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car clutch question

jknight8907 said:
I've heard it will wear out your "throwout bearing".
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Same as the clutch release bearing :)

And the guy who posted about sticking into neutral and breaking to a stop. Yea, that's fine. I do it myself, though I prefer to use engine braking, I just feel more in control. Feels odd if I just break in neutral.
 
FearFactor47 said:
Sometimes when I'm coming to traffic lights, when I'm breaking, but still going at around 20mph and not stopped, I put the clutch down, go into neutral, lift my foot off the clutch and then break the car to a hault. So basically, I'm breaking when the car isn't in any gear. Is that OK? Obviously I'm not accelerating or anything, just breaking.
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I normally down-shift to second gear, while slowing down towards a red light. I disengage the clutch and brake as normal. I'll hold in the clutch in first gear if I'm ready to turn.
 
miniConvert said:
People put the car in neutral at traffic signals? One learns something new every day... if I'd have done that (UK) I think my driving instructor would have thrown me out the door and ran me over ;)
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Yea ;) but I've passed now to it doesn't matter. My instructor always told me to stay ready with the clutch just on the bite etc. GRRR! And they never teach you engine braking!

I learned in a Punto too, and the indicators were cack. Ah well.
 
FearFactor47 said:
What's engine breaking?
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Lower gears slow you down - used properly there's no need to break on downward slopes, on most roads I can change down to third and not need to keep tapping my break pedal like the car infront always is.

I was taught to use engine breaking, especially in emergency stops when possible, only pushing down the clutch at the last minute to prevent stalling.
 
Engine breaking is illegal for vehicles over a certain weight class and in certain rural areas. Engine breaking is useful in cases where you're towing cargo, for instance.
 
sounds like there are a lot of different driving 'schools'... coasting in neutral was a big no-no when I learned to drive.

Also, in Switzerland you are supposed (at least back then) to turn off your engine at a light if there is a line (I think it it only enforced after the 3rd or 5th car in line...).
 
FearFactor47 said:
What's engine breaking?
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Next time you're driving, when you're slowing down, say you were in third. At around 25mph, clutch in, down to 2nd gear, then slowly let the clutch out. As it starts to 'bite', you'll feel an increased braking effect (thrown forward slightly) as the engine (at a low speed) pushes against the clutch and wheels etc (which will be turning quicker at the engine side of the gearbox) as it speeds up.

It's 12.30am, so apologies if you can't understand that. It's good practise to learn engine braking, just in case. It can slow you down a lot quicker if your brakes ever failed, and also if you cant brake quick enough without locking up the wheels (no ABS).

For example I was doing about 80mph in heavy traffic in the outside lane of the M6 (going up to The Lakes), and suddenly the Vectra in front of me is pretty much stopped. I shout my favourite expletive (shit!), then slam on. It wasn't enough, I still knew i was gonna hit him, so I just quickly shifted to third, let the clutch out, then after maybe half a second, into second and used that. I only just stopped. Luckily, I wasn't rear ended either.:rolleyes:

So yea, just get a feel for engine braking! :)
 
The only difference that I can see, is more use out of the clutch springs. Whether the clutch is disengaged or engaged with the transmission spinning in neutral, would have little impact on the clutch linings from what I can tell. :confused:
 
spicyapple said:
Engine breaking is illegal for vehicles over a certain weight class and in certain rural areas. Engine breaking is useful in cases where you're towing cargo, for instance.
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isn't it the only way for big trucks to control their speed on downhill roads (breaks would overheat)?
 
I don't see any reason to worry about holding the clutch pedal all the way down at stoplights. My latest VW has just over 100,000 miles on it and has the original clutch and things seem to be fine.

Partial release causes premature wear and keeping the car in neutral in many states is illegal for any length of time while on public roads.
 
When stopped at a traffic light, put the gearshift into the neutral position and release the clutch rather than sitting with the clutch engaged.
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This is actually a good habit to get into. Besides the mechanical reasons ...

It reduces stress on the leg, and one of the major complaints that people have about driving manual transmission vehicles.

With this habit the only time you get tired in city traffic --- is the slow moving stop and go traffic, where you don't get any time to rest before the traffic inches forward again.
 
I didn't want to read this entire thread because not many people seem to know what they're talking about. In any case, here goes:

The main detriment to keeping the clutch engaged at a stop light is due to excessive wear on the throw-out (or clutch release) bearing. This is a bearing that does not get oiled and so as it is loaded it will get hot and eventually wear out. The chances of wearing out the springs in the pressure plate or the clutch fork are very slim before wearing out the bearing or clutch disc. The other problem with keeping the clutch engaged is related to a poorly adjusted clutch in that the clutch may not be totally engaged and so the disc keeps slipping. This is not likely to be a big problem because if this is the case, you'll have much bigger problems in the long run (manual transmission syncros). So, moral of the story: don't keep the clutch engaged if you think you'll be sitting for a while.

Edited: I just noticed some people were talking about putting the car into neutral and braking. Bad habit! Some transmissions are lubricated by the input shaft. If the only thing turning is the output shaft, then the transmission isn't being lubricated as it should.
 
