El clutch It's not just the pedal we step on to change gear. It is actually a vital part of our car that transmits the rotation of the engine to the gearbox. A mission that allows us to carry it out progressively thanks to the fact that it is carried out by friction. However, this makes it a wear part more of the vehicle, such as Brake Pad, discs, silent blocks to tires.
Actually the clutch is the first element from transmission that carries the power of the engine to the wheels. The engine rotates the dual-mass flywheel, the clutch engages with it to transmit that rotation to the gearbox. From this we pass to transmission shaft, if the engine is on a different axle than the drive wheels. Then you get to differential, which transmits this twist to the bearings, and these transfer the power to the wheels through the CV joint.
As you can see, it is a path made up of gears that begin to turn thanks to the clutch connection to engine. All this to move a vehicle that can also weigh several tons. So, as you can imagine, the forces that a clutch must withstand are very large and as soon as it wears out it begins to slip without being able to adequately transmit the by.
clutch functions
start the march
Until now we have told you that the clutch connects and disconnects the engine from the rest of the parts that make the car move, but why? The most immediate to understand is that there has to be a progressive transmission to start moving the car. When the engine is running, it always turns at a minimum revolution. For example: 800 revolutions per minute (rpm). However, the wheels are completely stopped, at 0 rpm. If the transmission of that turn were immediate, the car would give a sudden jerk that is very unpleasant for the occupants and very damaging to the transmission parts.
Hence the clutch controlled with a pedal that allows us to regulate the friction between the clutch disc and the dual-mass flywheel of the engine. If we step on it, it separates completely. If we release it little by little, it gets closer until it starts to rub and gradually transmits the turn. The more we release it, the more it tightens and the more rotation it transmits, until when we release it completely, it compresses with the necessary force to rotate at the same time. As they say in physics, engineering or mechanics: it turns in solidarity with it.
gear shift
The next function that the clutch has is to allow us to change gear. A process that if done without stepping on the clutch pedal, may be impossible or at least may become very damaging to the gearbox. By stepping on it, we decouple the gearbox from the motor, so that its gears move without the enormous pressure that the rotation of the motor causes to move them. This way you can remove the gear that was engaged and insert the next one without damaging anything.
With so many gear changes and starts from a standstill, the clutch wears out sooner or later. However, there are some driving techniques that serve to lengthen the life of the clutch a great deal. In the following video you can see how it is done:
Basic parts of a clutch
Clutch hub
As we have explained to you, the clutch is pressed against the dual-mass flywheel of the engine to receive its rotation. As well, the piece that oppresses it against him is the so-called mace. A function that he exercises, as long as we do not press the pedal.
clutch disc
The second key part is the clutch disc, which is the one that supports the friction against the dual-mass flywheel. Therefore, it is the part that wears out with use. Although in reality all the parts are usually changed and there is even a tendency to put in a kit that also includes the dual mass flywheel.
clutch bearing
The third element is the thrust collar, which is responsible for transmit the movement of our foot and therefore separate or join disk. Of course, there are many more elements that communicate the pedal movement to that pointsuch as the clutch hydraulics, but the collar is the last part that engages and disengages the disc.
These are the three basic parts of a clutch, although in reality it also has other components such as the command arrow, which is the axis on which it rotates, the candlestick, arrow catch, etc.
clutch types
Usually we can meet three types of main clutches that have their own characteristics. We have friction clutches, electromagnetic clutches and hydraulic clutches.
friction clutch
The friction clutch is the most common in vehicles that we can meet on the street. Its operation corresponds to what we have described in this article. That is, a clutch and a flywheel, which can be joined to form a solidary axis. However, it doesn't have to work with a dry single disc. can also be two-disk o multi-disc dry or wet. More sophisticated systems that are often used, for example, with automatic gearboxes de double clutch.
Hydraulics
There are also hydraulic or oil-bathed clutches. The union of the two main parts of the clutch is made by means of oil. The most common use of this type can be seen in vehicles equipped with automatic gearbox by torque converter and in industrial vehicles.
electromagnetic
Finally, there are the electromagnetic clutches, which are the least used and are based on the action of electromagnetic fields. Rarely will we find a vehicle equipped with this type of clutch.
Picture 4 – Matthew P
7 months ago they changed my clutch because the gears were slipping. A few days ago the clutch started getting stuck, I took it to the same workshop and they tell me that it's the tires that are worn out, they change them, they charge me €211,75 and it turns out that it keeps getting stuck.
good morning: I have a ford mondeo gasoline, when starting the first one it does not enter it seems that it has a stop that does not let it pass, when accelerating it already passes but the speed enters hard, change the valve and the liquid level is fine. The clutch looks fine, thanks.
I HAVE A HIUNDA VEHICLE YEAR 1995 IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION A MONTH AGO IT STARTED TO LOSE STRENGTH ON SLOPES, ON FLAT OR STRAIGHT, THERE IS NO PROBLEM ONLY ON SLOPES THE VEHICLE IS CARBURETOR-OPERATED.
in the hydraulic clutch there is a direct mechanical link between the clutch pedal and the clutch ??????
A very well explained topic. You can understand very well, thank you.