An assembly and method is provided for reducing clutch wear due to centrifugal apply pressure within a clutch-apply cavity. The assembly comprises a rotatable clutch housing, a clutch-apply piston disposed within a clutch-apply cavity, and a balance piston. The balance and apply pistons define a balance cavity including a liquid fill channel and a dedicated air exhaust channel having a control radius configured to at least partially offset or compensate for the centrifugal apply force generated within the clutch-apply cavity when the clutch assembly rotates. The method includes configuring the balance cavity with an exhaust channel for exhausting fluid, and providing the exhaust channel with a control radius determined by the innermost radius of rotating fluid within the balance cavity as measured with respect to the centerline of rotation of the clutch assembly, the control radius being suitable for exhausting any excess of centrifugal balance force over centrifugal apply force.