Safe and responsible 4WD and off-road driving requires very specific driving skills and techniques.
Unfortunately, standard clutches are often not durable enough to survive the learning curve involved in becoming a proficient off-road driver leading to clutch failures.
Failures of standard clutches on 4WD vehicles is arguably the most common cause of breakdowns in the bush (after engine overheating), but this can largely be avoided by replacing the standard clutch with a high-pressure button clutch (aka “puck” clutch) such as the example shown above.
The practical advantage of button clutches is that the clamping force on the driven plate can be as much as 50% higher than on a standard clutch, which almost eliminates the possibility of clutch slippage- and subsequent clutch failure.
Button clutches are best used with solid, one-piece flywheels and that it might take some time to get used to the way these clutches engage, which is somewhat different from the controlled and gradual engagement of standard, full-face clutches.
If you have questions about preventing clutch failure in your 4WD, contact your local Repco Authorised Service centre for advice.