The best way to use the clutch?

[dareo]

I'm a stick shift novice, at least with cars. Motorcycles, there much easier. But whats the best way to engage the clutch in general, especially my worn clutch that could start slipping or burning any day now. It needs to last me a few more months till i get a swap figured out. Is it better to feather the clutch slow slow or let it up fast enough that it jerks or whats really the best way to do it with the least amount of clutch wear? I wanna baby it most of the time till i have a better idea of when im replacing it. Right now i just let it out trying for the smoothest transitions, but sometimes it comes off lumpy or overreved. It seems a lot different in each gear, but hey ive got 216k miles on this car, i have no clue how many is on that clutch, but i'd estimate its the second clutch. What gives the least amount of wear to the clutch? A fast engage, a slow engage, or somewhere in the middle? And how can i tell if im doing like i should?

[MainEvent212]

keep rpm down and do it nice and smooth not too fast or slow

[p00t]

what Mainevent said is basically right. lower rpms = less heat from friction. the faster the rpms go the more heat the clutch will make when you are engaging it. heat + not fully engaged clutch = fast wear.

best thing to do is learn your gears. learn how much of an rpm change there is between the next gear up at a certain speed.

for example say im in 1st and shift at 15mph, i know my rpm is going to go from 3.5k to around 2k. but at 50mph 4th to 5th will go 3krpm to about 2.2k. once you get the hang of that all your doing is: clutch in, shift, wait for where the rpms should be, then let up the clutch easy but still fast. if you are matching the rpms right it shouldnt matter if you feather the clutch or just side step the pedal, it should be pretty much in sinc so minimal slippage.

you dont have to get it perfect, but just get it in the genral area. and keep the rpms low. doin that i dont doubt you can take a clutch 150k miles. but who the hell wants to drive like an old granny??!?!

[drift-sx]

you can switch without the clutch jsut use it when starting and stopping jsut find the right rpm (i had to do this for while when my clutch master cylinder went) i think its around 2300 rpm if you do it nice and slow it will slide right in i got pretty good at it the nissan guy even said how did you do it.

[[Zero-S]]

Stomp in jerk out.

[karter74]

actually, if you have ever driven an automatic car you know how smooth it is, maybe you should base your shifts on trying to be as smooth as an automatic (its possible) usually that entails keeping the rpms low

[dareo]

Thanks for the replies. My clutch is kinda worn i think, it has less grip when the cars warm, and doesnt engage till almost the end of the pedal. It seems to lack a bit of grip in 1st and 2nd going up hills when its warm. I want to get into the habit of clutching perfectly for when i have my SR20 or RB25 in there with a new clutch. I'm not as smooth as my auto S10 was, especially when im going all out..i dont think chirping 1, 2, and 3rd with a stock SOHC is exactly smooth shifting...sure was fun tho.

[240_Keyy]

use your feet, it is way too hard to reach with your hands...

[jacob360]

doesnt engage till almost the end of the pedal.

If you don't have enough (or any) freeplay the clutch wont be fully engaged when the pedal is released all the way. Try adjusting your freeplay and see if that helps.

[Tweaky_Tom]

use your feet, it is way too hard to reach with your hands...

OH MY GOD DUDE! LMAO LMAO!

[fiznat]

have you been granny shifting and not double clutching like you should?? lol..

heh well I think the easiest way on the clutch is this:

take your foot off the gasclutch inshiftclutch outfoot back on the gas

let the clutch fully grab the flywheel before you start applying gas, and try to do it at a lower RPM. You'll feel the clutch set in, and it wont be SUPER (automatic) smooth, but it's definetly easier on the clutch than trying to rev up with the clutch+flywheel rubbing against eachother. on downshifting, ALWAYS match the revs so that you dont use the clutch's friction to slow the car down to the right RPM.

Good luck with your car, shifting is so much fun once you get the hang of it!

[Atl_240sx]

I hope so. School starts next week and I still haven't driven my 240sx because I can't drive a stick. It needs a battery and a radiator. Or I will be starting in my moms 91 Stanza. But at either way I'll still be driving....Good Luck