Historically, high performance clutches
have been a compromise.
While improving holding or clamping pressure, manufacturers nearly
always increase pedal pressure to an uncomfortable point, especially
for stop-and-go traffic.
Besides drivebility concerns, additional
pedal pressure can
adversely affect stock clutch linkage and cause premature thrust
bearing wear, leading to missed shifts, damaged clutch components and
even engine destruction.
Today, thanks to Clutch Masters,
increased holding pressure does not
necessarily mean increased pedal pressure and the problems that can
accompany it. By re-engineering the leverage or fulcrum point on the
pressure plate through their Hi-Leveragetm ttechnique, Clutch
Masters has
increased clamping power, often without changing pedal pressure.
Excessively increased pedal pressure, as
found in many of todays
traditional high performance clutches, places an unsafe amount of
pressure on the delicate crankshaft thrust bearing found in most of
todays sport compact automobiles. Placing undue stress on the thrust
bearing typically causes the bearing to wear prematurely or fail
altogether. This failure can lead to catastrophic internal engine
damage.
A clutch, simply put, is a friction
device that disengages and
engages the engine from the transmission to allow for transition from
motionless to movement and for gear changes. For street applications a
smooth transition of power is essential while still being able to
transfer all the power of the engine to the transmission. As power
output of engines increase and demands on clutches become greater - for
example high performance street or racing cars - the holding and
clamping capacity of a clutch also must increase. This is where Clutch
Masters innovative engineering comes into play. |
