Safe to drive short distance on dying clutch?

Hi,

The clutch seems to be going on my Defender (a 96 300tdi with 81k miles) By which I mean the clutch pedal keeps 'sticking' down and the bite point has dropped dramatically, I keep having to pull the pedal up with my toe. It's driveable but a worry and a pain. This issue happened a while ago, then stopped, then reoccurred badly last night, but I was only about 1/2 a mile from home so I got back ok. I haven't checked for leaking fluid or anything but will do so in the morning, the clutch reservoir was well topped up when I checked it a month or two ago.

My dilemma is I want to take my landy to my preferred garage (in Hebden Bridge) but the car is in Manchester - about 25 miles. Do you think it's safe to try to get over there or should I take it to an unknown garage and risk getting ripped off?

Thanks if you can help

does the clutch slip if you pull the pedal up?

gemsdad said:

does the clutch slip if you pull the pedal up?

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I can't remember it doing, I don't think so. I'll check in the car park tomorrow

where abouts in Manchester is it?.

Bite point dropping doesnt sound like a duff clutch to me, more like the release mech or hoses are at fault.

Or the release arm starting to punch through

Or the return springs?

Have you a subscription to a breakdown service? If it was me I'd set off and take things gently, and if it got completely impossible I'd get the AA (or whoever) out to take me the rest of the way.

Mi would try and take it gently, I managed to drive my golf 19 miles with only a 3/4 and R gear when the gearbox went lol, last 1/3rd of a mile i only had reverse.

You may be able to change up the gears without the clutch by matching engine speed, and likewise down, but that's a bit harder

It's in Rusholme gemsdad. I don't have a breakdown subscription but I can be towed if need be. I'm going to check on a quiet road this afternoon and if it seems too difficult I won't bother. Thanks for all your replies

Just ring the garage and tell them the problem they are bound to have a recovery service they use if not have a recovery van themselves, just warn them you might need them when your going in.

Good news, I got back without a hitch, it went so fine that I had the old problem of "it makes a noise but it won't make a noise in front of the mechanic" but they'll set it right I'm sure

Pleased to hear that you got back OK.
Pint or two at Lane Ends next time I'm down there?

Oldseadog said:

Pleased to hear that you got back OK.
Pint or two at Lane Ends next time I'm down there?

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Haha, thank you. Perhaps!

I bet it's the master/slave cylinder needs replacing.
Mine did a similar thing. If it was the clutch release arm l don't think it would go alright again.

OK thanks, did you get it done at a garage? If so roughly how much did it cost?

Local Land Rover lndy did it. £100 including master/slave cylinders

Oh great, not 3 bad then

send a PM to Dominicbeasley as he's in Hebden and might have a bit of time to help you out.
He's a great lad

Oldseadog said:

send a PM to Dominicbeasley as he's in Hebden and might have a bit of time to help you out.
He's a great lad

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Thanks for the heads up, it's down at the garage now though