Performance Clutch

High performance clutches for auto enthusiasts

If you drive a manual transmission vehicle, you should be quite familiar with the clutch. If you don't, you might want to know that a car's transmission is attached to the engine by the clutch. For a car to stop without turning off the engine, the wheels need to be disconnected from the engine - this is where the clutch comes in. The clutch allows the car to engage a spinning engine with a non-spinning transmission by controlling the slippage between them. Basically, in a manual vehicle it allows you to stop or change gears without killing the engine.

Parts of the clutch

The two main parts of the clutch are the flywheel and clutch plate. The flywheel connects to the engine, and the clutch plate attaches to the transmission. When your foot is off the pedal, the springs push the pressure plate against the clutch disc, which then pushes into the flywheel. When this occurs, the engine is locked into the transmission making them spin at the same speed. When you press down on the clutch pedal, a hydraulic piston or cable pushes the release fork, which releases the clutch from the engine.

The price for a performance clutch starts anywhere from around $400 and up. A standard clutch kit typically comes with the following:

• Pressure plate
• Clutch disc
• Throw-out bearing
• Pilot bearing
• Alignment tool.
• The flywheel - which can either be purchased along with the clutch or separately, and which will cost an additional $400 or more.

Performance improvement

Contact between the clutch plate and flywheel requires a lot of grip and a fast response - power can be lost if the clutch slips. A clutch slip occurs when the clutch loses its grip with the flywheel and the power is not transferred to the wheels.

Thus, performance clutches have high-friction surfaces, often with two or three contact plates. They are made for aggressive drivers who want better performance out of their manual transmission. Some of the performance improvements include:

• Provides quicker gear change for faster acceleration.
• Better friction at the pressure plate for improved gear shifting and a reduction of clutch slips.
• Clutch pedal is made of a lighter material for decreased mass.
• Clutch pedal has a higher 'spring back' force so you can change gears faster - however, it will also require more leg muscle to push in the clutch because of the higher force.

Most clutches are sold with a power rating. If the power rating of the clutch is lower than your engine's output, you will experience clutch slip. Installation can be tricky, so unless you have experience with clutch assembly / disassembly, have a professional mechanic install the new clutch in your vehicle. And just remember, a performance clutch is not a racing clutch! So be responsible with your new clutch or you'll risk doing damage to your vehicle or yourself.

It used to be we could depend on the reputation and reliability of North American cars to meet our standards - but could it be the times are changing? Here in the U.S., overseas models are continuing to rise in popularity. Find out why!

If you love your car, you’ve got treat it right – stock will never do for your hot wheels! Whether it’s for performance or just for the look, aftermarket parts can turn that car you just brought home into your own pimp ride.