Clutch input shaft sleeves (also known as quills or guide bushes) are a design feature on a wide range of German, Italian and French-built cars.
Each sleeve contains a rubber seal, designed to protect the clutch from ingress by gearbox oil.
Worn or damaged seals allow oil to leak into the clutch housing, according to Corteco.
If this contaminates the friction plate, premature clutch failure is inevitable, Corteco warns.
Corteco, sales and marketing manager, Steve Jarnet, said: “In mainland Europe, it is accepted that input shaft sleeves are an essential part of the clutch replacement procedure on some models, but the UK market doesn’t fully appreciate their importance just yet.”
Demand in some areas has not registered at motor factor level, forcing those garages that do appreciate the problems to source from dealers at premium prices.
Corteco is the aftermarket distribution arm of Freudenberg, which is one of the world’s leading suppliers of automotive sealing components to OE systems manufacturers.
Jarnet adds: “It’s not certain whether UK garages assume that input shaft sleeves are part of the gearbox rather than the clutch, or if they consider them to be too difficult to replace and best left alone.
“What is clear, is that it’s good practice to fit new ones along with a new clutch, avoiding premature clutch failures that could soon turn into expensive rectification jobs.”
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