The clutch pressure plate is bolted to the flywheel, which in turn is connected to the engine crankshaft. Between the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel is the driven clutch plate, which is pressed against the flywheel by the pressure plate. The driven plate is centered and mounted on the splines of the primary (input) shaft of the gearbox.
When the clutch pedal is pressed, the release bearing presses the pressure plate spring via the hydraulic drive. The pressure of the pressure plate decreases and the driven disk is no longer pressed against the flywheel. The transmission of force from the engine to the gearbox is stopped.
All clutch models have a hydraulic drive. The hydraulic drive uses brake fluid supplied from a common reservoir with the brake hydraulic drive.
Each time the clutch is engaged and disengaged, friction removes some of the working material from the driven disk linings. The driven disk is a wearing part, but its service life on average exceeds 100 thousand km. Disk wear depends heavily on the load (towing a trailer) and driving style. The clutch does not require maintenance and is self-adjusting.
1. Engine flywheel; 2. Clutch driven disc; 3. Clutch pressure plate; 4. Bolt (6 pcs.), tightening torque 30 Nm.