The average cost of a clutch replacement for a Ford Ranger is between $800 and $1,000, but this can vary depending on your location, your truck, and your choice of mechanic.

The Ford Ranger is a famously gritty midsize pickup that can withstand all of the elements. It has that classic retro truck look, coupled with a thunderous 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and standout fuel economy.

But if you have an older Ranger, your clutch might be failing. Over time, the clutch—like any part of your pickup—will deteriorate, so it’s important to regularly service it. If you’re wondering how much it’ll cost to replace your clutch, as well as when you should do so, we’ve got you covered with this helpful guide.

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How much does it cost to replace a clutch in a Ford Ranger?

If you need to replace your clutch, there are several different factors that will affect the cost, like your location, the age of the vehicle, and the cost of labor. Costs will also vary depending on which repair shop you go to. Overall, though, you can expect a clutch replacement to cost somewhere between about $800 and $1,000.

For a clutch replacement, the cost of labor tends to outweigh the cost of the actual parts. A clutch kit from AutoZone typically runs between $100 to $230. While the exact price of an OEM clutch kit isn’t available on the

Ford

website, you can view the

prices of various parts of the clutch

that you may need to replace to get a feel for how much your bill might be.

If your Ranger needs a total clutch replacement, you’ll likely want to go with OEM parts. If you go to a Ford dealership to have it taken care of, you’ll benefit from mechanics that know their way around a Ford. But you’ll probably have to pay a little more for their expertise. You could save a few bucks by opting for an independent auto repair shop instead.

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What is a clutch?

Your car’s clutch is a key part of any car’s transmission system, but it has particular significance for owners of cars with manual transmissions. Since the Ford Ranger falls into that category, Ranger drivers will need to pay special attention to any potential issues with the truck’s clutch.

The clutch is the device that allows a vehicle to switch gears by transferring the power from the engine toward the gearbox, effectively connecting the engine to the transmission. Another important part of the transmission is the flywheel, which goes to work with the engine while the clutch plate and the transmission connect. These two devices create friction, which powers the whole apparatus.

When you’re changing gears, you push the clutch pedal down, which lets a set of springs disconnect the engine from the transmission. Otherwise, when you’re driving normally, your foot won’t be on the clutch pedal and the springs will push the clutch disc right up against the flywheel. That way, the engine and the transmission output shaft keep spinning at the same speed.

The main reason why clutch issues are so common is that the whole scheme relies on friction, meaning eventual erosion of the clutch is pretty much unavoidable. In fact, among the most common problems with the clutch is failure caused by an erosion of the friction material on the clutch plate. Think of your clutch kind of like your brake pads—they simply wear down over time, which can lead to slips or failures.

Here are some other fairly common problems that can occur in your clutch:

Master or slave cylinders

issues

Clutch cable

broken or stretched

Over-worn bearings

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What are the symptoms of a Ford Ranger clutch problem?

Stickiness, slips, or just generally difficult performance from your clutch could all be signs that there is a problem with the clutch on your Ford Ranger.

Trust your senses on this one—if it feels like something is off with your clutch, something probably is. For example, maybe it takes a harder or further press on the clutch pedal to get the clutch to engage, or the clutch pedal feels sticky or takes a while to come up from the floor. Both of these are warning signs that your clutch could be about to fail.

You should also pay close attention to your truck’s performance when switching gears. If you smell burning, hear a grinding noise, or feel a strong resistance or pushback when changing gears, your clutch is probably slipping.

If you have dealt with any of the above symptoms or have another suspicion that your clutch may be failing or malfunctioning, you should take your Ranger to a dealership or a repair shop right away to have the problem properly diagnosed and repaired.

Is it safe to drive with a bad clutch?

If your clutch is impaired, it is unsafe to drive the vehicle. You might be able to get a few more hours—or even days—out of the vehicle before the clutch breaks, but once it does, the vehicle will be inoperable. It’s best to avoid this at any cost, given that you risk your vehicle breaking down at an extremely inconvenient (or dangerous) time.

For this reason, you should get any potential clutch issues sorted out with a mechanic or dealership as soon as possible after you begin to suspect a problem.

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Clutch slave cylinder replacement cost

How long should a Ford Ranger clutch last?

If your Ranger is from the line that was discontinued in 2011, chances are your transmission is going to slow down soon if it hasn’t already.

The Ford Ranger’s transmission tends to be a bit of a problem spot in terms of common issues, and the clutch is no exception. The transmission has been known to give out before the pickup hits 90,000 miles, especially with the five-cylinder automatic transmission.

There have also been a few notorious problems with the hydraulic clutch damper on Ford Ranger PX models. The clutch pedal tends to slowly lose pressure or just fail out of nowhere.

The bottom line

Over time, the clutch on almost any vehicle will deteriorate. Because it relies on friction to function, it’s going to wear out eventually. Pay attention to warning signs and have your car serviced right away if you suspect your clutch is on its last leg.

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