THE CLUTCH: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A CLUTCH?
If you drive a vehicle with a manual transmission system, you likely understand just how important this system is. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to shift gears and control the RPMs of your car’s engine. But although many vehicle owners understand the clutch’s importance, they may not get why it’s so important or how it even works. At Trans Masters Auto Care and Performance, we believe that for you to truly protect your vehicle, you need to know how the systems and components within it work. With that said, here’s what you need to know about the clutch and how you can protect it to ensure your car continues to perform at its best.
CLUTCH 101: THE BASICS
So, how exactly does a clutch work? In the simplest of terms, the clutch helps connect two rotating shafts — one connected to the engine and the other the transmission — to help transfer the appropriate amount of power to the wheels. The engine is always spinning, whereas the wheels aren’t. For the driver to properly stop, they need to be able to disconnect the wheels from the engine, otherwise, they’ll need to shut the whole car off for it to stop. The clutch helps maintain the balance between the non-spinning transmission and the spinning engine, as it controls the slippage between the them. This allows you to control what gear you’re in and when you can slow down and stop.
PROTECTING YOUR CLUTCH
How exactly can you protect the clutch? The best thing you can do is to avoid riding the clutch. Why? When you ride the clutch, you’re placing additional pressure on the clutch plate via the pressure plate. But since the clutch plate isn’t completely engaged, it creates more friction and actually wears the clutch out faster. The more you avoid doing this, the longer your clutch will last, so make sure to keep this in mind during your next drive.
VIST OUR SHOP
If your vehicle’s clutch requires repairs, have it serviced by professionals who are familiar with the component and schedule a visit with Trans Masters Auto Care and Performance. Our facility in Escondido, California, is home to some of the top transmission experts in the area. Using their knowledge and skill, they’ll be able to fix any problem your clutch might have and ensure you always have full control of your vehicle and its transmission system.