BALANCING ELEMENT FOR BALANCING A FRICTION CLUTCH, METHOD FOR BALANCING A FRICTION CLUTCH, AND USE OF A PART OF A FRICTION CLUTCH

A balancing element for balancing a friction clutch, including a balancing head for providing a balancing mass, and a shaft that is connected to the balancing head, is to be inserted into an opening in the friction clutch, and has a shaft end which points away from the balancing head and which includes a face pointing away from the balancing head substantially in the axial direction of the shaft. The shaft end has a weakening in the material in a subsection between the face and the balancing head in order for the shaft end to plastically deform radially outward in relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft when a compressive force is applied to the balancing head in the axial direction. This especially allows the face of the shaft end to about a part of the friction clutch once the shaft has been introduced into a receiving opening in the friction clutch, and makes it possible to apply a compressive force to the balancing head in the direction of insertion, said compressive force being so great that the shaft end is plastically deformed in a particularly easy manner in the region of the weakening in the material such that a secure form-fitting connection is established, thereby preventing the balancing element from coming loose again even when the assembly space is tight and keeping the risk of the friction clutch becoming unbalanced low during the entire service life of the friction clutch.