What is slipping the clutch?

[Natty]

What exactly is slipping the clutch? I have had a few different people tell me different things. All I know is that I killed a perfect clutch in 2,000 miles and I don't wanna do it again &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> ($600 <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> )
Anyone have any videos of a stick shift showing the tach clearly?
Thanks,
Jeff

[gfisch]

Slipping the clutch?? You mean riding the clutch?
Thats would be if you hold the clutch pedal down partially while your driving and wearing the clutch disc down.
You killed a clutch in 2k miles??? No offense, but you must really be doing something really wrong. Maybe you should have someone whos experienced in driving a 5spd ride with you and try to help you out.

[Natty]

Here is where I am confused. When you shift, you have to slowly let the clutch out while you are moving. You don't just quickly let it out do you?
I am so confused. I am about to sell this thing and buy an automatic Honda econobox.
Jeff

[DSC]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Natty @ Mar. 27 2002,02:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You don't just quickly let it out do you?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Yes, I do. &nbsp;When up shifting I just drop it. &nbsp;When downshifting I slip it very rapidly, properly matching rev's of course.

[ghosts14]

It is really easy, I taught the wife how to drive stick and now that is all that she drives.

When you start you will feel it grab, that is when you give it gas. &nbsp;If you give it a lot of gas, then you pull the clutch out faster. &nbsp;When just changing gears, then it just depends on how you are driving. &nbsp;

If just normally driving, then I will put the clutch and and pull it out casually. &nbsp;If I am in a hurry, or challenged by someone, then I will put the clutch in and pull it out about as fast as I can shift gears. &nbsp;

The key is how much gas you are giving it.

[Natty]

OK, I think I got it.
What should the RPM's on the tach be doing, indicating I am doing something bad and slipping it?

[sykikchimp]

Slipping the Clutch is generally used as a drag racing technique. &nbsp;It is where you will run the rpm's on the engine to close your power band, say 4-5K, and then when the light turns green you try to keep your rpms near that while letting out the clutch just hard enough to keep your wheels from spinning. &nbsp;If done properly 1st gear will lauch you forward very quickly and give good 60ft times thus lower 1/4 mile times. &nbsp;This is VERY hard on your clutch though. &nbsp;I do not recommend this on an OEM clutch b/c you will lose grabbing power for the rest of your gears after launching. &nbsp;Agood aftermarket clutch should be strong enough to handle it a few times though. &nbsp;Still very hard on the clutch though.

[transient]

Personally, I always pop the clutch in and out (except from a standstill) It's the easiest on your clutch, you just have to be careful to be giving it the right amount gas. As a general rule, when you're starting from a stop (casual driving), try to keep the RPM's as low as possible while you bring out the clutch. Make sure you don't stall it, but the lower the rpm's are while you're letting the clutch slip the less it will hurt the clutch.

[sil80]

Just to confuse your newbieness to sticks, there is also a way to shift with out using the clutch. Heres how its done.
1. drive down the street like you normally do and pay attention to your power band and &nbsp;what rpm your shifting at.
2. Now take another run at it but this time at your shift point give it a little gas and then let off. Now right when you let off shift and then give it gas. Now this does not work well with first so I dont suggest trying it.. Only second and up. Also this is not ment for racing or shifting quick in general. this is ment for everyday driving and will save you from burning out your clutch so you put money elsewhere. Also dont be scared if you grind a couple times, its all about finding the sweet spot.
There is also a way to do this when down shifting but thats for another time.

[gfisch]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (sil80 @ Mar. 28 2002,2<!--emo&<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Just to confuse your newbieness to sticks, there is also a way to shift with out using the clutch. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Yeah, thats actually not hard to do at all if you match the RPMs right and is cool for showing off, but I wouldnt reccomend doing it regularly because instead of your clutch taking the abuse, your syncros in the tranny are.

[sykikchimp]

yeah, clutches are cheaper than tranny's to replace. &nbsp;beat the clutch, Not the tranny.

[Danio]

Hmm. When I shift without the clutch (rarely), I find that I have to let off the gas completely or else it'll grind. And it has to be done from about 3500 rpm. But anyway, I don't usually do that. &nbsp;:P

Normally I bring the stick out of gear and press the clutch at the same time, and then go into the next gear while the rpm drops a bit and let out the clutch quickly at almost the same time. But I don't exactly pop the clutch because passengers don't like that. &nbsp;^_^;

Probably the main thing you need to work on is rev-matching. Even if you shift pretty slowly, it shouldn't wear out the clutch that much if you rev-match properly. (I think.)

[Natty]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (transient @ Mar. 27 2002,12:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Personally, I always pop the clutch in and out (except from a standstill) It's the easiest on your clutch, you just have to be careful to be giving it the right amount gas. As a general rule, when you're starting from a stop (casual driving), try to keep the RPM's as low as possible while you bring out the clutch. Make sure you don't stall it, but the lower the rpm's are while you're letting the clutch slip the less it will hurt the clutch.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Great. I do most of that, except I let the clutch out slowly when moving, not from a standstill. I will practice tomarrow. Only thing is that I don't know if I am doing anything wrong untill I kill my clutch and it is too late. I didn't know my old technique was bad until Monday when my cluthc wouldn't make it up a very shallow hill &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

[rancid240]

you must have been able to smell it! when i learned on my clutch and fucked up, i would know it cuz the car would smell like shit. &nbsp;it took me about 3k to burn out my first clutch, but it was already 133k old.

[Natty]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (rancid240 @ Mar. 27 2002,10:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">you must have been able to smell it! when i learned on my clutch and fucked up, i would know it cuz the car would smell like shit. it took me about 3k to burn out my first clutch, but it was already 133k old.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Really? I thought you could only smell it if it was literally frying it. I figured if I slowly (ok, quickly) kille dit over 2000 miles it would not smell.
Thanks for all your guys help <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>
Jeff