Clutch Parts to Drive You Around


by Brandon Heinrich - Date: 2007-01-19 - Word Count: 613 Share This!

Clutches. We encounter them everyday when driving our cars. However, only a few of us know how clutches really work. And it's just important that if we know how to use them, we must also know how they function. So what is a clutch? A clutch is a device that couples the engine to the drive train. It is a mechanism for transmitting rotation which can be engaged and disengaged. A basic clutch is useful with two rotating shafts. One is usually driven by a motor while the other one is driving another device. The clutch helps in the functioning of these two by connecting them together so they can spin or be locked together.

So how does it work exactly? Your car's engine spins all the time while the wheels don't. When you try to put your car to a stop without killing the engine, you need to somehow "disconnect" the wheels from the engine. This is where the clutch comes in. The clutch enables the wheels to positively disengage from the engine. In a car, the clutch pedal is usually located at the left most part. The same principle as the brake system applies with the clutch system. If the clutch is engaged with too much pressure, the wheels will likely to spin but if the amount of pressure is control, smooth engagement between the engine and the wheels will occur.

Friction plays a huge role in the clutch system. Friction is the measure of how hard it is to slide one object over another. The amount of force that the clutch can hold depends on the friction between the flywheel and the clutch disc and how much force the springs puts on the pressure plate.

The clutch system is made up of different components parts functioning together. First is the pressure plate. This is the pressure mechanism that clamps the disc to the flywheel to get the vehicle moving. Pressing in the pedal relieves the pressure from the clutch disc to disengage the engine from the drive train for shifting or stopping. Second is the clutch disc. The clutch disc is a flat plate with friction materials on both sides. As the pressure plate is engaged (pedal let out), the clutch disc is clamped to the flywheel. When the pressure plate is disengaged, (pedal pushed in) the clutch disc is unclamped. Third is the Flywheel. It is an inertia device that is bolted to the engine crankshaft. It carries the ring gear the starter uses to crank the engine, stores energy to get the vehicle moving from a standing stop, and provides the friction surface for the clutch disc to be clamped to. Fourth is the release bearing. It is the actuating device that engages and disengages the pressure plate. Fifth is the release form. It holds the release bearing, and pivots on a ball stud as the pedal is pressed in or let out. Sixth is the pilot brushing. This installs in the end of the crankshaft. When the transmission is installed, the input shaft tip inserts into the pilot bushing, which supports the input in the back of the crankshaft.

The most common problem that occurs with clutches when they wear out. Just like the brake system, friction components of the clutch system wear out depending on the how often you use. If these friction materials wear out, it will start to slip and it will no longer be able to transmit power from the engine to the wheels.

So for maximum performance, it's just important for you to maintain your clutch parts by inspecting it every once in a while and replacing those that really need replacements. Performance should never be compromised.


Related Tags: engine, power, pressure, transmission, drivetrain, wheels, friction

30-year-old Brandon Heinrich is sales director at a start-up sports apparel company. He has a 1972 Corvette, which by now has undergone a lot of car mods. Far from buying a new modern-day car, he is looking for new development in the hot rod industry to soup up his baby. You can visit air intake for more information.

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