Clutch Foot Positioning for MT

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by Kronos

I definitely use my whole leg to clutch in. Size 13 shoe. Like N1rve said, I don't think pivoting on the heel would provide a big enough range to clutch properly . Plus your leg muscles are stronger, so once you get the muscle memory down it allows for more control in my opinion

Strength and precision (control) do not typically go hand in hand. Think about writing, typing....you're making find adjustments with small muscles and tendons.

I wear size 12/13 depending on the brand. My clutch is properly adjusted, as is my seat and seat back. I pivot off the floor. But this is also my first manual car so I have done what feels right.

[schmearcampain]

Heel off to press down and heel on when I lift off. Never gave it much thought and I certainly don't do it intentionally. Been driving MT my whole life. Size 13 shoe.

[CatDaddysBBQ]

Heel on floor. Size 13. Otherwise get used to a float.

[AlexWood]

I'd say do what is most comfortable for you. As long as you can fully depress and release the pedal then it doesn't really matter. I watched a video at one point (I believe it was a mighty car mods video) where they said to make sure your seat is close enough so that when you fully depress the clutch pedal, your legs have a slight bend in them. This is so that if you were to get into an accident and you have the clutch mashed down, your leg doesn't break from the collision, it would just fold back towards you. Just a tid-bit of knowledge that seemed to make sense to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CAMBAM_6]

Size 9 and i keep heel on floor....unless im on a long drive and my foot muscles start getting tired in traffic then i may start using my leg..lol

[DeadStar7]

For better clutch control, definitely keep your heel down. It's only the n00bs that use their whole leg. 😉

[Jyn]

I stomp the shit out of my clutch because I have tiny Asian feet.

[FR-S89]

do you guys kick the clutch in very quickly?

I know on the clutch release i'm very smooth and let go gradually to make a smooth shift. but when im engaging the clutch i just kick that mofo in with my leg as fast as possible. Is this ok to do? first MT car

[Scaldy]

I keep my heel down, but I was only able to do that once I adjusted the clutch closer to the floor. Highly recommended.

[hmong337]

Heel off the floor and use leg when pushing the clutch in. To slip with accurate precision, I release the clutch by pivoting my ankle. I've been driving manual my whole life.

I once had a back seat passenger "wtf'd" to find out that my car was a manual after 30 minutes of riding because my driving was so smooth. He thought my car was an auto only to find out I was rowing gears the whole time

[CoupedUpSubie]

Originally Posted by FR-S89

do you guys kick the clutch in very quickly?

I know on the clutch release i'm very smooth and let go gradually to make a smooth shift. but when im engaging the clutch i just kick that mofo in with my leg as fast as possible. Is this ok to do? first MT car

Biggest thing is make sure you are off the throttle completely. As for slamming the pedal down you should be fine as long as you aren't bending anything. On release make sure you aren't being too gradual as that will shorten clutch life. Shifting my old impreza was kick down and shift at the same time, slide foot off to the side. That was go "fast" mode.

[DeadStar7]

Originally Posted by FR-S89

do you guys kick the clutch in very quickly?

I know on the clutch release i'm very smooth and let go gradually to make a smooth shift. but when im engaging the clutch i just kick that mofo in with my leg as fast as possible. Is this ok to do? first MT car

Yes sir! After letting it out a bit slower in first gear, feel free to pop it out quite quickly as well through every other gear. Just play with different timing if you're going to pop it quickly. If you punch the clutch in, ram the next gear, then pop it out, it's probably not going to be too smooth. Just give it half a second or so between gears to let the RPM's drop a bit before letting the clutch out. Ideally, for the smoothest shift you want the RPM's to drop to where they will be in the next gear when the clutch pedal is released. Don't over think it or you'll get frustrated. Just play with different timings.

Once you master this, we'll get into rev-match shifting for down shifting, then shortly after heel-toe shifting. It's not as hard as you might think. Just takes some practice.

[DeadStar7]

...or don't use the clutch at all.

[paulca]

Originally Posted by DeadStar7

For better clutch control, definitely keep your heel down. It's only the n00bs that use their whole leg. 😉

Really. Try that on an old non-hydraulic clutch that has 10" of travel and needs about 10Kg of force and the bite point is right on the springs strongest point.

Heel up to push the clutch full down, then put the heel down if/when it suits you to stabilize your leg/foot on the bite point. You can also "wedge" the pedal against the ball of your foot, heel on the floor for long hill holds and still have some flex in your foot to adjust it

I have never driven an auto.

As to "riding the clutch", just don't push it! I sit with my foot on the clutch 99% of the time and it's never once been an issue. Just as long as you don't sit with too much pressure on it to where the clutch will slip, overheat and/or burn out eventually. In the GT86 my foot defaults to remove the freeplay out of the pedals as soon as my foot is on them, clutch included and that is a good 2 inches of travel.