Should the Brake Be Fully Depressed When Shifting Gears in a Manual Transmission?
4 Answers
When shifting gears in a manual transmission, the brake should not be fully depressed. Reasons for not fully depressing the brake: During gear shifting, the clutch and throttle must be coordinated properly. The clutch should be fully depressed, followed by releasing the throttle pedal, and then quickly shifting to the corresponding gear. After shifting, release your hand immediately and avoid keeping it on the gear lever for an extended period, as this can easily damage the gear lever. Correct hand position for gear shifting: It is also important to maintain the correct hand position when shifting gears. Many drivers often overlook the hand position, sometimes casually using two or three fingers to flick the gear lever, which is neither standardized nor safe. The correct hand position is to cover the gear lever head with your palm facing downward and then perform the gear shift.
Last time I practiced driving in my dad's old Jetta, the instructor yelled so loud it hurt my ears: 'When starting in first gear, you must press the clutch and brake all the way down!' I tried pressing only halfway, and the grinding gear noise made me panic. Stalling is minor, but if the car lurches forward while in gear during ignition, that's terrifying. Normally, shifting gears doesn't require braking, but when coasting to a red light, I habitually tap the brake early to control speed, then shift to neutral and brake gently to stop smoothly. Emergency brake? You gotta stomp it to the floor! Once, I almost rolled back in an underground garage—now I always press the brake hard when starting on a slope and shift gears with caution. Safety first!
Old Li, a taxi driver with ten years of experience, told me: the depth of braking in a manual transmission depends on the situation. At red lights, he always shifts to neutral 200 meters in advance and coasts, keeping his foot on the brake to lightly tap and slow down, only pressing hard when coming to a complete stop. But starting is especially particular—the clutch and brake must be pressed down firmly together, or the car will jerk and passengers will complain. He also taught me a trick to check the brake fluid: when starting the cold engine, press the brake pedal twice; if it feels softer, it’s time for a change, as this affects whether you can stop in a critical moment.
When my mentor taught us car repair by dismantling the transmission, he explained: During gear shifting, the gears need to mesh. If the brake isn't fully depressed, wheel resistance remains. Forcing gear engagement is like trying to jam two rotating gears together - the synchronizer would be destroyed instantly. Especially in winter with cold engines, when transmission oil thickens like paste, you must wait for RPMs to stabilize before fully braking and shifting. Once, a skeptical customer attempted a hill start without braking while shifting. The resulting gear fragments punctured the differential, costing over 8,000 yuan in repairs.
