The clutch is a device used to disengage the vehicle's engine from the transmission to the drive wheels. This is necessary on manual cars when the driver wants to come to a complete halt or to change gear.
The clutch mechanism ususally sits next to the flywheel in a housing which shields it from any detritus thrown up from the road. A number of powerful springs hold friction plates together. The they rotate with the engine and flywheel and connect to the gearbox.
When the clutch pedal is depressed by the driver a linkage, either mechanical but more often hydraulic, transfers the motion. In the latter case a slave cylinder on the clutch housing moves a lever which presses on a thrust plate, which in turn depresses the clutch springs allowing the clutch plates to part. The engine keeps on turning but the link to the drive train is broken.
The clutch mechanism ususally sits next to the flywheel in a housing which shields it from any detritus thrown up from the road. A number of powerful springs hold friction plates together. The they rotate with the engine and flywheel and connect to the gearbox.
When the clutch pedal is depressed by the driver a linkage, either mechanical but more often hydraulic, transfers the motion. In the latter case a slave cylinder on the clutch housing moves a lever which presses on a thrust plate, which in turn depresses the clutch springs allowing the clutch plates to part. The engine keeps on turning but the link to the drive train is broken.
