Manual Trans: How do you release the clutch?

[crw]

I'm enjoying this thread... I was just thinking of starting a similar one.

Now with the Mini, I'm getting used to being smooth with the clutch again. The Mini is so lightweight that if you shift it poorly it will jerk the car around.

 

[demarpaint]

When I worked selling Honda cars that they were the easiest cars to shift w/o the clutch. As long as I didn't have to stop for a light I didn't need the clutch, up and downshifts were nice and smooth w/o the clutch. I wish I could say the same for my E-150, I clutch that every time I shift. I know you're supposed to do that, I'm just sharing observations about Honda products.

 

[SteveSRT8]

One summer i drove an IH step van all over Orlando with no clutch at all! 3 speed on the floor...

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: Andy636
Never gave this much thought as clutches in MT are cheap and easy to replace but I do release the clutch pedal pretty hard and jiggle most with the gas. I believe every car has a sweet spot and once you get used to it you just don't notice anymore.


not all are.(cheap or easy to replace)


I agree. I wouldn't consider ANY to be cheap or easy to replace. I guess the easiest would be a RWD vehicle, and you have a lift to use. Still not fun..

 

[SteveSRT8]

Clutches are just like brakes, many times nearly the same materials.

Whoever said they were cheap probably hasn't done too many!

 

[rjundi]

I let the clutch out slowly to engage point. Once it grabs hit accelerator and release it very quickly. Never changed a clutch put in 200k+ ownership.

 

[default]

I more or less sidestep it shifting, if it isn't smooth you aren't letting off the throttle at the right time.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Clutches are just like brakes, many times nearly the same materials.

Whoever said they were cheap probably hasn't done too many!


+1 Replacing a clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, TOB, flywheel [if you don't want to cut and shim the old one which is costly too] with good parts can add up. Add to that a slave cylinder, rear main seal, front and rear transmission seals can add up real quick.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Clutches are just like brakes, many times nearly the same materials.

Whoever said they were cheap probably hasn't done too many!


+1 Replacing a clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, TOB, flywheel [if you don't want to cut and shim the old one which is costly too] with good parts can add up. Add to that a slave cylinder, rear main seal, front and rear transmission seals can add up real quick.


And the time.. I replaced the clutch on my 96 Saturn and although the parts and new transmission fluid was not expensive, it takes quite a while as well, so you have to factor that in as well, if you have a busy life. A brake job is a lot quicker than a clutch job.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Clutches are just like brakes, many times nearly the same materials.

Whoever said they were cheap probably hasn't done too many!


+1 Replacing a clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, TOB, flywheel [if you don't want to cut and shim the old one which is costly too] with good parts can add up. Add to that a slave cylinder, rear main seal, front and rear transmission seals can add up real quick.


Sure but it's still 1/3 the cost of an AT repair.

 

[default]

Doing a clutch in the driveway on most cars is a 1 day job and somewhere between $100 and $300. Not a big deal.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: default
Doing a clutch in the driveway on most cars is a 1 day job and somewhere between $100 and $300. Not a big deal.

I guess you have not done a clutch on a late-model vehicle, eh?

Usually about 1200 in parts alone if the vehicle uses a dual-mass flywheel. The clutch kit alone will cost you $300-$500, and a new flywheel will be $700-$1k.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: default
Doing a clutch in the driveway on most cars is a 1 day job and somewhere between $100 and $300. Not a big deal.

I guess you have not done a clutch on a late-model vehicle, eh?

Usually about 1200 in parts alone if the vehicle uses a dual-mass flywheel. The clutch kit alone will cost you $300-$500, and a new flywheel will be $700-$1k.


Yeah, but if that's the case where the car has a fancy clutch and flywheel, that usually means that the auto transmission version is usually a fancy one as well and will cost a lot more to fix/replace than that fancy clutch. In the end a clutch job will still be cheaper.

Not to mention that in a lot of cases the dual mass flywheel can be replace by a conventional setup for even more savings and longer life.

 

[supton]

I watched my mechanic do mine; I think it was about four hours. Not that bad, actually. But I wouldn't attempt it in my dirt driveway. No thanks.

IIRC it was only $400 for the flywheel and clutch. Another $100 or so for incidentals (TTY bolts, transmission lube)? I've managed to forget now.

And I too did change from DMF to SMF, didn't want that failure-prone item again.