Why "daisy wheel" clutch disks?
 

I have searched but can find no explanation of why many high-performance clutches, such as the Spec III, have four or six wing disks. My intuition tells me that a solid disk would always be superior because of greater contact area. What are the advantages of "daisy wheel" clutch disks?

You know thats never crossed my mind untill now.

Maybe less surface area allows it to bite harder due to higher clamping force per sq. inch.??

I've always been under the impression that with so much better friction materials the greater surface area is not required and thus making things so much easier to disapate heat.

I think that this is the reason as well!

I think its better friction materials and the need to keep the weight down.

It seems like they would be able to use a less aggressive friction material if they increased the surface area of it.

It would have more force/area, but that wouldn't help it hold more torque. How much torque it can handle has to do with friction material, radius, and total clamping force. I bet the reason is just because it's easier/cheaper to manufacture small pads of friction material than a big grooved ring. It sure as hell isn't for longer clutch life.

Haha, can't we get some clutch engineers in here? I understand a larger surface area would be better for clutch life, but mabye the aftermarket material needs more force/less area to work properly? beuller, beuller? anyone?

I had assumed that there was some simple rationale behind the design of daisy wheel clutch discs. If the design depends on unusual properties of special friction materials then we might not get a clear explanation for the simple reason that very few have the knowledge.