The clutch disc is a very important component in the operation of our car’s manual transmission and at Proautoenthusiast.com we will tell you everything you need to know about it.
In cars with manual transmission, which are fewer and fewer, the transmission is connected to the engine through a component known as a clutch, which is made up of a series of discs. Among all these discs, there is one called the clutch disc and at Proautoenthusiast.com we will tell you why it is so important and why you should pay attention to its behavior and condition.
1. Where is the clutch disc located?
The clutch disc will only be available on models with a manual transmission, as automatics use a torque converter. This clutch disc is located within the clutch composition, between the engine flywheel and the pressure plate.
Although it works in conjunction with all the other parts that make up the transmission clutch, the clutch or friction disc is the most important part as it is directly attached to the gearbox via a shaft. This disc is easy to recognize as it has visible springs inside and is very similar to a brake disc.
2. What materials are used in the clutch disc?
The clutch disc is made of wear-resistant materials, especially since generating friction is one of the main tasks of the clutch, so that gear changes can be made easily and comfortably. The main material is the one that makes up the disc that creates friction and organic materials such as woven metal fibers or fiberglass and polymeric resins are currently used.
Another material that is used is Kevlar. This material is stronger than woven metal fibers and therefore lasts longer. The clutch disc can also use segmented Kevlar, which helps dissipate heat and is ideal for high horsepower or sequential transmission equipped vehicles.
There is also the hybrid clutch disc that is a combination of organic material and carbon or ceramic material, one on each face of the disc and here it is sought that the face with the organic material softens the initial actuation process, while the material with carbon or ceramic contacts the flywheel and pressure plate quickly, being the first to act in situations of great demand.
Finally, there are the carbon- ceramic clutch discs and it is common to find them in vehicles with more than 500 horsepower and they erode the material of the flywheel and the pressure plate more quickly, so the changes enter more easily and quickly.
In addition to the material with which the clutch disc is made, there are also some springs in the central part that are responsible for absorbing and softening the impact of the power that is transmitted to the center and thus avoid engine vibrations.
3. How does the car clutch disc work?
The clutch disc works as a friction surface between the engine flywheel and the pressure plate, and is responsible for transmitting the torque to the gearbox input shaft thanks to the friction linings that allow compensating for the engine speed differential. engine and gearbox. The quality of these linings is essential and determines the useful life of the clutch disc.
On the other hand, the grooves that we see in the clutch disc also fulfill a function and that is to evacuate the dust that is generated in the wear of the linings, expelling them by the centrifugal force of the rotation against the surrounding casing of the gearbox. .
When the vehicle is running and the clutch pedal is not being pressed, the clutch disc rotates together with the flywheel, but when the pedal is depressed, the disc disengages and cuts off the power transmission, letting the wheels spin freely. As soon as we set the desired speed and release the pedal, the transmission returns to send power to the wheels.
4. What happens when the clutch disc is worn?
Like any mechanical component that works by friction in a car, over time they begin to wear out and stop working properly. In the case of the clutch disc , there is no specific mileage that can be established as to when it will start to fail, since this depends on the use of each person and the vices that we have, such as leaving our foot on the clutch pedal or not stepping on it. background when changing.
When the clutch disc is worn, it begins to slip as it does not make enough contact with the flywheel. These symptoms are more normal in high gears like fourth or fifth. When accelerating you will notice that the revolutions increase, but the speed does not increase when we press the clutch pedal.
Now you know, if you feel that the clutch disc slips or that the acceleration of your vehicle is not the necessary when putting the changes, you may need a clutch disc change. So you must be attentive, although it is not something that you should worry much about with a new car, because the clutch disc begins to fail until after approximately 200,000 kilometers.