The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Pressure Plate direction

After a long search, and reading several articles, I am still confused as to which direction my pressure plate should go.

As I can't paste a pic here, I will try to describe. The pressure plate has a splined center surrounded by 6 springs. The splined center is longer on one side than it is on the other side.

It appears to me, that from this illustration in the shop manual:

shop manual

.......that the longer side (protrusion) goes towards the flywheel. (On other posts, as nomenclature is not always the same or understandable, I think I understand some saying that the long protrusion goes towards the trani.)

Can I get some guidance here? I've looked for specific diagrams showing the assembly process in detail, but have had no luck.

Thanks,
Steven

PS: Also, on the throw out bearing....Where the clutch arm attaches...there is a lobe on the bearing. Should that lobe be positioned in any particular position?

What you talking about is the clutch dics (#4 driven disc). The skinny hub goes towards the flywheel, larger diameter w/ cushion spring goes towards clutch cover asm. (pressure plate) which bolts to the flywheel. If in doubt hold the dics up to the flywheel, one way if fits, the other the spring hub will contact the flywheel. If installed backwards the clutch will not release.

The "lobe" on the Throw Out bearing fits the fingers on the release fork. Keeps the bearing from turning in the fork. Most friction disks that I have seen have a long small diameter center on one side and a short larger diameter on the other side. See what BC59 posted. Look at the picture that you posted. Should be clear that the larger diameter will interfere with the flywheel center if put in backwards. So in short..Long and narrow to the flywheel. Short and wide to the pressure plate. I hope that helps.

The drawing in the service manual is correct. If the disc is installed the other way the springs in the center of the disc will contact the flywheel attaching bolts before the clutch facing touches the face of the flywheel.

Jerry

Steve H,

Ok. I am writing this because I had already installed the clutch. Fortunately, with the engine on stand. So, changing it is only a matter of removing the bolts and turn it around.

FORTUNATELY, it seems that I followed the pic correctly. I installed the clutch disc with the long skinny side to the flywheel. When I can, I'll give it a test to see if the clutch releases or not. The problem was that in reading other posts, I seemed to have understood the opposite (after having installed my clutch).

I still don't understand the lobe thing. I have fit the bearing. I can only install the bearing with the lobe 90 degrees (read the 3 or 9 o'clock position) with respect to the clutch arm. I can't put it verticle (12 or 6 o'clock position). Should this lobe be on the inside of the fork, or on the outside = 3 o'clock position as viewed from the back.

Again looking at the shop manual you can see the fork fits into the grooved bit of the throw-out bearing that has a "lobe" shape. That keeps the bearing from spinning in the fork fingers. The fat flat face on the bearing is to the pressure plate and the grooved end is to the transmission. And, yes it will only go on the fork two ways. Sorta left and right from your description. At least as far as the "lobe" is concerned. If you have the bearing groove in the fork fingers you have it right. As long as the fat flat face is to the clutch. Think lever. You need the leverage to work against the spring. Only got one leg to work with. And you need a lot of spring to keep the clutch pressed together to move the truck. The end of the fork finger is the point on the lever that moves the bearing that compresses the spring. You need the point to stay in good shape. So you don't want the bearing to spin and wear those fork tips out. And that is what the "lobe" does. I hope this was helpful. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks Steve for your fast response. So, if I understand you correctly, it doesn't matter if the lobe is facing left or right.

Nope.

thanks tons.