Clutch

A clutch is a device that engages and disengages transmission from the engine. In manual transmissions, the clutch is activated by the driver through the clutch pedal. The clutch has many components including the clutch pedal, clutch pressure plate, clutch disk, and throw-out bearing. The clutch pedal is the driver control component of the clutch. The clutch pressure plate holds the clutch disk against the engine flywheel. When the driver presses the clutch pedal, the pressure plate pulls away from the the clutch disk, and is applied when the pedal is released. The clutch disk connects the engine and the transmission. The throw-out bearing is connected to the clutch pedal and activates the release levers of the pressure plate. In automatic transmissions, the operations of the clutch are done by the torque converter.