Letting the clutch out slowly, good or bad?

Read the FAQ and still not sure about something? Want to shift faster? Post here.
Post Reply
User avatar
Etanimulc
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 106
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:56 pm
Location: Maryland

Letting the clutch out slowly, good or bad?

Post by Etanimulc »

I was taking my foot off of the clutch as quickly as I could, and the car would shake a little bit. When I let my foot off of the clutch in a slow, gradual motion, I don't get any shake or less of a shake. Is letting the clutch out slowly or too fast good or bad?
scionkid
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2539
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 1:47 am
Cars: 04 xB
Location: Anaheim, CA
Contact:

Post by scionkid »

Moderation is best. If you let the clutch out way too slow, you wear the clutch. On the other hand, causing jerking and shakes stress the transmission, joints, and the engine. A little bit of shake is fine but no bucking. Try to let the clutch out as quickly as you can w/o jerking the car around.
Johnf514
Moderator
Posts: 8574
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:59 pm
Cars: '07 Mazda3, '06 Ninja 636
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Post by Johnf514 »

scionkid wrote:Moderation is best. If you let the clutch out way too slow, you wear the clutch. On the other hand, causing jerking and shakes stress the transmission, joints, and the engine. A little bit of shake is fine but no bucking. Try to let the clutch out as quickly as you can w/o jerking the car around.
+1. Not too fast, not too slow, and pause lifting the clutch for a second as the clutch (wheel speed) matches the flywheel (engine speed).
2007 Mazda3
Mods: 15% tint, Eibach ProKit
2006 Ninja 636
Mods: NOS & sidecar
screenname
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2755
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2005 11:11 pm

Post by screenname »

If you want minimal damage to the clutch, simply dump it. If you want minimal damage to the driveline, take your foot off the clutch VERY slowly. It's true, but don't drive like that. My friend has a 1990 Toyota Tacoma (or whatever those pickups are called) that has 245,000 miles on it, and he still hasn't replaced the clutch. Do what scionkid and Johnf514 said.
Hatchman
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2687
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:25 pm
Location: frequently in a FiT often in Etobicoke

Post by Hatchman »

Lately, I've been doing my 4th to 2nd shift using double-clutch. I do it on the fly with no braking and minimal coasting. I do a big gas blip as the car is in neutral/clutch out and another "buffer" blip as the clutch is at the FP. I release the clutch relatively slowly here. But I'm still getting what feels like too much engine braking. Not jerking, just strong braking effect. Is this normal?
screenname
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2755
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2005 11:11 pm

Post by screenname »

It's normal. A couple minutes ago, I was driving back and forth at around 45-50 mph, doing double clutch downshifts into 3rd from 4th. The car should slow down when you do that.

By the way... 100th post! I'm feeling good... Now I'm a Senior Standardshifter as well! Take that, Paolo300zx! :twisted:
Paolo300zx
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3184
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:03 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Contact:

Post by Paolo300zx »

congratz man good job :D
User avatar
potownrob
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7833
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
Location: Dutchess County

Post by potownrob »

jvf1mikey wrote:Lately, I've been doing my 4th to 2nd shift using double-clutch. I do it on the fly with no braking and minimal coasting. I do a big gas blip as the car is in neutral/clutch out and another "buffer" blip as the clutch is at the FP. I release the clutch relatively slowly here. But I'm still getting what feels like too much engine braking. Not jerking, just strong braking effect. Is this normal?
You have to let the clutch up quicker on rev-matched downshifts, or you might as well have not rev-matched :o
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
Hatchman
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2687
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:25 pm
Location: frequently in a FiT often in Etobicoke

Post by Hatchman »

potownrob: that is my feeling exactly, though I don't know how much quicker I can let out the clutch. Should I try "popping" it?
Hatchman
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2687
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:25 pm
Location: frequently in a FiT often in Etobicoke

Post by Hatchman »

potownrob: Your post inspired me to go out and practice just downshifts (4th to 3rd, 4th to 2nd, and 3rd to second). Good thing I have the day off. I did about 15 "laps" around a long loop of road that has a bit of traffic and a stop sign and a light. All my turns were rights but the entire route was ideal for using 1st to 4th gears. I worked on the co-ordination and quickness of gas blip, clutch down, gear in, clutch up. It's amazing how the car gives you feedback and tells you whether you've given enough gas on the blip. Anyway I found that a bit of a slowdown in gear helps when readying for the double-clutch downshift sequence. You're right, once the downshift sequence is started, you gotta be really quick -- foot poised above clutch ready to floor it then release it, right hand moving really fast on shifter. I managed to pull off a few very good downshifts where no second gas applcation was necessary to cushion the outcome. This took many many tries, as I'd somehow trained myself to give just a moderate first blip followed by a second gas application. After breakfast it'll be back to the drawing board for more. I also need to perfect the rolling downshift to first. By the way, I find 4th to 3rd a real breeze on the double-clutch sequence, where a second gas application is just overkill. I'd imagine 5th to 4th would be the same as the gear ratios are pretty similar. I need some highway practice.
Thanks for your help.
mkracer89
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 183
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 1:42 pm
Location: California

Post by mkracer89 »

You should be able to engage the clutch pretty quickly except for when you are starting from a complete stop or if you are in reverse.
Honda Civic EX coupe
Hatchman
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2687
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:25 pm
Location: frequently in a FiT often in Etobicoke

Post by Hatchman »

I'd say, when I feel I've hit the right revs, I let the clutch out as fast as I pushed it in (on a DC downshift).
Post Reply