Driving a stick...

merc123 · Jan 6, 2004

I've tried searching the internet to no avail on this subject.

I'm curious about how to drive a stick. My dad tried teaching me when he had a ranger which was fine, but just the basics were taught.

What I'm interested in is:

How/when to downshift @ stop signs/red lights and when on mountain/curvy roads.

What wears out the clutch? I've heard just holding it in all the way while waiting at a stop sign will do it. Give me all the scenarios please.
I've always just learned to put it in N and let off the clutch.

All the help I can get will be appreciated. I hope to get a mustang within a few months as my $$ has finally arrived! Weee!

Beau · Jan 6, 2004

i learned not to hold in the clutch for any long period of time at all. the only time the clutch should be in is when you're changing gears or starting the car up.

as for when to shift...i just play it by ear when going up through the gears, unless i really want to punch it..downshifting, i also just go more with my SOTP meter, meaning i go by instinct..whether or not my instincts are correct or not is very very debateable...

merc123 · Jan 6, 2004

Going up isn't a problem. I can do it by ear as well. Going down is what I want to know about. I want to know the actual mechanics of what is going on. Kind of like when someone explained heel-toe shifting.

Beau · Jan 6, 2004

well i would imagine that downshifting is just the reverse...you're getting your slower spinning engine to slow down your faster spinning wheels...as you can see that would put a big load on both engine and transmission but i do it all the time when exiting the freeway and in other situations

merc123 · Jan 6, 2004

should I tap the gas to try to match RPM's of the lower gear so it's not just a big jerk?

23 Stang · Jan 6, 2004

Not quite sure what you're asking, but I'll give you a couple of scenarios...

As for downshifting, I really only downshift on turns, i.e I might be in 3rd and when coming into the turn I'll depress the clutch on the turn and put it into second coming out of the turn and disengage the clutch.

I also will probably downshift when I'm passing someone, lets say I'm going 45-50 in 4th at 2-3x1000 rpm and I want to get some extra juice, I'll probably drop it into third and pass or accelerate faster.

Just my 2 cents, I try avoiding being in neutral all the time, in good conditions it's ok to put the car in neutral and roll to a stop/red light. But since it's been fairly bad weather here in Chicago lately, I try keeping my car in gear the majority of the time and break with the engine most of the time. It's very dangerous when you're in neutral and you have no power to the wheels and don't have time to get into gear. In bad weather, also try to keep it in the highest gear possible.

Also, unless you drive stick regularly or used to own a stick car, you shouldn't expect to be an expert. It all comes with time and practice, the more you drive, the better you will most likely be, i.e the first couple of weeks I have my car I'd avoid left turns and nasty hills. Time builds confidence.

Hope this helps, somewhat.

4.6MustangSteve · Jan 6, 2004

I blip the throttle on downshifts to rev match.

Beau · Jan 6, 2004

merc123 said:
should I tap the gas to try to match RPM's of the lower gear so it's not just a big jerk?

thats exactly what i do...

merc123 · Jan 6, 2004

I've tried to blip downshift but I usually wind up just slamming on the brakes because it doesn't slow down enough I guess I'll give it a while when I get it. A buddy of mine was driving his Talon fairly well in about 3 days.

Shorin · Jan 6, 2004

merc123 said:
should I tap the gas to try to match RPM's of the lower gear so it's not just a big jerk?

have done this for years on my 4x4 truck, now that i have a mustang i still do it. less jerk on the drive train, less wear on the clutch.

if you hold in the clutch while at a stop you are constantly having the throw out bearing spin when it doesnt need to. dont hold it until you see the other light changing

5spd GT · Jan 6, 2004

merc123 said:
I've tried to blip downshift but I usually wind up just slamming on the brakes because it doesn't slow down enough I guess I'll give it a while when I get it. A buddy of mine was driving his Talon fairly well in about 3 days.

What I do is blip the throttle if I'm just slowing down a bit like going from a 55 to a 45 speed zone....or if a curve is coming up that requires a little less speed....if I know I'm coming to a stop I just stick it in neutral and slowly brake to a stop....

David

merc123 · Jan 6, 2004

Just gotta be careful the car doesn't stall when I put it in neutral as the 03 has a tendency to do

Rustang Cobra · Jan 6, 2004

i double clutch my downshifts, i dont just throw it into a lower gear and release the clutch

scenario:

your going 40mph in 4th and wanna engine brake for a turn coming up

-clutch is out and car is in 4th
-push in clutch and put shifter to N
-let out clutch
-blip throttle to bring up revs to where they'de sit in 2nd gear at 40mph (about 4k)
-push in clutch and throw it into gear and let out the clutch swiftly but smoothly

if done correctly you wont feel a jerk, but just the car engine braking smoothly

by double clutching your downshifts you put less wear on the syncros in the tranny that would otherwise have to match the revs for you in the gear your changing to

Sleepy1 · Jan 6, 2004

Why double clutch when you can do that in one smooth movement? Just give it a little gas to rev match. You will learn with time what different speeds go with which gear.

merc123 · Jan 6, 2004

I do it in one smooth movement. Just too slowly for it to work right I only go down one gear also instead of maybe 2 or 3.

LI98GTStang · Jan 6, 2004

Whenever I want to know how things (stuff) work, I start on stangnet if it's mod related and directly here if not.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch1.htm

I've been driving a stick for many years/miles now and don't even think about it anymore really and still enjoy driving with them. The advice you have been given so far is good to go. For long clutch/throw out bearing life, you don't want to push in or rest your foot on the clutch. As with everything in life, moderation. So you don't want to pop the clutch when disengaging or let it out too slowly either. Just a little practice and you will know when you got it right. Also your passengers will complain if your driving it too jerky incase you don't notice. Aside from taking off quickly and properly, nailing down each shift, there is hardly a better feeling when you execute the perfect brake/downshift/turn then back on the gas again. And yes blipping the gas to match those revs.

wjfawb0 · Jan 6, 2004

I tried to get my fiance to understand by teaching her how motors, trannies and clutches work. IF you understand the parts and how they work together, you can figure out what you are supposed to do. I dunno how much you know or have seen, but if you go to howstuffworks.com and look in the auto section you can see some good animations of drivetrain parts in action. It helped my woman to understand what was going on in my car. That got her where she could almost drive a stick.
-Jason

FallenPhoenix · Jan 6, 2004

I've just learned some things in this thread and I've been driving a stick for ~6 months wrong. Good thing I learned about not holding in the clutch before I get the 'stang, I'm going to baby that thing.

Sleepy1 · Jan 6, 2004

Totally agreed with LI98GT. It takes practice, but after awhile you just don't even think about. Nothing beats being able to drive down the road and being able to downshift into any gear you want without any jerking.

merc123 · Jan 6, 2004

What is the resting the foot on the clutch I hear about. Is that as simple as it sounds of simply resting your foot on the clutch when it is out?

Good stuff with the howstuffworks.com. I forgot about that. Never understood how the manual tranny worked.

Driving a stick...

merc123

Active Member

Beau

merc123

Active Member

Beau

merc123

Active Member

23 Stang

New Member

4.6MustangSteve

New Member

Beau

merc123

Active Member

Shorin

New Member

5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"

merc123

Active Member

Rustang Cobra

Sleepy1

merc123

Active Member

LI98GTStang

wjfawb0

FallenPhoenix

New Member

Sleepy1

merc123

Active Member

Similar threads

Driving a stick...

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

New Member

New Member

Active Member

New Member

"the 5.0 owns all"

Active Member

Active Member

New Member

Active Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency