If you drive a car with a manual transmission, you already know you have a clutch. But what exactly is it, and what does it do? At Mark's Super Service Center in North Charleston, we believe that knowing a little more about your car better prepares you to keep it maintained. Here’s what you should know about your clutch disc.
When people refer to “the clutch”, what they typically mean is every part of the clutch system; the hydraulics, bearings, clutch disk, pressure plate, and so on. The entire system revolves around one part, the clutch disc, and is designed simply to engage or disengage it.
The clutch disc is a thin, round disk covered in friction material. When sandwiched tightly between the flywheel and the flexplate, the clutch is engaged, meaning the engine is transferring power to the transmission. When the clutch is disengaged, the clutch disc is not pressed against the engine, and therefore the transmission doesn’t turn. All the power that flows from your engine to your transmission is facilitated by the clutch disc, making it a part that is both essential and extremely hard working.
When a clutch disc begins to fail, there are a few symptoms that can arise. The clutch might slip if all the friction material has worn off, meaning under load or acceleration you’ll feel power surges as if you were riding the clutch pedal while driving. If a spring breaks or the clutch becomes warped, you might feel the vibration or hear noises coming from the transmission while the car is running. If a disc breaks apart, you may lose shifting ability altogether.
If your clutch is exhibiting symptoms of failure, have it replaced sooner rather than later. A bad clutch disc will damage other transmission components, and eventually leave you stranded altogether. To have your clutch inspected or replaced, and for all your other transmission repair and maintenance needs, our professional technicians have you covered. For the best transmission service shop in North Charleston, call or stop by Mark's Super Service Center today.
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