Ceramic

Ceramic button-style clutch facings are very durable and have the unique ability to grab better as it heats. Organic facings tend to fade as they heat. A ceramic button clutch is appropriate for hard-working applications and has traditionally held up to expectations. However, there are downsides to ceramic material. First, this clutch is either in or it’s out; there is no soft engagement. Second, it is as hard as the material that it mates against, which means that the pressure plate, center plate, and flywheel wear at the same rate as the ceramic facing. This high rate of wear often means that the flywheel will wear out well before the engine or truck does. Therefore, there is an additional expense associated with using a ceramic button clutch. For those customers who work their trucks the hardest and carry the heaviest loads, the ceramic friction clutch is still the best choice because it handles the heat better than any other friction material. The Clutch Works offers ceramic buttons made by SK Wellman and Miba, OE suppliers, which are made in western Europe. Ceramic button clutches are the preferred and recommended choice for dump trucks, refuse vehicles, off-road equipment, and heavy hauling in mountainous terrain such as logging and coal hauling.