Clutch
1 - flywheel; 2 - clutch disc; 3 - pressure plate; 4 - bolts; 5 - thrust bearing; 6 - clutch release fork; 7 - hairpin with a ball tip; 8 - protective cover
The clutch is designed for short-term separation of the engine and gearbox when shifting gears and braking and their smooth connection when starting the car from a stop, as well as to protect transmission parts from dynamic loads.
The torque from the gearbox to the wheels is transmitted through the drive shafts, which consist of two constant velocity joints and a shaft.
The clutch consists of a clutch disc, a clutch drive part with a pressure plate and a clutch release mechanism.
The clutch disc is installed between the flywheel and the clutch pressure plate and moves along the splines of the gearbox input shaft.
The clutch master assembly is bolted to the flywheel. Torque during engine operation is transmitted from the crankshaft through the flywheel and clutch disc, which is sandwiched between the flywheel and pressure plate to the gearbox input shaft.
To disconnect the engine from the gearbox, it is necessary to move the pressure plate away from the clutch disc. This is achieved using a hydraulic drive, which consists of a master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder and hoses. Depressing the clutch pedal moves the piston in the master cylinder and compresses the fluid, which is transferred through the hose to the slave cylinder. Under pressure, the piston of the working cylinder moves and actuates the clutch release fork. The release fork moves the thrust bearing, which acts on the pressure plate spring and moves the pressure plate away from the clutch plate.