Am I Wearing Out My Clutch Prematurely?

[supersteve9219]

Ok I just started driving stick yesterday when I got my SI, and I when im on hill at a light I put the car in neutral, then hold the brake then when the light turns green I keep holding the break then let out the clutch till I feel it start to catch then move my other foot from the brake to the gas then take off.

I was reading and I heard that its not good to hold you car on a hill with the clutch. do they mean what im doing? or do they mean not using the brake and holding it the whole time with the clutch only?

If im doing it wrong what is a better way?

[kbeeveer46]

When I started learning to drive a manual I did the same thing you do because it was easier at the time. Once I got better I just ride the clutch on a hill. I'm sure it's not great for the clutch but it's a lot easier and more comfortable doing it this way.

[ooskers]

What you are doing with the brake is ok. DO NOT sit and feather the clutch to keep it still on a hill though. Adopt the handbrake trick. Before you take off at a green light on a hill:

(1) Pull up pretty far on the handbrake
(2) Take your right foot off the pedal brake
(3) Let the clutch out slowly and give a little more gas than usual
(4) Release the handbrake as you start to move

[I Vtec, do you?]

I guess it depends how long you're holding the brake for.

What I did in the beginning was use the e-brake. I guess it's the same thing as you're doing. I just found it easier to hold the e-brake cranked in my hand, then while letting out the clutch I could slowly release the ebrake. Worked better than the brake imo because you can let out the e-brake easier than the brake, at least for me.

Yeah do what the guy above me just said lol

[supersteve9219]

Im not holding it with the clutch for more than 1-2 seconds, just enough time to move my foot to the gas

[habitat]

Yea, like others have said, use the e-brake. Easiest way to learn

[mrdimsum]

dude, keep doing what you're doing, until it goes green, then let up on the clutch, soon enough, you'll get so good at it, its like nothing.........
Keep learning where that friction point is, after that, you wont need the e-brake. go out and learn on an empty roadway with a hill.... or just learn on some open area, find that friction point, and remember it....

first time i was on a hill at an intersection, well, lets just say, i learned how to burn out real quick, LOL, not in my si, but on a previous car........ LOL

[Asif22]

I know where the sweet spot is so what I do is before i take my foot off the brake I let the clutch out and while im letting it out i take my right foot and get on the gas right as the clutch hits the grabbing point

[habitat]

Another good technique to learn is to put your right foot on both the brake and gas,
1.) hold clutch in with left foot
2.) hold brake in with left side of right foot (big toe) while hovering over the gas pedal with the right side of right foot (pinky toe)
3.) while holding the brake, use right side of foot to depress the throttle (just enough)
4.) let go of clutch
5.) slide right foot onto gas

I found this hard to achieve with the OEM pedals (unless if you wear a size 13 or wear work boots) so I bought this extended pedal. This is by no means a necessity, but with our DBW system I find it is the best way to do it smoothly.

[mrdimsum]

^ ummm, that just seems to awkward and things can go wrong it looks like........... if you know the sweet spot, go to it right before you let off the brakes, then gas away.... thats it

[20strong]

I just dump the clutch and mash the gas, that way if I get pulled over I can blame it on the car..

[mrdimsum]

Originally Posted by 20strong

I just dump the clutch and mash the gas, that way if I get pulled over I can blame it on the car..

cop goes, and is this your car?

you reply, why yes sir,

cop, whats the odometer say

you go, would you like this box of doughnuts?

LOL...............

[SiCivic83]

Yeah if you're holding the clutch at its release point at a red light, you're wearing out your clutch. I did this too for a while until my friend told me I was prematurely wearing out the clutch.

[habitat]

Originally Posted by SiCivic83

Yeah if you're holding the clutch at its release point at a red light, you're wearing out your clutch. I did this too for a while until my friend told me I was prematurely wearing out the clutch.

This is true, to put it in practical terms... which is cheaper to replace? clutch or brake pads? Bottom line: if you need to be stationary, don't feather your clutch to make up for the incline/decline, just press on the brakes.