Clutch

[Mp5-Power]

Hey guys... nots sure if this is good for bad but iam just learning to drive clutch and i when i come to a stop at a ligh i find friction point and hold the break and go onces its green... i this bad? or should i have clutch all the way in and then once green find friction and go?? iam just worried my clutch might be getting worn? i dunno any help??

thanks

 

[nate0123]

keep the clutch in until you want to start moving

 

[toucci]

thats a great way to destroy your clutch quickly. leave it depressed till you want to go. if its a super long light you can put it in neutral as long as you're ready to depress the clutch and put it in gear. thats what i do in my dad's porsche 928 (the clutch is pretty heavy)

 

[Mp5-Power]

thanks guy iam just pressured to go right away and takes me a few seconds to find frictions getting betters and i might stall... but i guess i shouldnt do that... well thanks alot ill try to not hold friction

 

[mcstark]

My P5 is my second 5 speed -- I taught myself how to drive stick on a 95 Neon. If you want to find the point at which the clutch grabs...go to a parking lot. Stop the car, and without using any gas, slowly let the clutch out. If you let it out slowly enough it won't stall. Do this a dozen times, or until you feel confident about where the clutch grabs.

Once you learn this, keep the car in neutral at stop lights with the clutch out. Holding the clutch in just prematurely wears the springs, which will eventually make your clutch sloppy and ultimately fail. It takes time to do this - a couple years -- so doing it just for now shouldn't do too much harm.

Good luck with the learning curve...and let us know when you want to learn how to "heel-and-toe" -- an advanced downshifting technique that's useful in corners!

 

[ahb11m]

haha, i wish i could hell and toe.. damn size 11 feet

 

[chuyler1]

ditto on the size 11 feet. I have to take my foot off the brake for a second to tap the gas.

 

[mcstark]

ahb - i'm 6'1" with size 11's also. i brake with the ball of my right foot and roll my foot to the right to blip the gas. i only do this when going from third to second gear. the others are straight downshifts for me.

sorry about the thread jack....

 

[chuyler1]

well, add another 2" to your legs and thats where I am. I can do what you described only if I'm really braking hard (meaning my foot is that much closer to the gas pedal). I rarely brake hard though, so I never get a chance to try it.

back on topic.
DO NOT USE THE CLUTCH TO STEADY YOURSELF ON A HILL. Its the first no-no of driving stick. Use the hand brake if you're afraid of rolling backwards. Eventually you will learn the car and the clutch and will be able to start without it.

 

[cbcbd]

ahb - i'm 6'1" with size 11's also. i brake with the ball of my right foot and roll my foot to the right to blip the gas. i only do this when going from third to second gear. the others are straight downshifts for me.

(werd)
I got 10 1/2s and I do the same. I found that the best way for me to keep an even braking while blipping the gas is to move my knee to the right so my foot twists. Whenever I try to just roll my foot at the ankle my braking wouldn't be as smooth. Anyway.

Back to the thread:
Don't hold it in, just practice and practice. I try to never have to hold in my clutch for longer than 3 seconds, or else it might explode!!

 

[nate0123]

Don't hold it in, just practice and practice. I try to never have to hold in my clutch for longer than 3 seconds, or else it might explode!!

Why on earth would you say that? You're saying that at a red light or stop, you always shift into neutral and take your foot off the clutch? And when it turns green you have to press the clutch and shift into gear before you can think about starting. Bah!

 

[jjac28]

thats what most people do from what i hear. at a red ,if it's going to be a long wait...you put the car into neutral, foot off the clutch and on the brake. watch the lights changing on the other side, if its going yellow, then go into gear and get ready to go

 

[chuyler1]

That is the best practice. Holding in the clutch, even while in neutral, wears out the bearings faster from what I have heard. I do it just to give my leg a rest. THere is plenty of time to put it into gear and usually you can see the light change and get ready.

 

[toucci]

to heel toe on our cars you gotta just stick your heel in a lot. i have size 11 shoes and its no problem, just kinda uncomfortable under anything but hard braking but you get used to it