Clutch modulation at catch point

will.c · 01-05-2012, 03:54 PM

Hey fellow manual drivers, just out of curiosity...

I just met a girl who drives a Hyundai Santa Fe (SUV) with 5sp, and noticed how she does not even touch the floorboard while she's engaging the clutch including catch point. I thought it was very interesting cuz when I do it, I modulate the clutch while pivoting against my heel touching the floorboard, then immediately after catch point I let the foot off into the air completely. I asked her why, and she simply said she never even considered it cuz she was too short to reach anyway. Yet the catch point was impressively smooth. (Well, I realize that it's a soft, heavy car with worn out clutch, but still for a girl... you know?)

So... I was wondering, how many people:
1) pivot against the floorboard with the heel; or
2) do not touch the floorboard entirely; or
3) other???

vwong · 01-05-2012, 04:32 PM

2

Was taught that way and have been doing this for 20+ years of MT driving.

GaryS · 01-05-2012, 06:33 PM

2

will.c · 01-05-2012, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwong

2

Was taught that way and have been doing this for 20+ years of MT driving.

Hmm interesting. So is that the "right" way to do it? I will def give it a try and see how that feels.

e90pilot · 01-05-2012, 08:16 PM

There is no right or wrong way. I used pivot on the floorboard with my Civic because it was so light with a really short throw. The subsequent cars have either had a heavy clutch or a really long throw.

redlinedbimmer · 01-06-2012, 08:24 AM

1

TwinSnails · 01-06-2012, 09:48 AM

1

will.c · 01-06-2012, 11:10 AM

Ah HA! My fellow #1's. haha

The HACK · 01-07-2012, 09:54 AM

So what is the question? Where you "pivot" your foot on the clutch or how far you go past the engagement point?

I pivot my ankle on the floorboard in first gear. Every subsequent shift, be it up or down, foot off of the floor.

will.c · 01-08-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

So what is the question? Where you "pivot" your foot on the clutch or how far you go past the engagement point?

I pivot my ankle on the floorboard in first gear. Every subsequent shift, be it up or down, foot off of the floor.

The question was whether you "pivot" your left foot or not, and you answered it; only in first gear.

01-05-2012, 03:54 PM	#1
will.c Captain 127 Rep 638 Posts Drives: E46M Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Central Jersey iTrader: (5)	Clutch modulation at catch point Hey fellow manual drivers, just out of curiosity... I just met a girl who drives a Hyundai Santa Fe (SUV) with 5sp, and noticed how she does not even touch the floorboard while she's engaging the clutch including catch point. I thought it was very interesting cuz when I do it, I modulate the clutch while pivoting against my heel touching the floorboard, then immediately after catch point I let the foot off into the air completely. I asked her why, and she simply said she never even considered it cuz she was too short to reach anyway. Yet the catch point was impressively smooth. (Well, I realize that it's a soft, heavy car with worn out clutch, but still for a girl... you know?) So... I was wondering, how many people: 1) pivot against the floorboard with the heel; or 2) do not touch the floorboard entirely; or 3) other???
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01-05-2012, 04:32 PM	#2
vwong Lieutenant 31 Rep 595 Posts Drives: All Euro Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3)	2 Was taught that way and have been doing this for 20+ years of MT driving. __________________ 2010 Audi S4 6MT 2009 BMW 335i Coupe 6MT YouTube Channel
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01-05-2012, 06:33 PM	#3
GaryS Colonel 37 Rep 2,084 Posts Drives: 2009 135i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i [6.50]	2
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01-05-2012, 08:16 PM	#5
e90pilot Freight Dawg 102 Rep 2,103 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (3)	There is no right or wrong way. I used pivot on the floorboard with my Civic because it was so light with a really short throw. The subsequent cars have either had a heavy clutch or a really long throw. __________________ --Marcelo '06 Arctic Metallic 325i \| Sport Package \| 6MT \| Dinan Stage III suspension \| Dinan exhaust \| 330i manifold swap! Click here! \| Active Autowerke tune \| 135i Brake Calipers \| Deiselboost caliper brackets \| E46 M3 front rotors
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01-06-2012, 08:24 AM	#6
redlinedbimmer Private First Class 10 Rep 191 Posts Drives: 2008 328i 6 speed Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	1
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01-06-2012, 09:48 AM	#7
TwinSnails First Lieutenant 25 Rep 358 Posts Drives: 335i, X5 G05 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (10)	1 __________________ F30 - M Sport 335i
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01-06-2012, 11:10 AM	#8
will.c Captain 127 Rep 638 Posts Drives: E46M Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Central Jersey iTrader: (5)	Ah HA! My fellow #1's. haha
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01-07-2012, 09:54 AM	#9
The HACK Midlife Crises Racing Silent but Deadly Class 1820 Rep 5,337 Posts Drives: 2006 MZ4C, 2021 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Welcome to Jamaica have a nice day iTrader: (1)	So what is the question? Where you "pivot" your foot on the clutch or how far you go past the engagement point? I pivot my ankle on the floorboard in first gear. Every subsequent shift, be it up or down, foot off of the floor. __________________ Sitting on a beat-up office chair in front of a 5 year old computer in a basement floor, sipping on stale coffee watching a bunch of meaningless numbers scrolling aimlessly on a dimly lit 19” monitor.
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