TheSamba.com :: View topic - Do you put the clutch in when taking it out of gear?

Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:42 pm

I've notice that when I'm coming up to a stop sign in 2nd or third and can just pull it out of gear and sit in neutral while at the stop sign without putting the clutch in.

Is that normal? This is my first car that is a stick so I don't know if it is okay to do this regularly without putting the clutch in?

Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:49 pm

You'll get a couple different responses....
You'll save the clutch, but wear the trans. With that said, I do it, as long as the engine speed matches road speed. IOW, I'm not engine braking or accelerating.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:50 pm

when I'm at a stop or red light I put it in neutral and don't step on the clutch. Someone told me pressing the clutch pedal in wears off the pressure plate faster.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:56 pm

I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm in error, but have been popping my tranny into neutral without engaging the clutch since I began driving. Never had an issue. Synchronized gears allow this to happen much easier without the "grind". With enough practice, one can even "hot shift" up through the gears without the clutch. Very useful if your clutch ever tanks. :o [/i]

Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:47 pm

gkdorman wrote: Very useful if your clutch ever tanks. :o [/i]

No kidding. Driving home on city streets with no clutch is a blast. :lol:

Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:55 pm

Amigo-2k wrote: I've notice that when I'm coming up to a stop sign in 2nd or third and can just pull it out of gear and sit in neutral while at the stop sign without putting the clutch in.

Is that normal? This is my first car that is a stick so I don't know if it is okay to do this regularly without putting the clutch in?

I think it's normal that you CAN do this. However, I believe I read somewhere that shifting out of gear or into gear without pushing down the clutch pedal is a bad idea.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:08 pm

So you guys are just pulling it out of gear and into neutral? I know I've done it a few times by accident, and I'd always say to my self "oh shit!" since I figured I was doing some damage.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:16 pm

i don't think it will do any major damage, its not like you are grinding gears

Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:46 pm

I may do that if I'm gonna coast but normally if I'm slowing to stop I'll downshift with the clutch to the next gear for engine braking. Shifting without the clutch isn't difficult in some cars and if done "correctly" maybe not a problem, I have no data proving it good or bad, make your choice. My guess it will be ok until you screw up really bad ONE time, until then it should be good.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:49 pm

Cool! I guess I'll keep on doing it ... sometimes and sometimes not ....

Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:06 pm

I will disagree. Long term shifting without a clutch will cause premature wear on the syncros.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:10 pm

I always leave it in 1st with the clutch in at a stop, until Im sure the person pulling up behind me isnt going to rear end me, then I go to neutral and let off the clutch.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:00 pm

When the clutch petal is depressed it rides on the through-out bearing; when the clutch petal is out and the clutch is engaged the bearing doesn't turn. So it's best to shift into neutral and let out the clutch when stopped to save wear and tear on this bearing. Especially if stopped for a long time.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:52 pm

A friend used to leave it in first with the pedal down... until one day he was waiting to make a left rurn, wheel over to the left, when his clutch cable snapped, and he was thrown into oncoming traffic.

Never again!

Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:25 pm

i hardly ever use the clutch shifting into neutral, and alot of times i dont use it going up thru the gears.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:43 pm

Sid Vicious wrote: gkdorman wrote: Very useful if your clutch ever tanks. :o [/i]

No kidding. Driving home on city streets with no clutch is a blast. :lol:

More fun than no second gear? :)

Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:56 pm

KTPhil wrote: A friend used to leave it in first with the pedal down... until one day he was waiting to make a left rurn, wheel over to the left, when his clutch cable snapped, and he was thrown into oncoming traffic.

Never again!
I've never thought of that... I always wondered why people say not to leave it in first at a stop. Thanks for the info.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:22 pm

Shadd wrote: KTPhil wrote: A friend used to leave it in first with the pedal down... until one day he was waiting to make a left rurn, wheel over to the left, when his clutch cable snapped, and he was thrown into oncoming traffic.

Never again!
I've never thought of that... I always wondered why people say not to leave it in first at a stop. Thanks for the info.
And why not to have the wheel turned left in preparation for making a left turn. Otherwise, even if not in gear - if you get rear ended - you end up broadsided by oncoming traffic. :!:

Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:01 am

Any time you unload the driveline, either coasting to accelerating or vice versa, you will be able to shift without the clutch. Taking it out of gear without the clutch won't hurt the synchros. Putting it back in gear WILL hurt the synchros.

I look at it this way; premature clutch job, or premature transmission rebuild? I pick the clutch, personally. All the time, every time.

Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:38 am

i pretty sure that as long as your engine speed matches your tansmission speed you can float the gears all day long with no problems