glueguy
glueguy GRM+ Memberand New Reader
12/24/08 8:20 a.m.

Why are pressure plates designed the way they are? Why fingers instead of something different? Nothing hidden in the question, I was just looking at a pressure plate and the construction is sufficiently "unusual" that it got me to thinking.

Ron

Wally
Wally GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/24/08 9:41 a.m.

Toes would be too short

Jensenman
Jensenman SuperDork
12/24/08 10:16 a.m.
Wally wrote: Toes would be too short

:rolleyes:

You'd have to take one apart to see this, but the 'fingers' pull the iron pressure plate back against spring pressure when the release bearing pushes the fingers. The diaphragm pressure plate has the fingers and the spring made into one part that looks a lot like a Belleville washer. It's the black line in this picture.

Here's an exploded view.

Lots of motorcycle wet clutches use a direct acting pressure plate that doesn't have fingers. I suppose that type system could be adapted to automotive use, but I don't see any real benefit.

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