Coil Spring Pressure Plate Assembly A coil spring pressure plate assembly, shown in Figure 35-8, uses coil springs and release levers to move the pressure plate back and forth.
The springs exert pressure to hold the pressure plate tightly against the clutch disc and flywheel. This forces the clutch the holding force of the springs. There are usually three of them. Each one has two pivot points. One of these pivot points attaches the lever to a pedestal cast into the pressure plate and the other to a release lever yoke/keybolt bolted to the cover. The levers pivot on the pedestals and release lever yokes to move the pressure plate through its engagement and disengagement operation. To disengage the clutch, the release bearing pushes the inner ends of the release levers forward toward the flywheel. The release lever yokes act as fulcrums for the levers and the outer ends of the release levers move backward, pulling the pressure plate away from the clutch disc. This action compresses the coil springs and disengages the clutch disc from the driving members.