Should the Clutch Be Fully Depressed When Braking?
2 Answers
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.
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.
