Clutch System Description and Operation: General
Power is transmitted from the flywheel on the engine to the input shaft in the gearbox via a driven plate. This power is transmitted by the pressure plate, which is bolted to the flywheel, forcing the friction surface of the driven plate against the flywheel.
The driven plate is joined to the primary shaft with a splined joint. When the release bearing on the slave cylinder presses on the "fingers" of the diaphragm spring, the fingers will act like levers to release the clamping force of the pressure plate from the driven plate-flywheel. The engine is disengaged from the transmission in this way.