It doesn’t matter which clutch friction plate you look at or consider. Each one will have grooves, which can look cool and exciting. However, for most people, the look and style aren’t enough. They want to know what they do and why they’re there.
What They Do
Primarily, the grooves in the material act like tiny oil pumps, moving oil efficiently through the clutch to ensure that the components remain cool and lubricated. What this means for the average driver is the clutches have a longer lifespan after being rebuilt, but also better performance. That means that the friction plate remains cooler, which can reduce frictions that occur while driving. Everyone knows that these plates can wear out quickly, especially if you drive fast and hard (racing). They’re designed to reduce burnout and improve endurance and longevity.
What Other Parts?
Clutches in vehicles are composed of the friction and clutch plates (attached to the transmission) and the flywheel (which connects to your engine). When you take your foot off of the pedal, the springs will push the pressure plates against the clutch’s disc, which presses the disc against the flywheel. The engine is now locked to the transmission shaft, which forces them to spin simultaneously.
They are a unique piece of machinery that requires precision work because the amount of power that clutches hold depends on the friction between the plate and flywheel, as well as the force of the spring on the pressure plates. It is similar to how brakes work, though the parts are different.
How It Engages/Releases
When you press the pedal, cables or hydraulic pistons push on the release fork to release the throw-out bearing and press it into the middle of the spring’s diaphragm. As this is pushed in, many pins will force the spring to pull the pressure plates away from the disk, which releases the clutch from the engine.
