A Guide to Understanding Car Clutch Systems

The clutch system in your car is one of the most complicated parts to understand. The clutch system is made up of many different components, and without them working in unison, you would not be able to shift gears or stop the car by pressing the brake pedal.

The clutch system consists of the clutch itself, the release mechanism (your finger), the transmission gear selector mechanism, the engagement mechanism (the flywheel) and the hydraulic system that operates the braking system.

This last part is what we will be focusing on today; how the hydraulic system works, what components make up the system and how to diagnose problems with this system. The clutch system is responsible for engaging and disengaging the drive train of your vehicle. When you are driving and want to stop, or when you are stopped and want to drive, the clutch pedal (or stick) is pressed which allows the transmission to be connected or disconnected from the engine.

What’s a Car Clutch?

The clutch itself is a small piece at the bottom of your transmission that contains two plates separated by a series of friction pads. When the engine is running, a large amount of torque (or power) is transferred through these friction pads which in turn causes the clutch to engage and connect the transmission to the engine. Your car has two different types of clutches: hydraulic and mechanical. Hydraulic clutches operate with the aid of fluids and are found on most modern cars today. Mechanical clutches however are still used in some older vehicles due mostly to their simplicity and cost.

The purpose of this article is to help you understand the components that make up your clutch system and how to diagnose problems with it. We will be focusing on hydraulic clutches in this article, but most of the information can also apply to mechanical clutches as well.

Diagnosing Clutch Problems

When diagnosing a problem with your car clutch system, there are three main areas to look at: The fluid itself (the clutch fluid), the mechanical parts and the electrical components. If one of these areas is not working correctly, then your car may have trouble shifting gears and you may feel excessive pressure when pressing the clutch pedal.

Let’s start by looking at how hydraulic clutches work. Hydraulic clutches use fluid to operate and shift gears in your car. Fluid is a substance that moves freely, allowing it to flow from one place to another easily. When you press your clutch pedal, two things happen: The first thing is that there is less fluid in the transmission which allows for easier movement of the gear selector mechanism. Second, the clutch itself engages which causes the engine power to be transferred through the transmission and wheels.

When you release your clutch pedal, these two actions are reversed. The fluid that was being used to engage the gears now needs to flow back into the transmission where it is needed. This is why when you let off of the pedal, there is a slight delay in stopping. The second thing that happens is that the clutch disengages and stops the engine from powering the vehicle. If all of this sounds confusing to you, don’t worry. It’s actually quite simple and can be easily demonstrated.

How Clutches Work

Now let’s look at how this system works on a real car. The first component is the clutch fluid itself. The clutch system uses a special type of transmission fluid called “hydraulic fluid”. This fluid is used because it can withstand high amounts of pressure and also has very low friction which allows for smooth shifting.

The clutch itself is made up of two plates separated by friction pads. These friction pads help to grip onto the engine power when engaged, allowing you to drive or stop your car without any trouble. The clutch pedal itself works as an engagement mechanism. When pressed down, it causes the clutch to engage which allows for smooth shifting. When released, it disengages and stops engine power from being transferred through the transmission.

The second component is the hydraulic system itself. This complex system uses a series of tubes and valves that are connected to each other in order for the fluid to flow freely throughout the entire system. The basic layout of this system is shown above in figure 1 (Hydraulic System). Figure 1: Hydraulic System

When you press your clutch pedal, the system is activated and fluid flows through it. The first valve in this system (valve 1) opens up which allows the pressure to build inside the transmission itself. Once enough pressure has built, then this pressure will push against a second valve (valve 2) which pushes it closed again. This cycle continues until you release your pedal at which point the process repeats itself.