Page 329 of 667

33CLUTCH
6
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION DESCRIPTION
General
The clutch system is a diaphragm type clutch operated by a hydraulic cylinder. The drive plate is of the rigid centre
type with no integral damping springs. The flywheel is of the dual mass type with damping springs integral with the
flywheel. The clutch requires no adjustment to compensate for wear.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch comprises a master cylinder, slave cylinder and a hydraulic reservoir. The master and slave
cylinders are connected to each other hydraulically by plastic and metal pipes. The plastic section of the pipe
allows ease of pipe routing and also absorbs engine movements and vibrations.
The master cylinder comprises a body with a central bore. Two ports in the body connect the bore to the hydraulic
feed pipe to the slave cylinder and the fluid reservoir. The bore is also connected to a damper which prevents
engine pulses being transferred hydraulically to the clutch pedal. A piston is fitted in the bore and has an external
rod which is attached to the clutch pedal with a pin. Two coil springs on the clutch pedal reduce the effort required
to depress the pedal.
The master cylinder is mounted on the bulkhead and secured with two bolts. The cylinder is connected to the
shared brake/clutch reservoir on the brake servo by a braided connecting hose.
The slave cylinder is located on the left hand side of the gearbox housing and secured with two bolts. A heat
shield is fitted to protect the underside of the slave cylinder from heat generated from the exhaust system. The
slave cylinder comprises a cylinder with a piston and a rod. A port in the cylinder body provides the attachment for
the hydraulic feed pipe from the master cylinder. A second port is fitted witha bleed nipple used for removing air
from the hydraulic system after servicing. The piston rod locates on a clutch release lever located in the gearbox
housing. The rod is positively retained on the release lever with a clip.
Clutch Mechanism
The clutch mechanism comprises a flywheel, drive plate, pressure plate, release lever and a release bearing. The
clutch mechanism is fully enclosed at the rear of the engine by the gearbox housing.
A clutch release bearing sleeve is attached in the gearbox housing with two bolts and located on two dowels. A
spigot with a ball end is formed on the release bearing sleeve and provides a mounting and pivot point for the
clutch release lever. A dished pivot washer is located on the ball of the spigot. When the release lever is located
on the ball, the pivot washer seats against the rear face of the release lever. A spring clip is located on the lever
and the pivot washer and secures the lever on the spigot. A small bolt retains the spring clip in position.
The release lever is forked at its inner end and locates on the clutch release bearing carrier. The outer end of the
release lever has a nylon seat which locates the slave cylinder piston rod. A second nylon seat, positioned
centrally on the release lever, locates on the ball spigot of the release bearing sleeve and allows the release lever
to pivot freely around the ball.
The clutch release bearing locates on the clutch release lever and release bearing sleeve. The bearing is retained
on a carrier which has two flats to prevent the carrier rotating on the release lever. A clip retains the release lever
on the carrier. The bearing and carrier are not serviceable individually.
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Page 330 of 667
CLUTCH
7
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Dual Mass Flywheel
1.Ring gear
2.Primary flywheel
3.Inner drive plate
4.Spring housing
5.Secondary flywheel
6.Rivet
7.Ball bearing8.Dowel location hole
9.Mounting hole
10.Inner spring
11.Outer spring
12.Crankshaft position sensing holes
13.Pressure plate locating dowel
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Page 331 of 667

33CLUTCH
8
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION The dual mass flywheel is bolted on the rear of the crankshaft with eight bolts. A dowel on the crankshaft flange
ensures that the flywheel is correctly located. A ring gear is fitted on the outer diameter of the flywheel. The ring
gear is not serviceable. Thirty blind holes are drilled in the outer diameter of the flywheel adjacent to the ring gear.
The holes are positioned at 10°intervals with four 20°spaces. The holes are used by the crankshaft position
sensor for engine management.
The dual mass flywheel is used to insulate the gearbox from torsional and transient vibrations produced by the
engine. The flywheel comprises primary and secondary flywheels with the drive between the two transferred by a
torsional damper which comprises four coil springs. The springs are located in the inside diameter of the primary
flywheel. Two of the springs are of smaller diameter and fit inside the larger diameter springs.
The primary flywheel locates the ring gear and is attached to the crankshaft flange with eight bolts. The two pairs
of coil springs are located in a recess in the flywheel between two riveted retainers. A roller bearing is pressed
onto the central boss of the primary flywheel and retained with a riveted plate. The bearing provides the mounting
for the secondary flywheel.
The secondary flywheel comprises two parts; an outer flywheel which provides the friction surface for the clutch
drive plate and an inner drive plate which transfers the drive from the primary flywheel, via the coil springs, to the
outer flywheel. The two components of the secondary flywheel are secured to each other with rivets. The inner
drive plate is located between the two pairs of coil springs and can rotate on the ball bearing in either direction
against the combined compression force of the four coil springs. Under high torque loading conditions the
secondary flywheel can rotate in either direction up to 70°in relation to the primary flywheel.
The operating face of the secondary flywheel is machined to provide a smooth surface for the drive plate to
engage on. Three dowels and six studs and nuts provide for the location and attachment of the pressure plate.
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Page 332 of 667
CLUTCH
9
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Pressure plate
1.Leaf spring
2.Drive plate
3.Pressure plate4.Cover
5.Diaphragm
6.Rivet
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Page 333 of 667

