BestPracticeGuide_Clutch_2018

Statement issued by the Ford Motor Company of America in 1944

“Mechanics should be ever alert to determine the cause behind any problem that they encounter. It is not enough to correct some immediate condition without searching for and correcting the underlying cause of the failure ”

May 1944 – Printed in USA FORD MOTOR COMPANY DEARBORN MICHIGAN’

Good practice – Always look for the root cause of any problem, try to determine why the vehicle is experiencing the condition, what has caused the part to wear. Talk with the customer to understand their concerns and determine when the problem/problems first started. You may have to take a test drive with the customer to verify the issues. It is vitally important to verify the cause of the failure. Once the problem has been identified, talk with the customer about the repair procedure and how the system operates. Discuss all the options, if vehicles are fitted with a DMF you will need to explain this, and the reason this may need to be replaced. Make sure the customer understands and feels comfortable with the explanations and the repair being performed on his or her vehicle. Once you begin the job, be methodical, many of the procedures you use during removal of the old parts can prevent errors. With clutch and flywheel components this can be especially important due to the complexity of the fitments. As you remove the old clutch, note all bolt locations. Bell housing bolts may have different lengths, diameters and thread pitches. If any of the bell housing bolts are used to attach a ground cable to the transmission, mark the bolt and its location. Confirm that all gearbox locating dowels are present and serviceable, if they are not make sure you fit new ones, a small item such as one missing dowel can cause very significant problems. Always use the correct fitment tools, such as the SAC clutch fitting tool.

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