Clutch Pressure Plate DIY Question: what is this metal piece in the center?

[TexasTouring]

Can somebody please tell me what the heck this thing is on the new clutch pressure plate that I am installing?

Doing this clutch/flywheel DIY for the first time on a '00 528iT, and not a single one of the videos/tutorials make mention of this metal piece that seems to be clamped in the center. It seems to prevent the alignment tool from working, and the old pressure plate didn't have anything similar.

Is this something to be removed? And if so, how?

Sorry for the ignorant question. Thanks in advance for any help!

IMG_1220 copy.jpg

[treat44]

It appears to be a fixture to remove. Looks like it turns ccw to remove.


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[H3adBussa]

Can somebody please tell me what the heck this thing is on the new clutch pressure plate that I am installing?

Doing this clutch/flywheel DIY for the first time on a '00 528iT, and not a single one of the videos/tutorials make mention of this metal piece that seems to be clamped in the center. It seems to prevent the alignment tool from working, and the old pressure plate didn't have anything similar.

Is this something to be removed? And if so, how?

Sorry for the ignorant question. Thanks in advance for any help!

IMG_1220 copy.jpg

It's there to maintain pressure on the "fingers" of the self adjusting clutch until installed. Once it's bolted in, you remove it. Don't remove it early! It turns counterclockwise to remove, just find something that fits the shape in the center.

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[SW530]

Does it remove? My guess would be an alignment tool.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

It's there to maintain pressure on the "fingers" of the self adjusting clutch until installed. Once it's bolted in, you remove it. Don't remove it early! It turns counterclockwise to remove, just find something that fits the shape in the center.

This^^^^

[JimLev]

You got a clutch alignment tool that came with the PP and disc?
I use this to align the clutch, then after the PP is bolted down you remove the center locking ring, screw in the bolt and use it to pull out the disc alignment tool.

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[TexasTouring]

Thank you all!

I did get an alignment tool with the clutch, but it seems to just be one piece, which means it sticks out from the hexagonal hole in the locking device, making it trickier to find something to remove the locking device with the alignment tool in place.

Will have some more time to take another look this week. Thanks again for the quick input everyone!

[jicaino]

Some SACs don't bring the holding "spider" anymore... I don't know how that works.