Classic Austin Mini Disc Clutch Standard Pre-verto

One of the more common questions asked by Mini owners is "why doesn't my clutch disengage properly?" or "why is it hard to engage gears?" The usual symptom is that the clutch engages right at the floor and you find yourself embedding the pedal in the carpet to avoid grinding gears. Given that the clutch worked properly when the car left the factory the obvious answer is 'wear'.

Austin Mini flywheel and clutch identification is explained and illustrated with color photos of early vs. later designs.

Maybe your Mini clutch is working fine, or the action just doesn’t seem the same, or you're hearing noises you don’t remember hearing before. The following are some quick checks you can do to make sure the clutch keeps operating correctly or to reveal areas that may need some attention.

There are generally three clutch plate types to be concerned with these days - standard pre-Verto, fiber rally/race, and sintered race. Your driving style will be the determining factor on which plate and which diaphragm type you choose.