04/18/07

This is the old clutch and pressure plate I pulled off of my car.  These were replaced at 85,000 miles because the clutch slippage was terrible under high loads.  BUT, the reason the clutch was slipping was not because the clutch disk was worn out.  The disk itself actually looked to have a great deal of material left on it.  The failure was caused by the fact that the OEM pressure plate load is only 1100lbs.  That is really not much at all, and it causes the torque holding capacity of the OEM clutch to be only slightly above what the stock engine puts out.  My engine, not being stock anymore, was out powering the OEM clutch.  I drove it for about 20,000 miles while it was slipping under wide open throttle and quick shifts.  The result was this...

Notice anything odd here?

Look closer...

Those spots are caused by the clutch and pressure plate overheating.  The excessive heat is caused by the clutch slipping... a lot. Its kind of like rubbing your hands together really really quickly; eventually they get really hot and "overheat."

Notice how the clutch friction material has a glazed over look.

That is basically because the material was melted at one (or more) points in time, and took on a smooth surface.  That is why the slippage got worse and worse over time...

Fun, eh?