Do you floor the clutch?

[Roasted]

Do you floor the clutch the entire way in when you shift? Tonight I noticed my car shifts very smooth if I shift really fast and don't floor the clutch the entire way. Just figured I'd ask.

[ba_feitl]

never push the clutch all the way in

[KeWLKaT]

pretty much yep (as in, i always floor it)

[Roasted]

Why shouldn't you push the clutch the entire way in? Even at stop lights?

[BlackElantraGT]

At stop lights my car's in neutral with my right foot on the brakes, and left foot off the clutch

[Roasted]

Yeah, but when you put it in first do you floor the clutch before starting off?

[BlackElantraGT]

I usually try to clutch in all the way when I shift, but sometimes I do get lazy and sloppy and end up grinding 3rd gear. Since I've owned the car, I've tried to ride the clutch as little as possible and for 72,000 miles my clutch seems fine, although I've noticed that I grind 3rd more often than before for some reason.

[FinalBreath]

I rpm shift as much as possible. Just to save the clutch, plus I am used to it being a diesel technician

[Mr. Dan]

That seems like a really odd question. Why wouldn't someone put the clutch all the way to the floor when shifting? Unless of course you want to live dangerously with your transmission. To each their own.

[Cypher]

i don't put mine all the way in sometimes. the reason i can do that is a i still have teh stage 3 clutch in and it disengages before i get anywhere near the floor.

[Roasted]

Guys, I love cars, but I don't know that much about the mechanics. Can somebody fill me in on the pros and cons of pushing the clutch in the entire way as well as only pushing it in half way, or 3/4 of the way, etc? I just don't see the advantage/disadvantage. *shrug*

[ba_feitl]

I just make sure it has fully engaged the clutch and I am all set for the next shift. That way I don't trash the transmission

Brad

[02_Elantra]

in my car it seems like the clutch is fully disengaged when the pedal is a little more than half way to the floor so i tend to not go all the way down, maybe i'm breaking something while doing so but it doesn't feel like there is something wrong. if i'm actually focussing on what i'm doing, i usually go all the way down, if i'm just driving around usually it's more like half way, my 02 cents.

02_elantra

[Roasted]

Again, what does flooring the clutch do? How is it hard on the transmission? Somebody tell me...

[FordFasteRR]

you should push it all the way down on every shift.

The only time you can do something different is if you are racing, and even then you should push it all the way in just don't let off the gas (if you are good at driving) otherwise you will mis-shift and possibly break the gearbox.....

=)

[Roasted]

Anyway when I've been shifting, I go about 3/4 of the way down. But I don't push it far enough to feel the pedal hit the floor. It seems to go smooth as butter then.

[WytchDctr]

When the clutch pedal is on the floor the pressure on the clutch plate is at its lowest. If you leave it half way up you have pressure on the clutch thats rubbing on the flywheel. This will accelerate clutch wear. Hope you know how to change a clutch, if not I did a write up on it.

[Roasted]

Okay, I see. So it'll make the clutch wear out faster, yet I assume from what I'm gathering it'll prove less of a kick on the transmission when you shift, therefore prolonging transmission life?

[fifthgear]

I put the clutch to the floor as well...

[WytchDctr]

I can see it wearing somethings out, like our weak link the syncros, even faster. Because the input shaft still has torque being applied. Just get smoother using the clutch right, rev match downshifts, etc. and the entire car will be happier.

[KeWLKaT]

Okay, I see. So it'll make the clutch wear out faster, yet I assume from what I'm gathering it'll prove less of a kick on the transmission when you shift, therefore prolonging transmission life?

...no

Shifting while flooring the clutch is the only way of prolonging trans/clutch life.

Not flooring it will result in faster wear of the clutch disc material and formation of burn spots on the flywheel and pressure plate which results in premature slippage, and also heavy damage to your transmission

Not using the clutch will save clutch disc life, but if not done the right way can damage your transmission BIG TIME.

[WytchDctr]

Damage soft parts before hard parts, always... even if ours trans are cheap. Stock clutchs are cheaper.

[KeWLKaT]

^ Yep!

And installing a new clutch isn't that hard either... So it's a 4-5 hours job with around 120$ in parts if you buy a stock one... I recommend using the conventionnal method of shifting with the pedal all the way in.