How to drive a stick? **Downshift or Brake?**

[datalink7]

A tip that helped me immensly when I started out:

Put the gas down some before letting out the clutch. Not a whole lot, but enough that you can hear the engine reving a little bit. Then slowly let out the clutch.

Much better than trying to "time it" when you are first starting.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
When you are slowing down (stop sign or red light) you can either downshift (most reccomended) by obviously repeating the previous process just in reverse; or you can put it in neutral and brake. Im a newb though, so just get advice from the many other people who really know how to drive.

DO NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN! Very hard on the transmission (especially the synchros). Proper procedure for slowing down is to leave the car in whatever gear you have selected and just hit the brakes. When you have slowed to the point where RPM's are at about 1,500, push in the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral while you continue braking to a stop.

Once you have stopped, either put the car in first with the clutch pedal fully depressed, or take your foot off the clutch and wait until you are going to start again to engage first gear. There are differing schools of thought on that. One school says it is best to sit stopped with your foot off the clutch and the gear lever in neutral because it saves wear on the clutch throw-out bearing that way. The other school (which is the one I follow) says that it's easier to leave it in gear with the clutch disengaged (allows quicker take-off from a stop light and you're less likely to roll if you get rear-ended). The second school of thought also notes that any reputable clutch shop will always replace the throw-out bearing when they replace the clutch so there is no real point in "saving" wear on the throw-out bearing since there is virtually no chance that a street-car's throw-out bearing will wear out before the clutch.

ZV

 

[RgrPark]

Ok, when you're new at driving manual, forget everything you read so far, and do this. When i was learning, it took me forever cuz i was trying to find the perfect sync between letting the clutch go and stepping on the gas...Instead, as a beginner, while you have the clutch pressed down, give it gas just a little bit. then as your rpm goes up a tad, just slowly let go of the clutch...so simple...practice in an empty lot.

damn, datalink7 beat me to it...listen to what he said.

 

[handoverfist]

It took me a good 2 - 3 months of driving, before it become second nature.

p.s. Go practice on a slope

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Excelsior
When you are slowing down (stop sign or red light) you can either downshift (most reccomended) by obviously repeating the previous process just in reverse; or you can put it in neutral and brake. Im a newb though, so just get advice from the many other people who really know how to drive.

DO NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN! Very hard on the transmission (especially the synchros). Proper procedure for slowing down is to leave the car in whatever gear you have selected and just hit the brakes. When you have slowed to the point where RPM's are at about 1,500, push in the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral while you continue braking to a stop.

Once you have stopped, either put the car in first with the clutch pedal fully depressed, or take your foot off the clutch and wait until you are going to start again to engage first gear. There are differing schools of thought on that. One school says it is best to sit stopped with your foot off the clutch and the gear lever in neutral because it saves wear on the clutch throw-out bearing that way. The other school (which is the one I follow) says that it's easier to leave it in gear with the clutch disengaged (allows quicker take-off from a stop light and you're less likely to roll if you get rear-ended). The second school of thought also notes that any reputable clutch shop will always replace the throw-out bearing when they replace the clutch so there is no real point in "saving" wear on the throw-out bearing since there is virtually no chance that a street-car's throw-out bearing will wear out before the clutch.

ZV

Oh, sorry. I heard wrong then. My dad always downshifts, and I do trust his skills. Hes been driving for close to 40 years now, and could completely disassemble a car and put it back together.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: LOLyourFace
I know it's all about driving one and learning from the actual performance but it couldn't hurt to get the concept straight and memorize in my head. (how to gear up/down, don't dos, & etc)

Can you guys help me out? I'm picking up my Mazda 6 five speed tomorrow (dad will drive it back first) and will be learning.

drive it for like 2 hrs straight, then you will get the hang of it

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: toant103

Originally posted by: LOLyourFace
I know it's all about driving one and learning from the actual performance but it couldn't hurt to get the concept straight and memorize in my head. (how to gear up/down, don't dos, & etc)

