Originally Posted By: SmotalChaos
ok guys, I was never able to figure this out. Whats the advantages/disadvantages to wet clutches and brakes?? Or "oil bath" clutches or brakes? Why do heavy equipment have them? More weight capacity? Longer life? Cooler running I would imagine, but then why not use them on class 8 trucks? Must be a reasonable explanation that for the life of me I can't come to...
Its hard to generalize because there's so much overlap in capability, but in general wet multi-disc clutches have longer life, better cooling, can run while "slipping" for extended periods if needed, etc.
Why not use them as primary clutches on class-8 rigs? Because class 8 rig clutches only get used from a dead stop. All other shifts are clutchless in most cases. Search Youtube for "shifting twin-stick" and watch the clutch feet not get involved at all ;-)
Also dry clutches probably (in general) have a little bit better ultimate holding power- IOW can transmit a bit more torque without any slipping, which is what's needed for a main driveline clutch in a class-8.