Clutch Release Methods

WAGAWAGA

Hi all,
I recently got a Z and this is my first manual car.(Hope i dont get blazed)
I wanted to learn stick using a different car, but there were no oppurtunities so i ended up practicing with the Z. So far i can drive it around without stalling, and theres only 300 miles on this car. Okay let me tell you what i do.

From N to 1st i always plant my heel to the ground and release it by rolling of my foot. It was working well but i noticed i couldnt shift quickly from Reverse to 1st, because when i roll the clutch off my foot with heel planted, the clutch is starting from the arc of my foot after Reversing, and not the toe/ball area. So i have to go into neutral let go of clutch and depress it again.

I have searched some forums and saw that most manual drivers tend to use their whole leg to release the clutch with the heel completely off.

So i tried this method the other day, and reversing is fine but going from N to 1st is really hard to control.

So here is my question for you veteran drivers:
How do you guys release the clutch? and if there are techniques to be more precise with the clutch. I know practice is important but i dont want to practice wrong and learn a bad habit thanks.

-Thomas

m4a1mustang

I don't plant my heel for the clutch pedal.

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shadoquad

I use the whole leg and just ease it off. Not easy to describe the sweet spot, and every manual vehicle you drive will have a different feel.

But I engage/release the clutch with the whole leg and rest my heel on the carpet in front of the clutch when not in use. If I'm cruising for a long time on the highway, I use the dead pedal to the far left for comfort.

Other folks may vary.

kenchan

my left heel is partially pivoted off the floor.

WAGAWAGA

Does that mean the heel touches the floor? Whenever i try using my whole leg the clutch seems to push my leg back at the engagement point which gets my leg tired. its like a spring shoots the clutch backwards

m4a1mustang

It shouldn't really tire your leg out unless your leg is made out of twigs.

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Kyle@STILLEN

In the OP's defense...I see that he lives in Riverside. I don't doubt that his leg gets tired!!! I do everything I can to stay away from the freeways in Riverside because it doesn't matter what time of the day it is or what direction you're traveling, the freeways are just stop and go the whole way!

To the OP- Everyone's driving style is different and there is no right or wrong way. If you have found a method that works for you then stick with it!

m4a1mustang

Hey, I sit in traffic for up to two hours one way!

Plus, I though the was referring to only a few clutch operations.

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WAGAWAGA

Ahha thx Kyle i actually go to school in Riverside but live in LA . I play competitive Golf so I actually have a pretty built lower body, but i guess im not just used to the clutch motion. Hopefully with practice everything will make sense to me.

KillerBee370

shadoquad

I know you're gonna hate to hear this... "You'll get used to it" tm

Again, you have to get used to the operation. As I said, I use the whole leg to engage/release the clutch, but I rest it right there in a prone position between shifts.

kjay82

well, this is my first stick shift as well.. i've had it for about 4 months now and have about 4k miles on it..

i know exactly what you mean.. it does get hard and since every car is different, it's hard to explain to others so they could teach you..

From just my experience and trying to learn little stuff here and there from other peeps, this is what i found out..
this car has a lot of torque... A LOT! this with the combination of the accelerator being very sensitive, it's hard to match and get the "sweet spot" while balancing your clutch and gas..

after trying numerous things, i came to a conclusion where more gas = better shifting.. (not too much, just a tad over needed..)

from N to 1st gear, i give it a little more gas and use my clutch to control the speed.. i keep my foot down on the gas at a constant and slowly let go of the clutch.. as you're letting go of the clutch, the car accelerates.. and then, i hit ~ 3,500rpm and shift to 2nd.. from 3rd on out, it should be easier to shift gears since your car has enough momentum..

my biggest problem is or was, i'm so used to driving automatics, i'm always imagining driving my manual car like one... i just got over the fact that the transition from 1st to 2nd will NEVER be as smooth as an automatic.. lolz..
it took me a while to get over this..

if anyone else reads this and i'm wrong about something, please correct me for i am still learning right now.. as i mentioned above, this is my 1st stick shift as well...

hope this helps..


ride on~

WAGAWAGA

I know what you mean lol, i noticed i cant come close to the smoothness of an automatic in upshifts. ill try out your method

kenchan

yep, my heel is always touching the floor.

spearfish25

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

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