Bad Driving Habits (M/T)

roplusbee

Haha....aftermarket clutches can be a pain after a while, especially unsprung types. I have only had 2 upgraded clutches on previous cars. Both of them on S13 Fastbacks. One was OS GIken and the other was a Euro brand sprung 6-puck (on the car when I got it). Both on CA18DETs.

But back on topic, I always coast in gear so that I am not on the clutch and not using the brake. When I learned to drive, it was on a MT and the guy told me to get on the clutch....put it in gear....and get off the clutch. So basically, to stay off the pedal as much as possible.

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2007 350Z NISMO #0618: Zerolift | UPREV | F.I. | Greddy | Competition Clutch | Injector Dynamics | Aeromotive | Pioneer | JL

shoopajae10

+1... I try to stay off the clutch as much as possible too. Only use it to shift it into gear or to pop the stick back into neutral.

Dumb question, while in gear, is it bad if you dont clutch in to pop the stick back into neutral?

chops

ive always wanted to try this...my friends who drive M/T's say its possible and shouldnt harm your car, but you know everyone thinks they know everything about cars

lazywolfe

From the Car Talk guys about holding the clutch in while stopped:

"Dear Tom and Ray:

A friend of mine at work and I have a disagreement regarding using the clutch on a standard-shift car. He says that keeping the clutch pressed in will wear out the throw-out bearing, and I say it won't. For example, he says that when on a hill, the smart driver will put the car in neutral and let the clutch out, keeping one foot on the brake, to save wear and tear on the throw-out bearing. I say keeping the clutch depressed won't cause wear and tear. Who's right? -- Red

RAY: He is.
...

TOM: The second most common type of clutch failure is when the throw-out bearing (also called the release bearing) fails. That's the bearing that pushes the clutch plates apart when you push in the clutch pedal to change gears.

RAY: Used correctly, the throw-out bearing will last much longer than the clutch disc. But if you sit at red lights with your foot on the clutch pedal all the time, you can wear out the throw-out bearing before you wear out your clutch disc. And because that's an entirely preventable condition, we call that clutch murder in the second degree.

TOM: The problem is, if either the disc OR the bearing fails, you then have to replace the whole clutch. To reach either of those parts, you have to remove the entire transmission. And once you've paid for all that labor, you'd be crazy to do half the clutch. On most cars these days, a clutch job is at least a thousand bucks.
"

Car Talk

Armonster

I didn't hear the rest of this conversation, but it sounds like they are talking about resting your foot on the clutch pedal rather than holding the clutch pedal down all the way. I could see how the first option could cause a problem, but still don't understand how the second one could.

lazywolfe

They meant pressed all the way in. I'll paste the rest of it.

Armonster

Cool, thanks. Can someone explain why this is the case (mechanically)?

Drex

yep exactly what happened on my rsx. throw-out bearing failed due to being lazy and holding the clutch all the way in at lights, stop signs, etc. had to replace my entire clutch for ~$1500.

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2011 Nissan 370z | 6MT | Magnetic Black | Sport Package

EazyD

I did this once by accident
..the car still works. Not sure if it did any damage. Anyone?

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Pearl White 2010 370Z Sport, Stillen CBE, tint, K&N drop-in filters, GT-R start button, Kenwood DNX-6980 with backup cam, LED bulbs, Raceseng shift knob.

kenchan

not bad at all. heck i do it all the time in my dd. basically while braking i blip the throttle just a hair and put into neutral without using the clutch.

you can even shift up without your clutch if you can get the rev's perfect.

shoopajae10

Well, since i have syncro rev match, and its rev's should be perfect all the time, i can do this on my 370z?

Im sure its not recommended, but would it hurt the transmission? would it even let me?

brado

in tractor trailors you never have to use the clutch unless you are stopped. i dont know if its the same with cars though.

nabenson

They often have straight cut gears and/or no synchros. That's why they can shift without using the clutch without damaging anything. If you can rev match properly you can shift without it.

On a car with synchros (pretty much all production passenger vehicles) this is REALLY BAD for them. Syncros are typically brass or similar (read: soft) and shifting under stress chews them up.

Shifting into neutral without the clutch, on the other hand, doesn't damage anything. They synchros don't do anything when you pull it out of gear, just when you're putting it in.

kenchan

Hahaha, not recommended but u can try it.

shoopajae10

No thanks. But I really want to know if it works, so I nominate brado.