tips to get better at clutch control?
Discussion
It'll improve with practice. Remember that the fewer revs you use when moving off, the smaller the difference in speed between the engine and the gearbox, therefore the less time you must slip the clutch to bring the gearbox up to engine speed.
Having said that, 3-5 seconds isn't massive- I expect I take about 2 seconds and I consider myself to be quite quick to get out of the clutch.
Having said that, 3-5 seconds isn't massive- I expect I take about 2 seconds and I consider myself to be quite quick to get out of the clutch.
For what it's worth, I drive my Mum's Corsa C 1.2 fairly frequently (and I learned to drive in one) and I always though the clutches a bit odd. I drove mum's car the same as I would my own recently and the clutch started juddering like crazy, it settled down when I really babied it off the line.
Oh and increasing the throttle to compensate for the load as you slip the clutch does take a while to get the knack but once you get it, it becomes muscle memory very quickly.
With enough practice it's more than possible to get the car to move off without touching the throttle, not that I'd recommend it!
Oh and increasing the throttle to compensate for the load as you slip the clutch does take a while to get the knack but once you get it, it becomes muscle memory very quickly.
With enough practice it's more than possible to get the car to move off without touching the throttle, not that I'd recommend it!
Edited by HustleRussell on Wednesday 18th September 23:07
Yeah by babying it I mean being very gradual with the clutch when taking up drive.
I expect you might notice it more with the Corsa because it's a small engine with a low rotating mass which is easier to stall, and I always found the clutch pedal very light (easy to press) too which doesn't help with feel.
Clutches are there to be slipped so don't worry about wear, it sounds like you know what your aiming for so just practice it and you'll get there. Try to get some sleep
I expect you might notice it more with the Corsa because it's a small engine with a low rotating mass which is easier to stall, and I always found the clutch pedal very light (easy to press) too which doesn't help with feel.
Clutches are there to be slipped so don't worry about wear, it sounds like you know what your aiming for so just practice it and you'll get there. Try to get some sleep
P.S. 200 miles is not a lot! It might take you 2,000 to get your starts to be consistent every time, I seem to remember it taking me about that long- before that, I'd do mostly good starts but cock it up occasionally, and right at the beginning I was stalling all the time trying to keep the revs low.
maverickdrives said:
thanks haha but I am not even sure what I am aiming for. I have been told my clutch shouldnt be depressed at all once my foot depresses the accelerator and if I do that my car jerks or just stalls if not enough rpm while on the other hand releasing the clutch slowly makes the ride so much smoother :S
OP ideally once you've mastered the clutch you won't even need to find the biting point unless you're doing a hill start. You'll get to the point where you can disengage the clutch in one smooth motion passing through the biting point and simultaneously applying just enough gas so the revs barely rise and it all happens within a second and is as smooth as silk. You'll look back at these posts and wonder what you we're stressing about.Bottom line the fact you're on here asking for help and you're analysing your driving with a view to improving it makes you better than 90% of the drivers out there.
maverickdrives said:
RobM77 said:
Most new cars are quite hard to drive smoothly due to the clutch delay valves and laggy throttles that are almost standard now (this inlcudes the latets Corsa), but a 2001 model should be fine. keep practising! 
are the new audis or mazda speeds like that too? I want to get one of those in the future once I am good at driving and have enough cash.EmmaJ said:
maverickdrives said:
RobM77 said:
Most new cars are quite hard to drive smoothly due to the clutch delay valves and laggy throttles that are almost standard now (this inlcudes the latets Corsa), but a 2001 model should be fine. keep practising!
are the new audis or mazda speeds like that too? I want to get one of those in the future once I am good at driving and have enough cash.maverickdrives said:
Okay I will keep practicing thanks and I appreciate replies from all of you but also can you guys tell me anything that I can incorporate in my driving while trying trying get better? like I read on a forum to drive without shoes to get the feel although it didnt help.
