Valeo has announced garages will have easy access to its Self Adjusting Technology (SAT) clutch and has also introduced its High Efficiency Clutch (HEC) kit, as rising traffic levels continue to put extra strain on vehicle clutch systems.
Average travel times reportedly rose in 21 of the 25 UK cities studied as part of TomTom’s Traffic Index report during 2023, with London and Leeds seeing the biggest increases. Andy Swann, Valeo Division General Manager, said: “More stop-start driving in heavy traffic means greater clutch usage. This could potentially lead to premature clutch failure on many vehicles.”
Technological development has also reportedly driven change, with modern cars needing much tougher clutches. Andy continued: “Manufacturers are producing vehicles with higher torque and higher horsepower outputs. This means it’s imperative that the engine and transmission have the capabilities to deal with the additional load.”
The result has been the development and introduction of new friction materials and innovative clutch designs, including the Valeo SAT. Andy added: “This uses a self-adjusting facing wear compensation device on the pressure plate, thereby enhancing the clutch life and improving pedal comfort.”
Valeo has now also introduced the High Efficiency Clutch (HEC) kit. Andy said: “This replaces our competitors’ old self-adjusting clutch and gives full satisfaction in terms of quality, reliability and durability. Our HEC high resistance Generation 5 facings are the best in the market and are well-known for their high durability.”
In total, Valeo produce approximately 75 million friction facings each year. Surprisingly, not all of these friction sets are found in Valeo clutch kits. Andy concluded: “Due to our friction material being best in class, vehicle manufacturers request that other clutch manufacturers use Valeo friction material facings in conjunction with their own clutches. In total around 30% of friction facings produced by Valeo are supplied to and used by other clutch manufacturers.”
