General description of clutch

On manual transmission vehicles, the clutch separates the source of torque, the engine and transmission. When starting off, the clutch smoothly transfers torque from the engine to the transmission. The clutch disc has asbestos-free friction linings. The diameter of the clutch and the pressing force of the driven disk depend on the engine power.



Mercedes Sprinter clutch (pic. 175) consists of the following parts: clutch drive (clutch pedal, master cylinder, hose, slave cylinder, release fork, clutch release bearing) and clutch parts (pressure and driven disks, flywheel), located in the gearbox housing.

The clutch works as follows: when you press the clutch pedal, a hydraulic actuator is activated, transmitting pressure to the working cylinder and from it to the clutch release fork. A clutch release bearing is fixed on it, which, acting on the ends of the petals of the diaphragm spring, «unloads» her by disengaging the clutch. At the same time, the driven disk begins to rotate freely between the flywheel and the pressure disk. When the clutch pedal is released, the spring again acts on the pressure plate, clamping the driven one - the clutch is engaged.