Ok, I'm game... but also can you guys tell me anything that I can incorporate in my driving while trying trying get better? like I read on a forum to drive without shoes to get the feel although it didnt help.Edited by maverickdrives on Wednesday 18th September 23:44
As I said in my previous post if you want fast AND smooth pull always forget about finding the biting point it wastes time. What you need to do is develop a feel for the clutch and be able to "balance" it - by either adding more gas or to dip the clutch if you sense you're about to stall. Learning to pull away on the biting point whilst giving it gas and by default massively slipping the clutch isn't the route to smooth yet fast starts but the reason you're taught this way is it's fairly easy and it's foolproof. Getting the feel and being able to "balance" the clutch takes time but if you apply yourself once you master this technique you'll be able to jump in any car and drive it without stalling and be pretty smooth to boot
RobM77 said:
EmmaJ said:
maverickdrives said:
RobM77 said:
Most new cars are quite hard to drive smoothly due to the clutch delay valves and laggy throttles that are almost standard now (this inlcudes the latets Corsa), but a 2001 model should be fine. keep practising!
are the new audis or mazda speeds like that too? I want to get one of those in the future once I am good at driving and have enough cash.maverickdrives said:
EmmaJ said:
Ok, I'm game...
As I said in my previous post if you want fast AND smooth pull always forget about finding the biting point it wastes time. What you need to do is develop a feel for the clutch and be able to "balance" it - by either adding more gas or to dip the clutch if you sense you're about to stall. Learning to pull away on the biting point whilst giving it gas and by default massively slipping the clutch isn't the route to smooth yet fast starts but the reason you're taught this way is it's fairly easy and it's foolproof. Getting the feel and being able to "balance" the clutch takes time but if you apply yourself once you master this technique you'll be able to jump in any car and drive it without stalling and be pretty smooth to boot
Okay I get what you mean by passing the biting point now, I should be bringing the clutch up without having to worry about the biting point while pressing gas but I am going to have to get the feel for that. I am going to try that in an empty parking lot tomorrow morning. As I said in my previous post if you want fast AND smooth pull always forget about finding the biting point it wastes time. What you need to do is develop a feel for the clutch and be able to "balance" it - by either adding more gas or to dip the clutch if you sense you're about to stall. Learning to pull away on the biting point whilst giving it gas and by default massively slipping the clutch isn't the route to smooth yet fast starts but the reason you're taught this way is it's fairly easy and it's foolproof. Getting the feel and being able to "balance" the clutch takes time but if you apply yourself once you master this technique you'll be able to jump in any car and drive it without stalling and be pretty smooth to boot
maverickdrives said:
EmmaJ said:
Remember too fast with the clutch and too much gas is the route to pulling awesome wheel spins but I'm sure you have too much mechanical sympathy to be doing such juvenile things
I got another question though, when I go practice by passing the biting point completely I know my car will stall and I want to keep gong until I'm a little better. Wouldn't the constant stalling damage my engine or tranny or clutch? I think I should just try it a little then leave it for more practice the next day or can keep going for long in one go?When giving this a try for the first time aim to have the clutch 50% released before feeding in any gas and then start to feed in the gas gently front this point. You'll soon start to get the feeling of what the engine is doing and will stop the stall by either:
1) reducing the speed you're bringing up the clutch whilst adding a wee bit more gas
2) if it's really mistimed dip the clutch to prevent the stall
Give yourself ten minutes practice and then revisit it in a day or two - you'll be surprised just how much more control and feel you will have developed the more driving you do.
I think the first person you should be putting this to is your driving instructor......
however consider the following....
Don't look at the rev counter....it is not necessary, you should be looking out of the glass!
You should be "feeling" the car, by feeling the bite, the revs through the steering wheel, your feet and your bum, all of which are conected to the car, you should also be listening to it. If it is screaming at you you will know the revs are high! if it is chugging/kangarooing you know they are too low and you have to much clutch out!
