Question about driving a Standard

[NetCadet]

Hi Guys,

I was just curious about this, because I've received different answers from different people already.

Some people say that it's okay to use the brake to slow yourself down without first engaging the clutch - is this true?

I always thought that if you were going to brake, you should put the clutch in first but others have told me that if you're just slowing down a little for a corner or just slowing yourself down slightly for any reason, putting in the clutch just places extra wear on your clutch and is not necessary.

Personally, I thought that when you're in-gear with the clutch all the way out, the car's engine is trying to turn the tires, and if you're fighting it by applying the brake it can't be healthy - but I really have no idea.

Of course you would not brake a lot without using the clutch because you would soon stall, but I'm just talking about slowing down a little to let someone merge in front of you, or some scenario like that.

Cool or not cool? What do you think?
Thanks guys!

 

[hoihtah]

Some people say that it's okay to use the brake to slow yourself down without first engaging the clutch - is this true?

yes.

 

[trmiv]

Dude, you're not driving a race car, it really doesn't make much difference either way. Just drive, and get to where you're going and don't worry about it.

 

[Electric Amish]

Depends how much you're going to slow yourself. Personally, if I'm taking a corner I need to drop a gear so I HAVE to engage the clutch.

amish

 

[PsychoAndy]

dude, i think its all a matter of physics.....if you hit the brake you slow down the engine. if you put in the clutch, you slow down, but the engine slows down at a lesser pace since its not being actively "braked" but instead winding down from a higher RPM.

 

[LoTecha]

<< Personally, I thought that when you're in-gear with the clutch all the way out, the car's engine is trying to turn the tires, and if you're fighting it by applying the brake it can't be healthy - but I really have no idea.
>>



Well, if you're applying the brakes, then it means your foot is no longer on the accelerator. So no, the engine is no longer trying to turn the tires. In fact, if you leave the clutch engaged while braking, you save the brakes a little work since the engine has friction and helps to slow down the car (called engine-braking). If you want to try something, try driving up to 60mph and letting go of the accelerator while leaving the clutch engaged. Then, drive up to 60mph again and let go of the accelerator while disengaging the clutch. You'll notice that the former will slow down the car faster than the latter. The difference is due to engine braking.

So yes, it's fine to slow down without disengaging the clutch. It'll save your clutch some wear and tear as well.

 

[notfred]

You have to put the clutch in if you're going to be slowing to a speed that will stall the car in the current gear. i.e., if you're going to slow until the engine is spinning at less than 1000rpm or so, you have to put in the clutch. Anything faster than that, and it's up to you.

If you want to save wear on the clutch, you'll use it as little as possible.

 

[NetCadet]

Alright - sounds good - thank you guys!

 

[toant103]

if i'm in 5th gear, i out shift down to 3rd to slow down. And hit my brakes but no cluth until my engine rpm is @1000. Then i shift into N