Characteristic | Meaning |
| Friction lining thickness (new disk): |
|
| Engine E7J | 8.5 mm |
Tightening torques, Nm
Characteristic | Meaning |
| Clutch basket bolts: |
|
| Diameter 7 mm | 18 |
General description
The clutch consists of a friction disc, pressure plate assembly, release bearing, and release lever. All of these components are housed in a large aluminum alloy clutch housing sandwiched between the engine and transmission. The release mechanism is cable-operated.
The friction disc is installed between the engine flywheel and the clutch pressure plate and can slide freely on the grooves of the transmission input shaft.
[Original article is on the portal renaultbook]
The pressure plate assembly is bolted to the flywheel. When the engine is running, drive from the crankshaft is transmitted through the flywheel to the friction plate (these components are securely pressed together by the pressure plate assembly) and further, from the friction disc to the transmission input shaft.
To interrupt the transmission of torque, it is necessary to remove the pressure of the pressure spring from the friction disk. Pressing the clutch pedal pulls the drive cable, which turns the clutch release fork. The fork presses the pressure bearing against the sectors of the diaphragm spring. Due to this, the peripheral part of the spring moves away from the friction disk, thus removing the pressure from it and disengaging the clutch.
When the pedal is released, the diaphragm spring moves the pressure plate back and the friction disc is pressed against the flywheel, resuming transmission of rotation from the engine to the transmission.
The increase in clearance caused by wear of the friction disc linings is automatically compensated by an adjuster attached to the clutch pedal. The automatic adjuster consists of a toothed segment, a pawl and a spring. One end of the clutch cable is attached to the toothed segment, which rotates freely on the pedal, but is held in tension by a spring. When the pedal is depressed, the pawl comes into contact with the toothed segment, locking it and allowing the clutch to be operated. As soon as the pedal is released, the spring causes the toothed segment to move away from the pawl and rotate slightly, thus compensating for the play in the cable.
Some later models may be equipped with an automatic clutch that is engaged by pressing the gearshift lever. At the time of writing, no data was available from manufacturers regarding this type of clutch.