Caring for your car’s clutch
Have you ever wondered what exactly happens when you step on the clutch pedal? Without the clutch, you would not be able to disconnect power from the engine or change gear! So how does it all work? A clutch is used to connect two moving shafts moving at different speeds. This allows us to disconnect the engine power without stopping the car or being able to start smoothly allowing the engine power to be transmitted to the road gradually.
What is the clutch made of? There are several main components that start with the flywheel that is connected to the engine, followed by the clutch plate that is connected to the transmission. Next is the pressure plate that maintains friction between the clutch plate and the flywheel. This part of the clutch requires an incredible amount of force and pressure. Next are the studs and diaphragm spring. As the center of the diaphragm spring is pushed, a series of pins near the outside of the spring pulls the pressure plate away from the clutch disc. This releases the clutch on the spinning motor. The next component is the release bearing, which is also known as the “clutch bearing”. Helps smooth transition and noise reduction. Next you have the clutch housing and release fork. The job of the release fork is to apply force on the pressure plate causing the fingers on the pressure plate to release. The bell contains all the components of the clutch. The final part of the puzzle is the gearbox.
How can you take care of your clutch? Don’t drive your clutch. We are all guilty of sitting in traffic jams or waiting for the lights to change, keeping the car firmly on the clutch instead of the brakes. This can take years of clutch life! Intense heat builds up inside the clutch and this can cause the clutch to burn out. Simply keeping the car on the foot brake or handbrake will dramatically reduce clutch wear. When you have fully released the clutch, take your foot off the pedal, as having the clutch slightly depressed will also increase clutch wear.
What are the signs of clutch wear? A slipping clutch can mean that a new clutch is required. An easy way to see if the clutch is slipping is to find a reasonable incline or incline. Bring your vehicle to a reasonable speed around 30-45 should be fine, then select a high fourth or fifth gear and push the gas pedal to the ground (if it’s safe and legal to do so). If the vehicle’s rev counter increases suddenly without the same sign of acceleration, this may be a sign of clutch wear. Some vehicles have the ability to adjust the clutch cable, which can extend the life of the clutch.
Another sign of clutch wear is clutch vibration. You would feel this feedback through the clutch pedal. If you feel a vibration or a bump during gear change, this may be an indication. This is generally felt at slower speeds or when changing gears in the lower gears. The usual cause of this is that the clutch disc has moved slightly and has become misaligned. This can also happen if the clutch disc or other parts have been renewed and are not aligned properly. The worst outcome of this would be that the flywheel has been damaged, and if this is the case, specialist advice will be required as the flywheel would generally mean that the clutch assembly would also need to be changed.
Another sign of clutch wear is unusual noises. Most of the noises in older cars are to be expected; I would expect to hear some creaks and groans and groans after a few years. A bit like the wife (just kidding) !! One noise that would be cause for concern would be if the moan also had a crackle inside. If you hear this kind of sound, it is definitely worth getting your car repaired asap. This could be a sign that the clutch bearing is starting to wear out. This component should be replaced as soon as possible. If left, it would cause more damage and cost a lot more money to rectify.
What else does a clutch have? Well, some people with automatic cars might be surprised to find that automatic cars also have clutches and some even have two. Many power tools are also equipped with clutches. Drills are often equipped with clutches so that the user can disengage the transmission faster. This allows the user to have much more control of the equipment. As you can imagine, the safety benefits make the clutch a must. The strangest thing I have come across that requires a clutch is a Yo Yo!