Do You Need to Press the Brake When Shifting Gears in a Manual Transmission Car?
2 Answers
When shifting gears in a manual transmission car, you do not need to press the brake. Instead, you need to press the clutch pedal. Manual transmission cars are equipped with a clutch pedal, which is used every time you shift gears or start the car. The clutch is a crucial component in the drivetrain, located between the engine and the transmission. Pressing the clutch pedal disengages the clutch, while releasing it engages the clutch. Therefore, when shifting gears, you only need to press the clutch pedal, not the brake pedal. If the clutch pedal is not fully depressed, you will not be able to shift gears smoothly. When starting the car, you need to use the half-clutch technique, which involves partially engaging the clutch without fully releasing it.
After driving a manual transmission car for so many years, I rarely need to press the brake when shifting gears. During normal driving, whether upshifting or downshifting, simply pressing the clutch with the left foot is enough to change gears, and the brake remains completely free. However, there is a special case when engaging reverse gear. Many car models, such as Volkswagen's manual transmission vehicles, are designed to require pressing the brake first to prevent accidental operation. Additionally, during hill starts, we usually press both the brake and clutch first, then gradually release the clutch while lifting the brake. This is actually to control the vehicle from rolling back, not a mandatory step for shifting gears. Overall, the core action of shifting gears is pressing the clutch—don’t let automatic transmission habits mislead you.
