ok i work at a auto parts store and today in my dead time i was looking at parts for my truck and i showed two different clutches. a self adjusting and a non self adjusting. i noticed that in the picture the fingers on the pressure plate was different. but other than that me and another co worker were not sure what the real difference was and would like to know.

 

a self adjusting clutch (which i did not know you could find in anything smaller than a transport truck) works like a ratchet. basically every time the clutch is pressed in the ratcheting mechanism will try and climb onto the next tooth to adjust the clutch in towards the flywheel. this is to self adjust for wear on the friction material. usually self adjusting clutched seize up well before their life expectancy should be done just because of lack of use

 

ok cool thanks for the info. so a self adjusting clutch would prob be worth the extra 40 buck if it adjusts itself for wear on the plates

 

personally i do not think so. i work on transports and every self adjusting clutch i have replaced all seized up... meaning they are no longer adjusting. i would just make sure i buy a regular clutch and adjust it when it needs it

 

The factory Ranger clutch is self adjusting. There are no manual adjusters.

 

i dont know about clutches in cars. in transports the manually adjustable clutches are the way to go.

 

on my 98 ranger it is listing that the oe clutch is a non self adjusting clutch through the oreilly auto parts computer system.

 

It is a self adjusting system meaning that the hydraulic actuation repositions the release bearing to compensate for production tolerances and wear.

 

yes that would make sense

 

Some newer diaphragm pressure plates have a revised mechanism that attempts to maintain a more consistent release pressure over the life of the clutch. I think later Rangers have this. Maybe that's what they're referring to in the parts catalog. Regardless of whether or not the pressure plate has this feature, the clutch system would still be self adjusting.