33CLUTCH
10
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION The pressure plate assembly comprises a pressure plate, cover and diaphragm and is mounted on and rotates
with the dual mass flywheel.
The pressure plate is forged from cast iron and machined to provide a smooth surface for the drive plate to
engage on. Three lugs on the outer diameter of the pressure plate connect it via three leaf spring to the cover. The
leaf springs have three tempered steel leaves which assist in pulling the pressure plate away from the drive plate
when the clutch pedal is depressed.
The cover is made from pressed steel and houses all pressure plate components. Shouldered rivets support the
diaphragm inside the cover. The rivets heads are chamfered to allow the diaphragm to pivot when pressure is
applied to it by the release bearing. Three holes in the cover locate on the dowels on the flywheel and six further
holes provide for the attachment of the cover to the flywheel with six nuts. Larger holes in the cover provide
ventilation for the drive plate and pressure plate and flywheel contact surfaces.
The diaphragm comprises a cast ring with eighteen fingers. The diaphragm is attached to the cover with nine
shouldered rivets. The inner head of each rivet is chamfered to allow the diaphragm to pivot when the clutch is
depressed or released. When pressure is applied to the fingers of the diaphragm by the release bearing, the
diaphragm pivots on the rivets and moves away from the pressure plate, releasing the force applied to the
pressure plate and allowing the drive plate to slip between the pressure plate and the flywheel.
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Page 334 of 667
CLUTCH
11
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Drive plate
1.Friction material
2.Inner plate3.Hub
4.Spring steel plate
The drive plate is of the rigid centre type and is sandwiched between the flywheel and the pressure plate. The
drive plate has a splined hub which engages with the splines on the primary drive shaft from the gearbox. The hub
is attached to an inner plate which is pressed onto the hub. A spring steel plate is riveted to the inner plate with
eight rivets and provides the attachment surface for the drive plate friction material. The spring steel plate allows
some axial compliance and contributes to smooth clutch operation. The friction material comprises two 267 mm
(10.5 in.) discs which are secured with rivets to each side of the spring steel plate. The rivets are installed through
recessed holes in the disc and emerge in recessed holes in the opposite disc.
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Page 335 of 667

33CLUTCH
12
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OPERATION
Hydraulic operation
When the clutch pedal is depressed, the master cylinder piston is pushed into the master cylinder. The movement
of the piston pressurises the fluid in the master cylinder, forcing the pressurised fluid into the hydraulic feed pipe to
the slave cylinder. The hydraulic pressure is felt at the slave cylinder piston which moves under the hydraulic force
applied, pushing the clutch release lever via the piston rod.
When the clutch pedal is released, the force applied to the release lever by the fingers of the diaphragm, moves
the release lever, which pushes the slave cylinder piston into the cylinder. The displaced hydraulic fluid is pushed
up the hydraulic feed pipe and returns to the master cylinder.
Mechanism operation
When the clutch pedal is depressed, hydraulic pressure extends the piston and rod in the slave cylinder. The
extension of the piston pushes the rod against the outer end of the release lever which pivots around the ball
spigot.
The inner end of the release lever pivots towards the engine applying pressure to the release bearing. The release
bearing slides along the release bearing sleeve and pushes on the fingers of the diaphragm. The diaphragm
pivots around the chamfered rivets in the cover. As the diaphragm is deflected, it removes pressure from the
pressure plate. The pressure plate moves away from the drive plate assisted by the three leaf springs.
The removal of force from the pressure plate on the drive plate reduces the friction between the dual mass
flywheel, drive plate and pressure plate. The drive plate slips between the flywheel and the pressure plate
preventing rotary movement being transferred from the flywheel and pressure plate to the primary driveshaft.
When the clutch pedal is released, hydraulic force is removed from the piston in the slave cylinder. This allows the
fingers of the diaphragm to push the release bearing along the release bearing sleeve. The movement of the
release bearing moves the release lever which pivots on the ball spigot, pushing the piston and rod back into the
slave cylinder.
The removal of pressure from the release bearing on the diaphragm, causes the diaphragm to pivot around the
chamfered rivets in the cover. The force applied to the pressure plate from the diaphragm overcomes the force of
the leaf springs and the pressure plate moves towards the drive plate and flywheel.
The pressure plate applies pressure to the drive plate which is pushed against the flywheel. As the clutch pedal is
progressively released, the friction between the drive plate, flywheel and pressure plate increases. The increase in
friction transfers the rotary movement of the flywheel and pressure plate to the drive plate, which in turn starts to
rotate the primary drive shaft. When the clutch pedal is released fully, the force applied by the diaphragm to the
pressure plate forces the drive plate onto the flywheel with no slippage.
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Page 336 of 667

CLUTCH
1
ADJUSTMENT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM - BLEED
Service repair no - 33.15.01
Check
CAUTION: Ensure the fluid in the reservoir
is maintained between the minimum and
maximum levels throughout the bleed
procedure using new brake fluid.
CAUTION: Brake fluid will damage paint
finished surfaces. If spilled, immediately
remove fluid and clean area with water.
1.Top up clutch system reservoir.
2.Raise front of vehicle and support on stands.
WARNING: Do not work on or under a
vehicle supported only by a jack. Always
support the vehicle on safety stands.
3.Remove dust cap, connect bleed tube to bleed
screw and submerge free end into a clear
container of brake fluid.
4.Loosen bleed screw, then apply steady pressure
to the clutch pedal, depressing it through its full
stroke. Allow the pedal to return unassisted.
5.Repeat the procedure until a flow of clean,
air-free fluid is purged into the container.
6.Hold pedal down and tighten bleed screw to9
Nm (7 lbf.ft).
7.Check and top up reservoir.
CAUTION: Never re-use fluid that has been
bled from the system.
8.Remove stands and lower vehicle.
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