What Is Riding The Clutch – The Samples May Surprise You

In the recent times, a lot of drivers and car enthusiasts still ask “what is riding the clutch?” Although many of these people are actually drivers for quite some time now, most of them still do not know the real definition and when they do it.

what-is-riding-the-clutch
Via: Flickr.com | Eikonologos.images

If you are one of these people who ask the same question, then this post will help you determine what does really “riding the clutch” means and the times when you are doing it. It is essential for you to know this, especially if you are driving a vehicle on a daily basis.

Clutch riding can apparently wear your clutch and may pose dangers on your trips and travels.

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Riding Vs Slipping

what-is-riding-the-clutch
Via: Flickr.com | Maxpieds
  • By definition, riding the clutch means the same as slipping the clutch. However, this may pose dangers and potential risks of deterioration to the clutch of your vehicle. Moreover, clutch riding is usually being done unintentionally and drivers are not that actually aware that they are doing it.
  • As for slipping the clutch, every driver especially the ones who drive a manual vehicle know that it is a must for them to slip the clutch. When you need to move at a very slow speed especially during the traffic periods and when doing a parallel parking, slipping the clutch is unavoidable and essential.
  • Correspondingly, the engine power to be lost is converted to friction when you slip the clutch. The said friction is actually a produced by the flywheel slipping and clutch plate which enables your vehicle to move in a very slow pace.
  • It is important for you to note that these kinds of processes cause wear and tear on the clutch. Nevertheless and as mentioned, slipping the clutch is very much inevitable and essential at times whereas riding the clutch is avoidable.

Are You Riding The Clutch?

what-is-riding-the-clutch
Via: Flickr.com | MeneerDijk

As stated above, most drivers aren’t actually aware that they are riding the clutch. Knowing specifically when are these instances can apparently help you avoid doing it. So, when are really the times you tend to do this?

Here are the most usual samples:

Resting Your Foot On The Clutch

One of the most common situations wherein you ride your clutch is when you rest and keep your foot on the pedal of the clutch. Most drivers nowadays do this and they are actually decreasing the lifespan of their clutches without even knowing it.

In actuality, the slippage in your clutch largely depends on how much pressure and intensity you put into the pedal of your clutch. If you are actually doing this on a regular basis then expect that you will be replacing your clutch anytime soon.

Therefore, if you are not using your clutch, keep your foot out from the pedal.


Waiting In A Traffic Line

More often than not, drivers usually move their cars slowly back and forth while waiting for the traffic to move. By doing this during traffic periods, you are actually riding the clutch. Although at times this is essential, slipping the clutch must be done in this case.

However, you could avoid doing this generally by simply applying the handbrake when you are in a stationary position on traffic. On the other hand, you could for a neutral when you are subjected to traffic queue for a very long period of time.

what-is-riding-the-clutch
Via: Flickr.com | Tauma

Moving Your Vehicle Off

When you are learning how to drive, most instructors teach the students finding the clutch bite point while perfecting the overall control on the clutch. Accordingly, this is a good and efficient process especially when you are moving the car off since it helps decrease the stalling but it still wears your clutch in the long run.

And unfortunately, only some of the instructors teach this kind of method which results for many drivers nowadays to stick with riding the clutch when moving the car off.

Now, if you were taught to find the clutch bite point and still pretty much do it on a regular basis, there is actually a much better method to do when moving your vehicle off. It is largely advisable for you to release the clutch from the floor and at the same hold the clutch in the bite point.

Once your car obtained the momentum it needs then that is the only time you release fully the force you exerted on your clutch.

How To Avoid Riding The Clutch

Given the samples and scenarios above, you could actually lessen the “riding” by and large. However, it is essential for you to note that even when you slip your clutch, the possibility of wear and tear is still largely present. Hence, you must be very careful and don’t ever waste it.

You must only slip your clutch when necessary. One of the most apparent symptoms you could encounter when you are already damaging your clutch is when you already smell a burning clutch plate. It could never go unnoticed.

For a more inclusive knowledge on how to avoid the clutch riding and maximize the lifespan of your clutch, you may access this video:

In Conclusion

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Via: Flickr.com | Fanta_Productions

Ultimately, riding the clutch is at times necessary and inevitable. These instances when you need to clutch ride are usually called the slipping of the clutch. Although they are pretty much similar with one another, drivers of today aren’t actually aware the difference between the two. Furthermore, not only that they aren’t aware of the difference but they as well don’t know when they usually do the riding.

In avoiding this, you could actually do these instead which really maximize the life of your clutch:

  • Never rest or keep your foot on the clutch pedal
  • Apply handbrake or move to neutral during traffic
  • Learn the proper ways of moving your car off using the clutch bite point

If you find this post very informative and helpful, you may share this to your friends and family especially for those who drive manual vehicles on a daily basis. Your reactions, ideas, and insights are very much welcome and you may share them in the comment section below.

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