REDUCING WEAR FACTORS AND IMPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF PASSENGER CAR CLUTCHES DURING OPERATION

The clutch is one of the most important units of the passenger car transmission system because it provides controlled connection and disconnection between the engine and the gearbox. During vehicle starting, gear shifting, maneuvering in traffic, hill climbing, and low-speed operation, the clutch works under repeated frictional contact, variable torque, thermal loading, and mechanical vibration. As a result, the clutch disc lining, pressure plate, flywheel surface, release bearing, diaphragm spring, torsional damper, and actuation mechanism are exposed to wear and functional degradation. Premature clutch wear is one of the common causes of reduced vehicle reliability, poor acceleration, slipping, vibration, burning smell, difficult gear shifting, and increased maintenance cost. Therefore, the reduction of clutch wear and the improvement of clutch construction are important engineering tasks in the field of passenger car design and technical operation.