Clutch: Description and Operation

NOTE: The principal parts of the clutch system are the driving members, the driven member, and the hydraulic system. The clutch housing is part of the manual transaxle assembly.

Driving Members
The driving members consist of two flat surfaces machined to a smooth finish. One of these is the rear face of the engine flywheel, and the other is the front face of the clutch cover assembly.

Driven Members
The driven member is the clutch disc. The clutch disc is splined to the input shaft. The clutch disc slides on the splines to provide clutch disengagement and engagement.

The clutch disc is held in contact between the flywheel and the clutch cover assembly by the pressure of a diaphragm spring in the clutch cover assembly.

Hydraulic System
The clutch release system consists of a clutch master cylinder, remote reservoir, tubing and an clutch actuator cylinder assembly. The clutch master cylinder is mounted to the front of the dash and is controlled by a pushrod connected to the clutch pedal. The clutch actuator cylinder assembly is mounted inside the clutch housing. Tubing connects the clutch master cylinder to the clutch actuator cylinder assembly.





The clutch hydraulic system is serviced as two components, the clutch master cylinder assembly (including remote reservoir) and the clutch actuator cylinder assembly (including release bearing).

Depressing the clutch pedal moves a piston inside the clutch master cylinder and displaces hydraulic clutch fluid to the clutch actuator cylinder. A Hydraulic force is developed from the release bearing pressing on the diaphragm spring. The force of the diaphragm spring on the clutch disc decreases as the force of the release bearing on the diaphragm spring increases until the clutch is disengaged. The hydraulic clutch system does not require adjustment.

Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
When adding fluid to or refilling the system after service, use Hydraulic Clutch Fluid GM P/N 12345347 or equivalent.

NOTICE: Do not use mineral or paraffin base oil in the clutch hydraulic system. These fluids will damage the rubber parts in the cylinders.