a 2003 Toyota RAV4 with all-wheel drive, where getting to the clutch took more than 20 hours of labor.
Why does the price vary so much from car to car?
Mostly labor. The transmission has to come out to reach the clutch, and on most cars that takes between about 4½ and 10 hours of labor. Compare an early-2000s Honda Civic, a front-wheel-drive car with good access that sits at the low end of the range, with an all-wheel-drive car like a Toyota Celica All-Trac, where more of the drivetrain has to come apart before the clutch is even in reach.
The other things that move the price:
- Drivetrain. All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive usually mean more labor than front-wheel drive.
- Parts. Clutch kits for performance and all-wheel-drive cars cost more than kits for compacts.
- The hydraulic system. A leaking master or slave cylinder is worth replacing while everything is apart.
- The flywheel. Resurfacing is part of the job; replacing a flywheel is not (more on that below).
Is clutch labor billed differently here?
Yes, clutch work is billed at a lower labor rate than our general repair rate. Labor is the biggest part of any clutch bill, so that rate is a big part of why our clutch prices land where they do.
What can add to the cost of a clutch job?
Three things, and we show you the evidence (photos and measurements) before any of them goes on the bill:
- Clutch hydraulics. If the clutch master or slave cylinder is leaking or worn, replacing it while the transmission is out saves paying that labor twice. A master cylinder has recently added about $215 to $680 and a slave cylinder about $270 to $670, depending on the car.
- Hydraulic fluid exchange. Fresh fluid for the clutch hydraulics, about $140 to $285 depending on the car.
- A flywheel that can’t be resurfaced. If a solid flywheel is cracked, deeply scored or structurally damaged, it gets replaced. Dual-mass flywheels usually cannot be resurfaced: the major flywheel manufacturers, including Valeo, advise against machining them. A flywheel replacement is the one item that can push a job above the range.
Is it worth fixing a clutch?
Usually, yes. A clutch is a wear item, like brake pads, and replacing it gives you a car that drives the way it should for years to come. The exception is an older car where the clutch job would cost more than the car is worth, or where other big repairs are close behind, we’ll walk through that with you, with the numbers in front of both of us, before you spend anything.
How long does a clutch last?
It depends far more on how it’s driven than on its age. Some clutches wear out by around 60,000 miles and most last around 80,000 to 100,000, so a car with 120,000 miles on the odometer may already be on its second clutch. Our guide to breaking in a new clutch and making it last covers the driving habits that make the difference.
Is it okay to drive with a bad clutch?
For a short while, sometimes, but a slipping clutch gets worse, and the heat it makes can damage the flywheel, which can turn a clutch job into a clutch-and-flywheel job. If your clutch slips, chatters, or the pedal feels different than it used to, have it looked at sooner rather than later. Our clutch inspection is free.
Do you use OEM or aftermarket clutch parts?
Every clutch kit we install comes from an original-equipment clutch maker: Aisin, Exedy, LuK, Valeo or Sachs. Whenever we can, it is made by the company that built your original clutch, so it is the same part the dealer would use in a different box. We never use off-brand, private-label or remanufactured clutches, flywheels, hydraulics or release bearings. That is why clutch kit components carry a limited lifetime warranty, kept active with a free clutch inspection every 6 months.
What warranty comes with a clutch replacement?
Clutch kit components carry a limited lifetime warranty, plus 2 years / 24,000 miles of parts and labor coverage. Keeping the lifetime coverage active takes a free clutch inspection every 6 months. Clutch master and slave cylinder components carry 1 year / 12,000 miles of parts and labor coverage. The details are on our warranty page.
Get a written clutch estimate in Beaverton
Clutch work has been our specialty since 1995. See our clutch repair page for everything we do. Call 503-626-4810 and tell us what you drive, or bring it in for a free clutch inspection, Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. Financing is available.
MotorCar Doctors Auto Repair, 13203 SW Canyon Rd, Ste C, Beaverton, Oregon 97005