Can you guys help me out? I'm picking up my Mazda 6 five speed tomorrow (dad will drive it back first) and will be learning.

drive it for like 2 hrs straight, then you will get the hang of it

That's pretty much it. One thing to keep in mind is that, in general, if you are pushing the clutch down, you are letting the gas up. If you are pushing the gas down, you are letting the clutch up.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Excelsior
When you are slowing down (stop sign or red light) you can either downshift (most reccomended) by obviously repeating the previous process just in reverse; or you can put it in neutral and brake. Im a newb though, so just get advice from the many other people who really know how to drive.

DO NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN! Very hard on the transmission (especially the synchros). Proper procedure for slowing down is to leave the car in whatever gear you have selected and just hit the brakes. When you have slowed to the point where RPM's are at about 1,500, push in the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral while you continue braking to a stop.

Once you have stopped, either put the car in first with the clutch pedal fully depressed, or take your foot off the clutch and wait until you are going to start again to engage first gear. There are differing schools of thought on that. One school says it is best to sit stopped with your foot off the clutch and the gear lever in neutral because it saves wear on the clutch throw-out bearing that way. The other school (which is the one I follow) says that it's easier to leave it in gear with the clutch disengaged (allows quicker take-off from a stop light and you're less likely to roll if you get rear-ended). The second school of thought also notes that any reputable clutch shop will always replace the throw-out bearing when they replace the clutch so there is no real point in "saving" wear on the throw-out bearing since there is virtually no chance that a street-car's throw-out bearing will wear out before the clutch.

Hmmm i thought one of the benefits of driving stick was downshifting to a stop. It's especially useful in snowy conditions.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: LOLyourFace


Can you guys help me out? I'm picking up my Mazda 6 five speed tomorrow (dad will drive it back first) and will be learning.

I don't think anything that we say will help you. You just have to get the feel of it. It just takes practice, then it's easy.

 

[Syringer]

Can someone explain, as was asked earlier, at what point does a car stall? And what causes grinding?

 

[LOLyourFace]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Excelsior
When you are slowing down (stop sign or red light) you can either downshift (most reccomended) by obviously repeating the previous process just in reverse; or you can put it in neutral and brake. Im a newb though, so just get advice from the many other people who really know how to drive.

DO NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN! Very hard on the transmission (especially the synchros). Proper procedure for slowing down is to leave the car in whatever gear you have selected and just hit the brakes. When you have slowed to the point where RPM's are at about 1,500, push in the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral while you continue braking to a stop.

Once you have stopped, either put the car in first with the clutch pedal fully depressed, or take your foot off the clutch and wait until you are going to start again to engage first gear. There are differing schools of thought on that. One school says it is best to sit stopped with your foot off the clutch and the gear lever in neutral because it saves wear on the clutch throw-out bearing that way. The other school (which is the one I follow) says that it's easier to leave it in gear with the clutch disengaged (allows quicker take-off from a stop light and you're less likely to roll if you get rear-ended). The second school of thought also notes that any reputable clutch shop will always replace the throw-out bearing when they replace the clutch so there is no real point in "saving" wear on the throw-out bearing since there is virtually no chance that a street-car's throw-out bearing will wear out before the clutch.

Hmmm i thought one of the benefits of driving stick was downshifting to a stop. It's especially useful in snowy conditions.

wtf, so which one is it gonna be!?!?

 

[Nocturnal]

As long as you know how to drive already and you have a decent guy trying to teach you stick you'll be ok.

Just remember to let go of the clutch slowly. If all else fails ride the clutch

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Excelsior
When you are slowing down (stop sign or red light) you can either downshift (most reccomended) by obviously repeating the previous process just in reverse; or you can put it in neutral and brake. Im a newb though, so just get advice from the many other people who really know how to drive.

DO NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN! Very hard on the transmission (especially the synchros). Proper procedure for slowing down is to leave the car in whatever gear you have selected and just hit the brakes. When you have slowed to the point where RPM's are at about 1,500, push in the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral while you continue braking to a stop.

