How much to get a clutch changed on a..
How much to get a clutch changed on a..
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Craphouserat

Original Poster:

1,542 posts

231 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
2008 1.8 diesel Corsa?

A female colleague has had some horrendous luck with her Corsa recently and spent a small fortune on it. SHe recently had it in a garage for a knocking noise - I suggested it might be bearings/cv joints. Garage said it was her brake discs needing greasing, but when they had it out on a test run they noticed the clutch was terrible - badly needs changing etc etc.

Basically scared the crap out of her - I think they may be trying to rip her off, I've not had a chance to try the car myself and have never had to get a clutch changed myself so have no idea of cost/time to do the job etc.

How many hours of labour should it take roughly, any idea of rough cost involved?

They're sending a quote through post shortly - just thought I'd try give her a rough idea by asking here.

Cheers all.

DKS

1,912 posts

214 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Brake discs greased?????!!!

I'd say its probably most of a days time to disconnect the subframe, drop it out, remove clutch etc.
So maybe £400 + £200 for parts minimum.
I'd go to a place the specialises in clutches. Well, no, I'd do it myself, but you get my meaning.

Craphouserat

Original Poster:

1,542 posts

231 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Yeah - I'm sure she said the garage had told her that her discs were rusty and so greased them ! Then took it out and said clutch needed changed pronto. Because of her bad luck with this heap of crap she is st scared. The boy also said if you're thinking of trading it in now would be the time etc. Sounds like a complete scam, single blonde female not a clue about cars comes in with a knocking noise and they see prey !

Thanks for the reply - I genuinely never thought clutches would be so expensive - especially on a bog standard Corsa.

Thanks for the info.

DKS

1,912 posts

214 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Hopefully calipers, not discs.
Its the labour is the killer. I would really get to go somewhere else. Also the clutch isn't really dangerous, so she needn't be scared, so to speak.
I hate garages with a passion.

DaveCWK

2,407 posts

204 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Fair amount of labour involved in changing a clutch. £500 all in is probably about right. £10 on there being nothing wrong with the clutch though (so expertly diagnosed by those who grease brake discs...)

Northernchimp

1,282 posts

162 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
£188 for the part, or £312 with the cylinder. Seems like an awful lot for a Corsa, but the 5 hours labour is the real .

sunbeam alpine

7,249 posts

218 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
TBH if she can drive the car - i.e. gets it into gear/changes gear and the clutch doesn't slip when under strain, I wouldn't think about changing it.

rswift

1,181 posts

205 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Have a look at the "Mr Clutch" website, I think you can type the reg in & get a quote.

A clutch is usually replaced because it's slipping... not banging, it all sounds a bit iffy. I suggest ask around for a reliable local indie garage, and get a second or third opinion.

Craphouserat

Original Poster:

1,542 posts

231 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for replies all.

It's all a bit dodgy - I'll take it for a spin and check for clutch slipping - if its not I'll tell her to drive as normal.

Cheers all.

DervVW

2,223 posts

169 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
If its diesel it might be all duel mass flywheel, clutch and cylinders, a fair few parts. But get a second opinion...

joewilliams

2,004 posts

231 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Knocking noise on a diesel could be DMF - but I wouldn't trust anyone who talked of greasing brake disks.

MG CHRIS

9,322 posts

197 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
Tell her to take it to another garage. Every mechanic knows you cant grease discs if someone is saying that walk well away. Knocking on corsa tend to be worn drop link or ball joints a knocking will never come from a brake disc.

I would say the clutch is fine and they were fishing for work.

Next time go in with her and see what they say might change there mind that she's not on her own.

ADEuk

1,911 posts

266 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
I highly doubt they told her the brake discs needed greasing. Maybe deglazing. Don't forget we're hearing it 3rd hand.

imagineifyeswill

1,250 posts

196 months

Tuesday 11th February 2014
quotequote all
greasing brake discs????????
as others have said, knocking noise could be DMF. Havent done a Corsa but have done a 56 plate Vectra similar job, 5-6 hours labour, Vauxhall prices, DMF £450, Clutch Kit £351, all plus vat, DMF was £250 from Factors but Clutch Kit was still around £300 not a cheap job.

ecsrobin

18,665 posts

195 months

Wednesday 12th February 2014
quotequote all
I would probably suggest that she didnt really know what they were talking about and has said words that she remembers.

The easiest thing to do is drive it and see for yourself what is wrong with the car.

Craphouserat

Original Poster:

1,542 posts

231 months

Wednesday 12th February 2014
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
I would probably suggest that she didnt really know what they were talking about and has said words that she remembers.

The easiest thing to do is drive it and see for yourself what is wrong with the car.
I think you're right - I will ask again later what they said. She's not the best driver in the world - like a lot of people her car is just to get her from a to b. No further interest in them in. She was once ill at work - my boss asked if i'd drive her home in her car. I got a few miles down the road and stopped at the first garage i came across - her tyres weer 16 and 17 psi at the front - when i told her this she said is that bad??? She is intelligent just no interest in cars...hence she bought a Corsa from a well known Scottish car company cowboy. She won't be going near them or Vauxhall again !!

Thanks again for all the replies - not the news she is after i'm guessing but very useful.

Cheers all.

paintman

7,860 posts

220 months

Wednesday 12th February 2014
quotequote all
The knocking could be the brake pads chattering under braking. Several causes including cheap pads, worn calipers, missing anti-rattle pads. Common to apply copper grease to the rear of the pad over the area that the piston pushes against.
Which is what I suspect she's been told.
CV joints often make more noise when the steering is at full lock so if its quiet in a straight line but clicks when turned I would suspect a CV joint

Have a look & drive of the car yourself. May be time to find another garage.



Edited by paintman on Wednesday 12th February 08:38

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

156 months

Wednesday 12th February 2014
quotequote all
Anybody else reckon there might be an element of Chinese Whispers going on here? OP - give the garage a call, and ask them what the score is, without the "translation" provided by the driver.

catman

2,504 posts

205 months

Wednesday 12th February 2014
quotequote all
Sounds like a scam. If she was driving the car without any problems, then it's probably not the clutch.

Off topic, five hours to change a clutch on a Corsa? You could do it in 20 minutes on a Nova!

Tim