In order to meet the characteristics including small clearance, heavy load and large contact area of joints existed in rudder transmission system, a new normal contact force model is established, which is suitable for the large-area contact process and considers the coefficient of nonlinear variable stiffness as well as the axial length of bearing. The applicability of this model is verified by simulations under some conditions with different clearance size, restitution coefficient, initial collision speed and bearing's axial length. Furthermore, through the user-defined subroutine interface in ADAMS software, this modified contact force model is compiled and linked into the dynamic model of the rudder transmission system. The simulation results show that the dynamic response of the system with multiple clearance joints is not a simple superposition of that with one single clearance, and the dynamic interaction between these joints intensifies the oscillation and nonlinear characteristics of the system. This study provides a theoretical reference for the structural optimization and control strategy design of aircraft with clearance joints.