Once you have stopped, either put the car in first with the clutch pedal fully depressed, or take your foot off the clutch and wait until you are going to start again to engage first gear. There are differing schools of thought on that. One school says it is best to sit stopped with your foot off the clutch and the gear lever in neutral because it saves wear on the clutch throw-out bearing that way. The other school (which is the one I follow) says that it's easier to leave it in gear with the clutch disengaged (allows quicker take-off from a stop light and you're less likely to roll if you get rear-ended). The second school of thought also notes that any reputable clutch shop will always replace the throw-out bearing when they replace the clutch so there is no real point in "saving" wear on the throw-out bearing since there is virtually no chance that a street-car's throw-out bearing will wear out before the clutch.

Hmmm i thought one of the benefits of driving stick was downshifting to a stop. It's especially useful in snowy conditions.

It is, very much so. I think he's just saying don't do it all the time.

 

[Kalvin00]

A car stalls when you try to take off and you: (A) let out clutch to fast (B) dont give it enough gas. It usually happens when taking off uphill. Grinding...eh. Someone else answer.

If you have low enough gears, you can just let out the clutch and it will idle along. (My dad's Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel will do this.)

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic
[Hmmm i thought one of the benefits of driving stick was downshifting to a stop. It's especially useful in snowy conditions.

I don't know about that... I drove my car in the snow, and when I let off the clutch, no matter how easily I tried, the tires would break loose. My automatic daily driver was much easier to modulate the power going to the wheels since the torque converter softens the link from the engine to the wheels.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Moralpanic
[Hmmm i thought one of the benefits of driving stick was downshifting to a stop. It's especially useful in snowy conditions.

I don't know about that... I drove my car in the snow, and when I let off the clutch, no matter how easily I tried, the tires would break loose. My automatic daily driver was much easier to modulate the power going to the wheels since the torque converter softens the link from the engine to the wheels.

The benefit of a manual in snow is that instead of using the brakes, which can easily lock up due to very little traction, you can just downshift to slow down..

 

[ThaGrandCow]

Downshift. I use it all the time.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
A car stalls when you try to take off and you: (A) let out clutch to fast (B) dont give it enough gas. It usually happens when taking off uphill. Grinding...eh. Someone else answer.

If you have low enough gears, you can just let out the clutch and it will idle along. (My dad's Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel will do this.)

Low enough gears OR massive torque (which your dad's diesel has).

Grinding occurs when you let out the clutch before the stick is fully in a gearslot, or attempt to put it in a gearslot without putting the clutch down first. The "parts" aren't fully lined up so they grind. It's very pavlovian, once you hear/feel it you won't want to do it again.

 

[Cyberian]

How to drive a stick? **Downshift or Break?**

It's "Brake", and there is no effin way to learn how to drive a standard shift on the IntarWeb.
You just gotta go out and do it!!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Excelsior
When you are slowing down (stop sign or red light) you can either downshift (most reccomended) by obviously repeating the previous process just in reverse; or you can put it in neutral and brake. Im a newb though, so just get advice from the many other people who really know how to drive.

DO NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN! Very hard on the transmission (especially the synchros). Proper procedure for slowing down is to leave the car in whatever gear you have selected and just hit the brakes. When you have slowed to the point where RPM's are at about 1,500, push in the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral while you continue braking to a stop.

Once you have stopped, either put the car in first with the clutch pedal fully depressed, or take your foot off the clutch and wait until you are going to start again to engage first gear. There are differing schools of thought on that. One school says it is best to sit stopped with your foot off the clutch and the gear lever in neutral because it saves wear on the clutch throw-out bearing that way. The other school (which is the one I follow) says that it's easier to leave it in gear with the clutch disengaged (allows quicker take-off from a stop light and you're less likely to roll if you get rear-ended). The second school of thought also notes that any reputable clutch shop will always replace the throw-out bearing when they replace the clutch so there is no real point in "saving" wear on the throw-out bearing since there is virtually no chance that a street-car's throw-out bearing will wear out before the clutch.

