2 Clutches?
#3
Double clutch plates are fairly common in the US and also on some commercial vehicles.
Basically, heavy vehicles or very powerful ones need a larger clutch surface area in order not to slip and burn out prematurely. This can be done by increasing the diameter of the clutch but then the assembly gets bigger and there are associated potential engineering problems related to a larger diameter spinning mass.
It's easier to use two (sometimes more) smaller clutch assemblies in series. It can also be cheaper as the two assemblies may have many parts common to a single clutch assembly already in use on smaller/lower-powered vehicles by the same vehicle manufacturer.
Naturally, the two clutches work together from the same pedal as if they are a single unit. Labour rates to replace them should not normally be much higher, but clearly there are more parts required so the bill will be higher, typically 30-50% more overall than for a single clutch vehicle.
Basically, heavy vehicles or very powerful ones need a larger clutch surface area in order not to slip and burn out prematurely. This can be done by increasing the diameter of the clutch but then the assembly gets bigger and there are associated potential engineering problems related to a larger diameter spinning mass.
It's easier to use two (sometimes more) smaller clutch assemblies in series. It can also be cheaper as the two assemblies may have many parts common to a single clutch assembly already in use on smaller/lower-powered vehicles by the same vehicle manufacturer.
Naturally, the two clutches work together from the same pedal as if they are a single unit. Labour rates to replace them should not normally be much higher, but clearly there are more parts required so the bill will be higher, typically 30-50% more overall than for a single clutch vehicle.
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crazyae
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12-21-2006 07:10 PM
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