Clutch replacement was once a pretty straight-forward job. On rear-wheel drive vehicles, replacing a clutch could be a big, heavy, greasy job, but it was not technically challenging. Few, if any, special tools were needed. Required equipment consisted mainly of a vehicle lift and a transmission jack.

But then the automotive industry changed. Front-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive, All-wheel drive, 4-wheel traction control, torque tubes, and transverse-engine-rear-wheel-drive, made clutch replacement a much more complicated effort.

Now, in order to replace a clutch, you need a wealth of knowledge and a shop full of equipment.

Whether deciding if you could do the job yourself or choosing a shop to do the work for you, it is worth knowing what the well equipped clutch technician uses.

Even the basic transmission jack has transformed into a stand-up, multi-angle-adjustable air-hydraulic machine!

And, the transmission is not all that must be supported. Engine slings and jacks are needed. Dual-post above-ground lifts are the choice of most professionals.

Resurfacing the flywheel should be an in-house operation. Any shop that replaces clutches should have a super-heavy duty flywheel grinder. These things weigh about 1,000 lbs!
       
And, the best-possible resurfacing is done with diamond cutting wheels that are quite costly and last a limited time. Some lower volume shops will use carbon grinding wheels that require excess pressure and build a higher surface temperature during the resurfacing process.