Hmmm i thought one of the benefits of driving stick was downshifting to a stop. It's especially useful in snowy conditions.

It is, very much so. I think he's just saying don't do it all the time.

Bingo. You do not want to make a habit out of it. Using the transmission to slow the car down should only be used on long downhill runs when using the brakes would overheat them, or in situations where using the brakes makes skidding very likely. Though it is worth noting that an abrupt downshift carries almost as much risk of skidding as does using the brakes and that when downshifting it is still best to double-clutch and rev-match to smooth things out and to make life easy for the synchros.

ZV

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Syringer


The benefit of a manual in snow is that instead of using the brakes, which can easily lock up due to very little traction, you can just downshift to slow down..

That's not the case with my car. In my Z, when I'm in gear, as soon as I let off the gas my rear wheels break loose. It doesn't matter what gear I'm in, the rear wheels will break loose and the back end of the car will begin to swing around front as soon as I let off the gas. The only way I can keep it straight is to take it out of gear so all 4 wheels coast, then hit the brakes allowing the ABS to keep the car straight.

Also, when I hit the gas, the back end of the car will hang out several degrees due to the crown of the road (slope for drainage). If I let off the gas the car will do a 360, so the only thing I can do is keep on the gas to keep the back end in line.

I usually don't drive that car in the snow due to its horrible handling in it, and plus I don't like getting that car salty.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Oh, sorry. I heard wrong then. My dad always downshifts, and I do trust his skills. Hes been driving for close to 40 years now, and could completely disassemble a car and put it back together.

If your father is that good, then I'm willing to bet that he is double-clutching (which requires heel-and-toing when braking) and rev-matching. Both of those are advanced techniques not suited to a novice driver. If you are not double-clutching and rev-matching when downshifting to slow the car down and you make it a habit to downshift through the gears as you come to a stop, you WILL wear out your synchros, with noticeable wear occuring by 100,000 miles. You also (assuming a 5-speed) cycle your clutch an extra three times (assuming you go through every gear) as you come to a stop, which must necessarily wear the clutch out faster.

Granted, if you are a race-trained driver, then downshifting to slow the car is an ingrained technique (which is very advantageous on a racecourse). However, one must remember that racing transmissions are rebuilt much more often than their street counterparts and that race drivers have greater skill than your typical street driver. Not only this, but race driving is driving to get every extra hundredth of a second out of the car, and if that extra hundredth of a second takes off some synchro life (assuming that you're racing a transmission that even has synchros since most are straight-cut "crash box" types) then so be it. On a street car, that last .01 second isn't important.

ZV

 

[FrustratedUser]

There are a few misconceptions in this thread.

Riding the clutch:
Is when you do not fully engage the gear and leaves the clutch 'slipping' while giving gas. I little bit of slip is OK when starting, that is what the clutch is designed to handle.

When slowing down:
Usually engine braking is good. It has nothing to do with the clutch as someone else said. Combine engine breaking with normal breaking. Your driving will be smoother this way and it is not harmful to the clutch or anything else (unless you shift to 2'nd at 100mph).

Starting:
Try to find out whre the clutch startes to engage. You can do this on your driveway if you like. Leave engine at idle. Gently start to release the clutch and you will feel when it starts to engage. Nice to know where this point is. When you drive just give some gas and then gently release clutch and meet with some gas. Some slip is OK but when you feel the clutch engaging and the car starts to move just release it. You'll soon learn the caracteristics of your car.

Good luck. I've been driving stick all my life but had to go automatic since I moved here.

 

[bolido2000]

Why would anyone need to double clutch nowadays?? If you want to downshift to accelerate faster just do rev-matching (blip throttle to increase RPM before downshifting)

 

[Conky]

Gearing down versus hitting the brake.. which is cheaper, a new transmission or a set of brakes?