Clutch Release Methods

spearfish25

I'll have to try this later to believe it's humanly possible. What size shoe do you wear?

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m4a1mustang

It is possible but it's not a natural feel, IMO.

I think Ken's heels are touching the floor because he's wearing stilettos (wrapped in CF vinyl, of course :P).

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kenchan

im wearing piloti's but not CF wrapped...

m4a1mustang

I am not sure I am going to use the CF wrap on my car yet, but I do have a helmet that needs a repaint... instead of painting it I think I'm just going to wrap it in the CF vinyl.

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JDubya

I use a combination of flexing my ankle and my whole leg to push the clutch in, but releasing I just flex my ankle until it grabs and I get moving, then I pull my leg off of the clutch, it feels like I have the most control that way.

Honestly, do whatever works for you, everyone has a different method of regulating the clutch, and it'll depend a lot on what type of car/truck you're driving(I can't use just my ankle on my dad's truck for example). Just do what you feel comfortable with and practice and you will get a good feeling for the pedal.

Matt

I use the whole leg method, although my heel does occasionally touch the floor (when resting, usually, like at a traffic light with the clutch in).

The important thing, no matter how you position your foot/leg, is that you have total control over the clutch release. You need to be able to release slowly from a stop or on a hill, or release a little quicker for faster shifts. If you get into a routine where your clutch release becomes robotic, you're going to have issues in certain situations.

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Cmike2780

I know most Z owners with manual's on the forum have the SRM, but does anyone here heel-toe shift?

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kenchan

hahaha, curved surface is harder to do so it would be an exciting experience.


yah, there's no right or wrong way to work the clutch. just make sure it's comforting to you and you have consistent control. it's actually the throttle that is more involved.

Matt

There was a poll done a while back that asked if people like to old-school heel-toe shift, or let SRM do it. There was a few people that left SRM off occasionally, but most let SRM do its thing.

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"Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

kenchan

all the time.

even with the SRM turned on you still want to apply a slight bit of throttle to get a smooth down shift at lower rpm. downshifting aggressively the SRM does very well.

WAGAWAGA

Lets not get off topic here. Matt i have a question when you go from N to 1st your foot is completely off the ground? I found it most difficult going from N to 1st without having the heel planted on the ground

Matt

What my foot does and what my hands do are completely separate in my head. It's hard to type out if I'm not in the car, but my foot goes into a "ready position" as soon as I put it in gear, which is my heel comes off the floor so it can freely release from the clutch.

Regardless of what gear I'm in, my heel isn't touching the floor while I'm in "shifting mode", whether I'm accelerating from a stop or driving in traffic. If I'm on the highway, my foot will rest to the left of the clutch, obviously on the floor and if I'm at a traffic light that'll be green soon, I may rest my heel on the floor temporarily. Once I'm ready to shift again, up goes my heel slightly as I get ready to shift.

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"Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

kenchan

here's something that'll crack you guys up.

i play piano in my spare time and it has 3 pedals. so i was showing my wife how i can heel/toe the sostenuto (center) pedal with the sustain (right) pedal. i dont think there's anyone that heel/toe's piano's.

m4a1mustang

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WAGAWAGA

I see that clarifies it. My heel is completely plant when i release the clutch so the clutch slides down my foot. i will need to practice using the whole leg because using the heel planted seems to have its disadvantages.