Zeke said:
I didn't want to read this entire thread because not many people seem to know what they're talking about. In any case, here goes:

The main detriment to keeping the clutch engaged at a stop light is due to excessive wear on the throw-out (or clutch release) bearing. This is a bearing that does not get oiled and so as it is loaded it will get hot and eventually wear out. The chances of wearing out the springs in the pressure plate or the clutch fork are very slim before wearing out the bearing or clutch disc. The other problem with keeping the clutch engaged is related to a poorly adjusted clutch in that the clutch may not be totally engaged and so the disc keeps slipping. This is not likely to be a big problem because if this is the case, you'll have much bigger problems in the long run (manual transmission syncros). So, moral of the story: don't keep the clutch engaged if you think you'll be sitting for a while.

Edited: I just noticed some people were talking about putting the car into neutral and braking. Bad habit! Some transmissions are lubricated by the input shaft. If the only thing turning is the output shaft, then the transmission isn't being lubricated as it should.
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Shame you didn't read the thread as this has already been mentioned ;)
 
MalcolmJID said:
Shame you didn't read the thread as this has already been mentioned ;)
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Figures...it was just too many people saying the wrong stuff at the beginning and too many posts to want to read everything. Sorry for the repeat.
 
FearFactor47 said:
Can someone tell me if this is OK:

Sometimes when I'm coming to traffic lights, when I'm breaking, but still going at around 20mph and not stopped, I put the clutch down, go into neutral, lift my foot off the clutch and then break the car to a hault. So basically, I'm breaking when the car isn't in any gear. Is that OK? Obviously I'm not accelerating or anything, just breaking.

I didn't know if it was OK to do this, so now, I break, and put the clutch down and come to a stop, go into neutral and then lift my foot off the clutch when I've stopped.

Does it matter what I do?
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Putting the car in neutral as you approach the lights and stopping on the brakes is coasting. It will do the car no harm, but you'd probably fail your driving test.

Next question: how many of you heal-and-toe down the box when breaking? When you get it right it's so satisfying (and quite easy with the pedal setup in and MX-5). I'm sure some people think I'm a right nutter blipping the throttle as I slow down to a set of lights :D
 
panoz7 said:
Maybe I'm just misunderstanding, but this seems kind of silly to me. You're going to escape being rear ended by pulling into an intersection that presumably is busy since you had to stop at it?
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It does of course depend on the junction (intersection to you folk). :p :p :p Usually we have several feet of space before you'd enter the traffic flow, but those extra few feet are enough to clear my car out of the way of a collision (either by pulling straight forward or off to the side), or at least allow the car behind to take evasive action in avoiding me. I'm not about to pull out into moving traffic though. :p :p :p

panoz7 said:
When I'm slowing down I leave the car in gear for as long as possible so as to take as much advantage of compression braking as possible.
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You don't want to leave it in gear, you want to change down through the gears to maximise the engine braking effect, which also reduces the potential of locking a wheel (or the ABS engaging, though both typically increase stopping distances so both are best avoided) and because you'll be in the ideal engine speed range throughout the slowing down maneuver, should a situation arise that requires you to accelerate smartly to avoid an incident/accident, you'll be in a position to do so with the least amount of effort, in the least amount of time.

As for coasting... a big, big no no.
 
devilot said:
At that particular shop, the friend saw an older woman come in with a completely shot clutch and assorted other parts. The other employees were sort of laughing because she apparently goes through a new clutch every year due to poor driving habits (including keeping the clutch in)! :eek:
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i read this, and it reminded me of a story my dad tells.

when he was a youngen, he helps his parents in their mechanics workshop. There was a woman who came in often with clutch problems. When asked how she drove the car, she said she keeps the engine running at redline and controlls the speed with clutch slip! :eek:

you can imagine hearing this engine screaming its heart out while the car is crawling up the driveway... hahaa
 
robbieduncan said:
Next question: how many of you heal-and-toe down the box when breaking?
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I can do, though I don't in day-to-day driving unless I'm having to make some proper progress. And I don't at the moment because I'm lumbered with Steptronic... so I left foot brake. :D

robbieduncan said:
(and quite easy with the pedal setup in and MX-5).
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Sooooooooooooooooooo many modern cars just don't have the pedal layout to pull it off properly do they.

When are you buying the Maserati anyway? :D
 
iGav said:
I can do, though I don't in day-to-day driving unless I'm having to make some proper progress. And I don't at the moment because I'm lumbered with Steptronic... so I left foot brake. :D



Sooooooooooooooooooo many modern cars just don't have the pedal layout to pull it off properly do they.

When are you buying the Maserati anyway? :D
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Hopefully next year :D Unless I change my mind and go for a Clio V6... The Masser would depend on finding a local specialist for servicing as I don't fancy main dealer prices :eek:
 
robbieduncan said:
Hopefully next year :D Unless I change my mind and go for a Clio V6... The Masser would depend on finding a local specialist for servicing as I don't fancy main dealer prices :eek:
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Which Maserati were you thinking of?


I know this may be a little expensive but have you seen the MC12 Corsa!?!:eek:
 
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