Wear the same shoes through out the driving course....or until you have mastered gear changing/clutch control, these shoes should be thin under foot and idealy narrow so you don't catch your feet on the sides of the pedals....do not ever drive with bare feet.
when getting to the biting point push the gas down about the thickness of a pound coin, and hold it still. Then bring up the clutch until you feel the car "come alive" and want to pull. Keep that foot still at this point. then after making sure it is safe to move off (360 deg check) release the handbrake, once off squeeze down on the gas, and squeeze slowly off the clutch so both feet are going opposite ways, do it slowly saying "squeeze" as slowly as you can making the word "squeeeeeeeeeeeze " last as long as possible whilst you are moving off the clutch and further onto the gas, and the car will smooooooooothly move away. I find this is easier to do on a hill as you will feel the weight of the car under the feet.
Use the balls of the feet on the clutch, many peole try to use it with the foot too high on the pedal, and can't control it as well. you must feed in a little gas as the clutch comes up. If you snatch up you will stall...."squeeeeeeeeze" up........do not stare at the rev counter it is counter productive, you will know when you have too many revs on the car screams in protest bloody rev counters are not required, feel and listen to your vehicle.
Like already said in most diesels you should be able to get going with out use of gas if you are slow off the clutch, but I can get my MX5 going with no gas, and that is not an easy one to use owing to it's angle (and it's no fun without plenty of juice!!!!)
When you do your cockpit drill......is your left leg just slightly bent when you have the clutch fully depressed? this will help with better control
good luck
however consider the following....
Don't look at the rev counter....it is not necessary, you should be looking out of the glass!
You should be "feeling" the car, by feeling the bite, the revs through the steering wheel, your feet and your bum, all of which are conected to the car, you should also be listening to it. If it is screaming at you you will know the revs are high! if it is chugging/kangarooing you know they are too low and you have to much clutch out!
Wear the same shoes through out the driving course....or until you have mastered gear changing/clutch control, these shoes should be thin under foot and idealy narrow so you don't catch your feet on the sides of the pedals....do not ever drive with bare feet.
when getting to the biting point push the gas down about the thickness of a pound coin, and hold it still. Then bring up the clutch until you feel the car "come alive" and want to pull. Keep that foot still at this point. then after making sure it is safe to move off (360 deg check) release the handbrake, once off squeeze down on the gas, and squeeze slowly off the clutch so both feet are going opposite ways, do it slowly saying "squeeze" as slowly as you can making the word "squeeeeeeeeeeeze " last as long as possible whilst you are moving off the clutch and further onto the gas, and the car will smooooooooothly move away. I find this is easier to do on a hill as you will feel the weight of the car under the feet.
Use the balls of the feet on the clutch, many peole try to use it with the foot too high on the pedal, and can't control it as well. you must feed in a little gas as the clutch comes up. If you snatch up you will stall...."squeeeeeeeeze" up........do not stare at the rev counter it is counter productive, you will know when you have too many revs on the car screams in protest bloody rev counters are not required, feel and listen to your vehicle.
Like already said in most diesels you should be able to get going with out use of gas if you are slow off the clutch, but I can get my MX5 going with no gas, and that is not an easy one to use owing to it's angle (and it's no fun without plenty of juice!!!!)
When you do your cockpit drill......is your left leg just slightly bent when you have the clutch fully depressed? this will help with better control
good luck
EmmaJ said:
RobM77 said:
EmmaJ said:
maverickdrives said:
RobM77 said:
Most new cars are quite hard to drive smoothly due to the clutch delay valves and laggy throttles that are almost standard now (this inlcudes the latets Corsa), but a 2001 model should be fine. keep practising!
are the new audis or mazda speeds like that too? I want to get one of those in the future once I am good at driving and have enough cash.Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 19th September 09:15
watchnut said:
I think the first person you should be putting this to is your driving instructor......
however consider the following....
