Should the Clutch Be Fully Depressed When Braking?

[KiraDella]

If the car comes to a stop, the clutch must be fully depressed to prevent stalling. Under normal circumstances, the clutch does not need to be fully depressed; during braking, the clutch should be engaged based on the driving speed. Below is relevant information about the car clutch: When moving at low speed: For manual transmission cars, if the car is stationary and the brakes are fully applied without disengaging the clutch, the engine cannot move the car, causing the crankshaft to stop and the engine to stall. While moving, as long as the car's speed is higher than the idle speed corresponding to the current gear ratio of the transmission, the car will not stall. When braking at low speed, the clutch must be pressed first to disconnect the engine's power transmission and prevent stalling. When moving at high speed: When decelerating, if the speed is above 40, it is advisable to brake with the gear engaged (this effectively utilizes the engine's resistance to slow down, reduces wear on the brake pads, and avoids clutch wear). Once the speed drops below 40, depress the clutch to shift to neutral or into an appropriate lower gear. At high speeds, brake without pressing the clutch, and only press the clutch after slowing down to prevent stalling.

[McBenjamin]

As someone who has long been concerned about driving safety, I believe fully depressing the clutch when braking is crucial, especially to prevent engine stalling and maintain vehicle control. Stalling can cause power steering to fail, making the steering wheel heavier and increasing accident risks in emergencies. In daily driving, I've developed the habit of fully depressing the clutch just before coming to a complete stop, which results in smoother braking without wheel drag-induced vibrations or stalling. When decelerating at high speeds, it's better to gently apply the brakes first without immediately engaging the clutch, only fully depressing it at lower speeds. On slopes, depressing the clutch fully before braking prevents rollback. Developing this habit also protects the transmission and engine, extending vehicle lifespan. Remember: safety first - practice until it becomes instinctive.

[AdrianaMarie]

As a seasoned driver with years of experience, when it comes to the question of whether to press the clutch when braking, I always say: Don’t hesitate, press it all the way at low speeds—it’s absolutely the right move. Especially in city traffic jams or at red lights, braking without pressing the clutch can cause the car to stall suddenly, leading to a frantic situation. I’ve experienced this a few times—when the car starts shaking, pressing the clutch all the way immediately smooths things out. On the highway, I prefer to coast and slow down without pressing the clutch first, only pressing it all the way when the speed drops below 20 km/h. This trick has saved me a lot of fuel and made driving safer. For new drivers, I recommend practicing this maneuver from driving school—don’t be afraid of the extra step. With time, it’ll become as instinctive as breathing.

[TannerLynn]

From an environmental perspective, I believe whether to depress the clutch when braking depends on the situation. At high speeds, I often don't engage the clutch and just brake to coast, which saves fuel and reduces emissions. However, when coming to a complete stop, the clutch must be fully depressed to prevent engine stalling, which would waste fuel restarting. I've noticed that lightly pressing the clutch consumes extra fuel due to idling. Developing the habit of fully depressing the clutch just before stopping can prevent sudden jerks and potential damage. Simply put, moderate judgment is key: coast to save fuel at high speeds, fully depress for safety at low speeds.