1. Introduction to Honda

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., founded in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers. Honda is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment. With the advancement of technology and the expansion of globalization, Honda has gradually become one of the world's leading automobile brands. In addition to the traditional production of automobiles and motorcycles, Honda has also developed in the fields of robotics, electric vehicles, and hydrogen vehicles.

 2. Introduction to Honda Vezel

The Honda Vezel (often referred to as the Honda HR-V outside of Japan) is a compact crossover SUV introduced by Honda in 2013.As a compact SUV, the Vezel's design combines the comfort of a sedan with the utility of an SUV, and it has quickly become one of the most popular models on the market.The design of the Vezel was inspired by Honda's Urban SUV Concept, filling a gap in Honda's small SUV market.

Features and Benefits of Vezel:

- DESIGN & APPEARANCE: The Vezel has a contemporary look with a sporty and sophisticated front design featuring sharp lines and a wide grille. The streamlined shape of the body not only enhances the aesthetics but also optimizes aerodynamics.

- INTERIOR & SPACE: The Vezel's interior is simple and technologically advanced, utilizing high-quality materials to ensure driver and passenger comfort. Thanks to its compact SUV body, the Vezel also performs well in terms of space, with adjustable rear seats to meet different riding needs.

- POWERTRAIN: The Honda Vezel is available in a variety of power configurations, including a conventional gasoline engine and a hybrid version. Among the hybrid models, Vezel is equipped with Honda's i-MMD hybrid technology, which offers lower fuel consumption and stronger power performance.

- Driving Experience: The Vezel focuses on a balance of handling and driving comfort. Its suspension and powertrain are tuned to provide a smooth and comfortable ride on city roads, while still being fun to drive.

Vezel's performance in the global market:

The Vezel quickly gained consumer favor upon its launch in the Japanese market, and has performed very well as it has gradually entered the European and American markets. Especially in the highly competitive global compact SUV market, Vezel has become one of Honda's key bestsellers due to its cost-effective, modern design and excellent fuel economy.

 3. Clutch Bearing Introduction

Clutch Bearing, which plays a vital role in the clutch system, is often referred to as Clutch Release Bearing or Clutch Throwout Bearing. The main function of the clutch bearing is to help separate the pressure plate from the flywheel in the clutch system, disconnecting the engine from the transmission, thus enabling the driver to shift gears smoothly.

The working principle of the clutch bearing:

- Separating the clutch: When the driver depresses the clutch pedal, the clutch bearing will push the clutch pressure plate with the pedal action, making it separate from the flywheel. At this point, the engine power will no longer be transmitted to the gearbox and the driver can shift smoothly.

- Resumption of engagement: When the driver releases the clutch pedal, the clutch bearing will return to its original position, allowing the clutch pressure plate to re-engage with the flywheel and resuming power transmission.

Structure and Composition of Clutch Bearing:

- Inner and outer rings: the outer ring is fixed to the clutch housing and the inner ring is connected to the clutch release fork.

- Rolling body: such as steel balls or rollers, rolling between the inner and outer rings to reduce friction and wear.

- Cage: Used to maintain the position of the rolling body to ensure its normal operation.

Performance requirements of clutch bearings:

- High precision: clutch bearings need to have high precision to ensure their stability when rotating at high speed.

- Low friction: low friction materials are used to reduce energy loss and wear.

- High load carrying capacity: able to withstand greater pressure and frequent operation.

- Good lubrication: good lubrication performance is required to prevent failure due to poor lubrication.

- Corrosion Resistance: Possesses corrosion resistance to prevent rust and corrosion.

 4. Honda Vezel clutch bearings

For modern cars like the Honda Vezel, clutch bearings are usually used in manual transmission models. While most modern Vezels are configured with automatic transmissions (such as CVT transmissions), the clutch system is still very important in a few manual or some early models of the Vezel.

Clutch bearings in a Vezel:

- Smooth Gear Shift: In manual transmission models, the clutch bearing is an important component in ensuring smooth gear shifts. When the driver depresses the clutch pedal, the clutch bearing serves to separate the pressure plate in the clutch system from the flywheel, ensuring that the transmission is able to change gears smoothly.

- Durability and Stability: Vezel's clutch bearings are designed with long term durability and stability in mind to ensure stable performance under different driving conditions (e.g. city driving, highway driving, etc.).

 Honda Vezel clutch bearing common problems and maintenance:

- Noise: When a clutch bearing fails, it usually makes a strange noise, especially when the clutch pedal is depressed. This is due to wear of the rolling elements inside the bearing or lack of lubrication.

- Difficulty shifting: If the clutch bearing fails, the clutch pressure plate may not fully disengage, causing the driver to have difficulty shifting or the transmission to have difficulty going into gear.

- Clutch slippage: If the clutch bearing fails, the clutch may not be able to fully disengage, resulting in poor power transmission or even clutch slippage.

Maintenance Recommendations:

- Regular Inspection: It is recommended to check the condition of the clutch bearing every certain mileage (e.g. every 20,000km), especially if the vehicle is used frequently.

- Keep clean and lubricated: Ensure that the clutch bearing and its surrounding area are kept clean and free from foreign objects. Also, make sure the bearing has enough grease to prevent it from drying out.

- Correct Driving Habits: Avoid prolonged semi-coupling or frequent gear shifting to minimize damage to the clutch bearing. Correct driving habits can prolong the service life of the clutch system.

- Clutch Bearing Replacement: If the clutch bearing is found to be in poor working condition, such as generating noise, causing difficulty in shifting gears, etc., timely replacement of the clutch bearing is necessary and is usually taken care of together with the clutch system repair.

 Honda Vezel Clutch Bearing Price Reference

The price of Honda Vezel clutch bearing will be affected by several factors, such as the location, the brand of the part and whether it is a genuine part or not. Generally speaking, the price range of Vezel clutch bearings is roughly between $50 and $150 USD, the specific price will fluctuate according to different markets and sales channels.

- Genuine parts: higher quality, but the price may be more expensive, usually between $100 and $150.

- Third party brands: more economical, usually between $50 and $100.

In addition, if a replacement is needed, the cost of installation needs to be considered. Overall, the total cost of replacing a clutch bearing, including parts and labor, can range from $200 to $600, depending on the region and the repair store's rates.

The Honda Vezel, a compact SUV, has quickly become a best-seller in the global market thanks to its stylish looks, comfortable ride and efficient fuel economy. In models like the Vezel, the Clutch Bearing, an important part of the clutch system, mainly ensures smooth switching between the engine and the transmission, guaranteeing a smooth driving experience. Although Vezel is mainly an automatic transmission, the healthy operation of the Clutch Bearing is still crucial in manual transmission models, which is related to the shifting performance and driving comfort of the vehicle.

Therefore, for Vezel owners, regular checking of the clutch system, especially the condition of the clutch bearing, is a necessary maintenance task to ensure driving safety and performance. Through reasonable maintenance and timely replacement, the service life of the clutch system can be extended to ensure that the vehicle is always in the best condition.