Should You Depress the Clutch When Braking in a Manual Transmission?
2 Answers
Whether to depress the clutch when braking in a manual transmission depends on the situation: 1. Depress both when the speed decreases or during short-distance braking; 2. Do not depress when at higher speeds or during long-distance braking. The functions of the clutch include: 1. Gradually increasing the driving force of the car for a smooth start; 2. Temporarily separating the engine and transmission for gear shifting; 3. Preventing overload in the transmission system; 4. Reducing torsional vibration impacts from the engine to prolong the lifespan of transmission gears. The brake serves to reduce speed, and its usage precautions include: 1. Apply brakes gently when following another vehicle; 2. Use emergency brakes cautiously in rainy conditions; 3. Avoid emergency braking on slopes and curves.
As a veteran manual transmission driver with 15 years of experience, this depends on vehicle speed. In emergency situations on highways, you must stomp on the brake pedal immediately! Never touch the clutch pedal - depressing the clutch at this moment is equivalent to cutting off the engine's traction force on the wheels, which actually increases braking distance. Only depress the clutch when you're about to come to a complete stop and feel the vehicle beginning to shudder, to prevent stalling. However, when maneuvering at low speeds like parking lot navigation, generally depress both clutch and brake simultaneously to avoid frequent partial clutch engagement that wears out the pressure plate. Remember the key points: Braking alone is safest above 40 km/h, while simultaneous clutch-brake operation is acceptable below 20 km/h.
