Brake Maintenance Brake checks are an important part of your vehicle servicing requirements, so we recommend that you have your brakes inspected periodically and not just when you have your safety test. If you tend to use your car mainly for short journeys for instance, it is likely that you will wear the brakes down quicker than if the car is used predominantly for longer trips. It is therefore important that you can spot the most common tell-tale signs of when your brake pads are in need of changing or repair: 1) Grinding noise – this usually suggests that the brake pads have reached the minimum thickness, so you should contact 3D Automotive to have your car brake pads changed. 2) Pull to the left or right when braking – this normally means that there could be sticking on the brake discs or issues with the hydraulic elements of the brakes.  Brake Checks Our free brake check facility gives a clear picture of the condition of your vehicle’s brakes, and whether you need new brake pads, brake discs or if the braking system itself is in need of repair. All elements are inspected against the manufacturer’s specification, which means 3D Automotive will help you get your brakes back to the most efficient standards set. To get a free brake inspection, contact

Vehicle Clutch Checks

In case you are in any doubt that your clutch is actually faulty we will complete a free clutch check while you wait.  Through our expert diagnosis we will be able to tell if your clutch is faulty before we start any work on your vehicle.  If you think that you are having problems with your clutch just bring your vehicle along to 3D Automotive  and one of our skilled technicians will check out the problem with no obligation.  Contact  Simon To Enquire

How The Clutch Works

The clutch connects and disconnects the engine from the gearbox(transmission) allowing smooth gearchange and control of the engine power.

A clutch plate (driven plate) is coated on both sides with a hard wearing high friction material. This is situated between the engine flywheel and a spring loaded pressure plate. The spring/pressure can be released by depressing the clutch pedal.

While driving, the whole clutch assembly can be turning at very high speeds. To allow a non rotating clutch pedal to control the rotating clutch assembly a clutch release bearing uses a fork acting on a thrust face

Clutch – Controlling Engine Torque

The clutch has to transmit the engine power to the wheels allowing the vehicle to move. The torque of the engine is transferred by the clutch system relying entirely on the contact friction between 2 faces. A slipping clutch occurs when the friction is too low (often due to clutch wear) or engine torque is too high (during rapid acceleration)

Controlling Power Transmission via The Clutch – Clutch Slip

The torque capacity (how much power can be transmitted without slipping) depends upon:

• The Coefficient of Friction of the engaging Clutch Faces
• Diameter of the Clutch Plate
• The Pressure or Spring Loading

In order to use greater engine torque in high performance vehicles a multi-face clutch may be used compared to the single plate clutch system adopted on most cars.

How a Car Clutch Works with Normal Manual Driving

A car clutch is engaged/disengaged using the left most “clutch” pedal.
The clutch pedal is depressed to disengage the engine from the gearbox and drive train while changing gears. Once the gear is selected, the clutch pedal is released and the engine is once-again linked via the drive train
The clutch operation can be actuated by:

• A Mechanical Linkage
  The clutch pedal is connected directly to the clutch assembly via a mechanical linkage such as cable or chain.
• A Hydraulic Clutch
  Depressing the clutch pedal increases pressure in a hydraulic piston coupled to the clutch pedal. The increased pressure is transferred to a secondary piston that operates a lever to engage-disengage the clutch plates
• An electronic clutch – Clutch by Wire
  Sensors detect the position of the clutch pedal electronically and interpret the position using an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that computes the best way to operate the clutch based upon information relayed from other sensors indicating driving speed, engine speed and so on. The ECU relays information to a servo unit to actuate clutch operation.

Clutch Servicing, Kit Fitting & Repairs

Clutch service in parramatta area

Clutch

New clutches fitted to most makes of cars using the recommended clutch kits

Clutch Master Cylinder

Pumping the clutch pedal to disengage the clutch is a classic symptom of loss of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic clutch system and may be indicative of a leak or ruptured seal in the clutch master cylinder or clutch slave cylinder

Clutch Slave Cylinder

The clutch fittings that link the clutch slave cylinder to the master cylinder can leak but it’s also worth checking the piston seals on the clutch slave cylinder