wearing out the clutch? - BMW Forum

will1506 · 03-22-2004, 08:52 AM

hey guys I have heard many rumours about burning out clutches. It's a bad habit that I have but I hardly use the brakes. what I would do for example if I'm driving on 4 gear and if I have time I'd shift to 3rd. and then slowly let out of the clutch the revs will rise and the car is being slowed down by the engine as I slowly let go of the clutch. And after 3rd I'd shift to 2nd and do the same thing. Some people say that it saves bads but it's bad for the clutch cause it's beinb burnt when you do that. Is that true? And a second senario is if i'm doing 3rd and if I want to pick up more speed. I'd normally. Clutch put it down to 2nd and while my clutch is in I'd rev the car to around 6000 rpm and then step on the gas after letting go of the clutch for a smoother transition. If I were to just downshitf from 3rd to 2nd without reving it I'd feel a big jerk. So by reving the car while the clutch is fulling engaged does that burn the clutch. Like I was saying I have heard many contraditions. Thanks guys.

DeathMetal · 03-22-2004, 09:04 AM

The only time a clutch wears out is when it's in between being engaged and disenagaged - in other words the time when the pedal travels. If you minimize that time, your clutch will be fine. Downshift all you want, just don't RIDE a partiaslly engaged clutch for too long. As far as revving it up.... you can rev your engine till kingdom come if your clutch is either fully engaged or fully disengaged - you're doing no damage to your clutch that way.

To reiterate - the only time you're hurting your clutch is when its only partially engaged and you're riding it.

will1506 · 03-22-2004, 09:19 AM

So how about reducing car speed by slowly letting go of the clutch? For example, I'm coming to a stop from 3rd. I shift to 2nd. Take my foot of the gas and then slowly let go of the clutch in second (slowing the car down).

DeathMetal · 03-22-2004, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by will1506@Mar 22 2004, 10:59 AM
So how about reducing car speed by slowly letting go of the clutch? For example, I'm coming to a stop from 3rd. I shift to 2nd. Take my foot of the gas and then slowly let go of the clutch in second (slowing the car down).

Depends on what you mean by slowly. I use the engine to slow down as well but I just plain downshift and let the engine slow me down. The clutch action lasts about 2-3 seconds. I don't hold the clutch partially enaged between gears. Youshouldn't need to. Youcan actually reduce the clutch action when downshifting by revvinfg up the engine a little bit so when the cluthc engages the the transition is smooth.

Fox · 03-22-2004, 04:34 PM

Arrgg!! Rev match people please! I hate hearing about transmissions being abused. This is why you have brakes people. Brake pads cost $50. Clutches cost $1000!!!

spiff325is · 03-22-2004, 05:28 PM

yeah, match your revs, you can do something called "seemless downshifting", its when you know where your rpms will be if you downshifted(I know from 4th to 3rd it will raise exactly 1000 rpm), so say Im at 3000 rpm in 4th, and I am gonna dowshift, Id keep the gas on exactly where it was previously(to stay going straight, no extra gas, jsut a little) and let the rpms raise to 4000 and let out the clutch, and there is NO jerking whatsoever, its a perfect downshift. to sum it up, know what RPM's your car will be at in certain gears and how much they will raise and drop after being shifted. For me(89 325iS, 5spd:1st to second=2000, 2cnd to 3rd=1500, 3rd to 4th=1000, 4th to 5th=about 5 or 600. hope that helped

alanh · 03-22-2004, 06:05 PM

confused me spiff... doesn't that depend on the speed mainly?

spiff325is · 03-22-2004, 06:30 PM

mk, yes it does depend on speed sorta. but thats how my gears range from(it would only be different if you were going like 20 mph). But you should learn your RPM's at certain mph's. and just raise your rpms abit when you downshift(with gas). it will be and feel better.

spiff325is · 03-22-2004, 06:33 PM

but ofcourse if you were going 90, you couldnt put it in 2cnd because you cant raise your rpms any higher, and that would just ruin your car.

bigred318 · 03-22-2004, 08:03 PM

i say downshift when theres people around to hear ya, other whise you can keep the clutch out and use the brake all the way to about 4 mph in 4th gear, then put in the cluth put it in the first and away you go again, dont overshift you dont need to, its a childish thing to do all the time

David

DeathMetal · 03-22-2004, 08:16 PM

Rev matching! yes! Thats what I've been trying to articulate! LOL

Aether · 03-22-2004, 09:00 PM

Shifting is so much fun though. Especially around those arrogant Civics and Neons with automatics. Anyone here perfected the art of heel-to-toe?

1985bmw325e · 03-22-2004, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Shifting is so much fun though. Especially around those arrogant Civics and Neons with automatics. Anyone here perfected the art of heel-to-toe?

it's kinda hard to heel-to-toe when the pedal is mounted on the ground. It's much easier on rwd import cars, their brake pedal and gas are exactly the same high and are mounted from the top.

and,

Quote:

i say downshift when theres people around to hear ya, other whise you can keep the clutch out and use the brake all the way to about 4 mph in 4th gear, then put in the cluth put it in the first and away you go again, dont overshift you dont need to, its a childish thing to do all the time

You say downshift when there's people around ya, yet you say "overshifting" (if there's such a term for driving manual, i dont know) is childish. You don't make any sense at all. Which one do you think is more childish? And NO it's not childish to "overshift" it SAVES you your brake pads and it doesn't wear out your clutch if you know how to do it CORRECTLY. If you ride your clutch while you downshift then of course it'll wear out. I always downshift when i come to stops.

Death, so when you downshift you only hold the clutch 2-3 seconds? Just wondering, in the rain do you hold it any longer or do you even downshift in rain? I wouldn't dare doing it in rain- i'm afraid to hydroplane

1985bmw325e · 03-22-2004, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Arrgg!! Rev match people please! I hate hearing about transmissions being abused. This is why you have brakes people. Brake pads cost $50. Clutches cost $1000!!!

you may be partially right, but rev matching can save your life, or save your front bumper

rev matching doesn't really hurt your tranny, but as death sez, riding a partially engaged clutch can only hurt it as to what i have heard, and believe it to be true.

spiff325is · 03-23-2004, 12:25 AM

you might find it hard to believe, but I can heal and toe, and I can use brake with my left foot and gas with the right, thus no understeer(gas sets theback down, and brakes set the front down=flat car=no understeer=powering through a turn=fast

). It takes time to learn though. I wooped a Porsche 9-14 today, I felt proud

. Its fun downshifting then gunning it. makes me feel special. instead of an auto car(when you floor it) go "wait, you want more power?hmmm..okay......THERE YOU GO..oh wait, you only have 100hp, my bad..theres some more RPM's for you, but you wont go anywhere

ghead "

late....