Clutch Cable Repair Cost

In cars with a cable-operated clutch, a broken cable can leave you stranded, unable to select or engage any gears. There are many symptoms that point to a broken or worn clutch cable.

We'll go over the main ones in this article, along with discussing the potential costs of repairing a clutch cable.

How much does a clutch cable cost?

Replacing a clutch cable costs between £250 - £600, depending on the type of car and location.

Because the types of cars that use a cable clutch tend to be smaller, more affordable ones, the parts are generally competitively priced, and often don’t take too long to replace.

In many cases, the biggest cost of a clutch cable failing is in the recovery services needed to tow the car to a garage, as the car will no longer be drivable.

Explore pay monthly clutch replacements with Bumper.

What does a clutch cable do?

Your car's clutch is a device that engages and disengages power from your car’s engine to the gearbox and, therefore, the wheels. The clutch cable operates this device by transferring force from the clutch pedal to the clutch mechanism.

Most modern cars use a hydraulic clutch, and cable-operated clutches are often found on older and smaller, more affordable cars, as they are cheaper to manufacture.

A clutch cable is similar to that of a brake cable on a bicycle. It uses a braided steel cable that runs inside a housing, retained at both ends.

Symptoms of a broken or worn clutch cable

Common symptoms of a broken or worn clutch cable are different from those of a worn clutch, the latter being when the friction material inside the clutch has worn away. Symptoms of a broken clutch cable can include:

• Being unable to put the car into gear

• A very light clutch pedal

• The clutch pedal is not returning after being pressed

A clutch cable can also be rusty, seized or simply worn out. It’s important to pay attention to these symptoms and have the cable looked at before it snaps and leaves you stranded. These are the signs of a worn or problematic clutch cable:

• A very stiff clutch pedal

• The clutch pedal is not returning after being pressed

• A grinding/scraping noise when the clutch pedal is pressed

Can a broken or worn clutch cable cause a clutch to slip?

Typically, a clutch will start slipping because the friction material on the clutch plate is wearing thin, not because a cable is worn or broken.

However, a badly adjusted clutch cable, or one that is extremely worn, could cause similar problems if, for example, it wasn't allowing the clutch to release fully.

Can you drive with a broken or worn clutch cable?

If your clutch cable has snapped, it will be nigh on impossible to get the car into gear safely and without damaging the gearbox. Even if you can get it into gear or begin driving, a car with a broken clutch cable should not be driven.

A worn out, stiff or corroded clutch cable may still operate the clutch and allow you to drive, but if the pedal is particularly hard to press, or sometimes doesn’t pop back up after use, continuing to drive could cause the cable to snap, and leave you stranded.

If your clutch cable or clutch is showing signs of extreme wear or degradation, you should look to have the parts replaced as soon as possible to avoid costly recovery bills.

Repair your car with Bumper

To help with those repair bills, consider using Bumper’s zero-interest finance on car repairs, you can take your vehicle to any number of pre-approved repair centres, and spread out the cost. Find an approved partner garage on our website.