Driving quality is very important to all motorists. To reach an excellent driving performance, focus is put not just on the engine and the brakes, but the clutch as well. Owner of vehicles with manual transmission realize the importance of taking good care of the clutch. Car makers today, much like Honda's luxury arm Acura, allocate significant amount of effort on the vehicle's clutch.
An important component of an Acura's clutch is the - a steel plate, covered with a frictional material placed between the flywheel and pressure plate. At the center of the disc is a hub, designed to fit over the spines of the transmission's input shaft. A typical Acura clutch disc controls the power flow between the engine and the transmission, along with the pressure plate and the flywheel. Clutch discs are made of asbestos, the same material used in brake shoes and pads to achieve friction.
When a clutch pedal is de-pressed, the throw-out bearing moves toward the flywheel. During this process, the bearing pushes the pressure plate's release fingers and moves them against the pressure plate spring force. This action diverts the pressure plate away from the clutch disc. As a result, power flow is interrupted.
Clutch discs are relatively durable compared with other automotive components. However, they are still prone to wear and tear. A common problem is a spend frictional material, which results to weak power transmission, and ultimately, poor driving performance. Other signs to to watch for are a clutch that engages and disengages close to the floorboard and/or transmission grind when shifting. When one experiences clutch chatter or jerking, a replacement is immediately needed.