Don't look at the rev counter....it is not necessary, you should be looking out of the glass!
You should be "feeling" the car, by feeling the bite, the revs through the steering wheel, your feet and your bum, all of which are conected to the car, you should also be listening to it. If it is screaming at you you will know the revs are high! if it is chugging/kangarooing you know they are too low and you have to much clutch out!
Wear the same shoes through out the driving course....or until you have mastered gear changing/clutch control, these shoes should be thin under foot and idealy narrow so you don't catch your feet on the sides of the pedals....do not ever drive with bare feet.
when getting to the biting point push the gas down about the thickness of a pound coin, and hold it still. Then bring up the clutch until you feel the car "come alive" and want to pull. Keep that foot still at this point. then after making sure it is safe to move off (360 deg check) release the handbrake, once off squeeze down on the gas, and squeeze slowly off the clutch so both feet are going opposite ways, do it slowly saying "squeeze" as slowly as you can making the word "squeeeeeeeeeeeze " last as long as possible whilst you are moving off the clutch and further onto the gas, and the car will smooooooooothly move away. I find this is easier to do on a hill as you will feel the weight of the car under the feet.
Use the balls of the feet on the clutch, many peole try to use it with the foot too high on the pedal, and can't control it as well. you must feed in a little gas as the clutch comes up. If you snatch up you will stall...."squeeeeeeeeze" up........do not stare at the rev counter it is counter productive, you will know when you have too many revs on the car screams in protest bloody rev counters are not required, feel and listen to your vehicle.
Like already said in most diesels you should be able to get going with out use of gas if you are slow off the clutch, but I can get my MX5 going with no gas, and that is not an easy one to use owing to it's angle (and it's no fun without plenty of juice!!!!)
When you do your cockpit drill......is your left leg just slightly bent when you have the clutch fully depressed? this will help with better control
good luck
Good post however consider the following....
Don't look at the rev counter....it is not necessary, you should be looking out of the glass!
You should be "feeling" the car, by feeling the bite, the revs through the steering wheel, your feet and your bum, all of which are conected to the car, you should also be listening to it. If it is screaming at you you will know the revs are high! if it is chugging/kangarooing you know they are too low and you have to much clutch out!
Wear the same shoes through out the driving course....or until you have mastered gear changing/clutch control, these shoes should be thin under foot and idealy narrow so you don't catch your feet on the sides of the pedals....do not ever drive with bare feet.
when getting to the biting point push the gas down about the thickness of a pound coin, and hold it still. Then bring up the clutch until you feel the car "come alive" and want to pull. Keep that foot still at this point. then after making sure it is safe to move off (360 deg check) release the handbrake, once off squeeze down on the gas, and squeeze slowly off the clutch so both feet are going opposite ways, do it slowly saying "squeeze" as slowly as you can making the word "squeeeeeeeeeeeze " last as long as possible whilst you are moving off the clutch and further onto the gas, and the car will smooooooooothly move away. I find this is easier to do on a hill as you will feel the weight of the car under the feet.
Use the balls of the feet on the clutch, many peole try to use it with the foot too high on the pedal, and can't control it as well. you must feed in a little gas as the clutch comes up. If you snatch up you will stall...."squeeeeeeeeze" up........do not stare at the rev counter it is counter productive, you will know when you have too many revs on the car screams in protest bloody rev counters are not required, feel and listen to your vehicle.
Like already said in most diesels you should be able to get going with out use of gas if you are slow off the clutch, but I can get my MX5 going with no gas, and that is not an easy one to use owing to it's angle (and it's no fun without plenty of juice!!!!)
When you do your cockpit drill......is your left leg just slightly bent when you have the clutch fully depressed? this will help with better control
good luck
100% agree there isn't one single thing that we can tell you that will help beyond the advice you've already been given.
Just out of interest OP are you paying for professional instruction or are you being supervised in your own/family/friends car?
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress
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