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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2006
14:01:19
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 Subject: Clutch question
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Message:
Ok my friend told me that it is bad for my clutch if I hold it on a hill with our the brakes. Also if I start in second gear. I often do both of these is it true that it is ruining my clutch?
99 3.9 manual cc 2 wheel drive
Thanks for any responses.
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ZoSo
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2006
14:18:15
| RE: Clutch question
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You'll figure it out sooner or later!
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2006
15:37:52
| RE: Clutch question
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Message:
One day these guys with smarty answers are going to need help. Here's hoping they get an answer simular there BS ... Your answer is YES YOU WILL RUIN YOUR CLUCH and it won't take long either. Slippong your cluch on a hill or for any other reason is wearing your cluch out in a hurry. The pressure plate is a well designed part and maintains needed presure to the plate and flywheel right to the bitter end when it slips. The bad part is, when it does slip you most likely will be lucky to get it home. It can and does happen that fast with no warning.
Starting in second gear depends on your gearing. If you need to slip the cluch to get it rolling then yes your doing dammage. No clue why you feel the need to do this unless your tired of shifting. In that case you need an automatic.
So many problems .... So little time
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modain
GenIII
 
3/10/2006
16:21:47
|  RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Brakes are for stopping the car/truck and holding it in place. The clutch is for shifting. Use each component for its designed purpose and you'll get the best results.
Driven correctly, a clutch can last many miles. In 1978 I bought a VW bug (convertable) from my sister-in-law. It had just under 44K miles. I had to replace the clutch not long afterward. The replacement clutch was still functioning perfectly when I sold it with over 185K miles.
It's all about how and where you want to spend your money...
What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open
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Jerry
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2006
16:34:07
| RE: Clutch question
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Well I guess that puts you between a rock and a hard place. If you're at a stop light on a hill and use the clutch to hold you until the light changes you may damage your clutch. But if you use the brake and then try to put it in gear your car may slide back a bit and you may hit that dummy behind you that had to pull right up to your bumper because he couldn't read the part number on your tail light lense or something. Slipping back can even happen to experienced clutchers. So whatcha gonna do?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2006
16:43:52
| RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Kevin, your friend is right. if driven properly a clutch and pressure plate should last a long while. my truck i had before my dak i sold with 135k on it with the original clutch & pressure plate and it wasn't slipping at all.
sounds like you could use some practice holding that truck on a hill without the clutch.
Jerry, if you know how to drive a stick properly you don't have a problem.
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modain
GenIII
3/10/2006
17:49:03
| RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Well Jerry, there certainly is a high level of two-legged skill required to pull such a move. I have been driving stick for so long (since 1978) that manuvers like you described are not a challenge as you describe.
There are a number of ways to avoid roll-back. If you have a vehicle with a hand brake that can help out (and I have resorted to that upon occassion).
I am just so used to slowly releasing the clutch until I feel it start to grab, hold it there, let off the brake, gently squeeze the gas while letting off the clutch all the way. (I really don't even "think" about it when doing it.) I get minimal rollage and slippage.
I suspect it's nothing spectacular, but with practice anyone should be able to master it. My feeling is driving a stick really isn't all that difficult. It's a skill that every driver should learn, but in this day and age of automatics everywhere it is pretty much a lost cause.
Now for the knucklehead that has to get close enough to read part numbers... I've been known to give them a close call in those situations. :-)
What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open
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jerry
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2006
19:29:48
|  RE: Clutch question
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Message:
LOL
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2006
13:52:36
| RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Thanks for all of the advice. My dad was the firt person who taught me how to drive stick, and he told me that hoding it with the clutch on the hill is what you are suppose to do, and that it wouldn't hurt it any. Thats why I got used to doing that. So I gues I have to change my ways, because I really don't want to have to replace my clutch. As for the starting in second gear I do that because my first gear is geared so low I have to shift into second gear at like 8mph, because I don't like letting my rpms go any higher that 2,000 - 2,500. But I guess that I will have to start in first from now on. Because like I said I don't want to have to replace my clutch.
Thanks for all of the advice
Kevin
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2006
13:54:39
| RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Oh and by the way I am 19, and this is my first vehicle with a manual transmission. Thats why I am not really sure about how all of this stuff works.
Kevin
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Stick Shift
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2006
03:10:10
|  RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Kevin, many "older" people have the wrong idea about what a clutch is for. It is to make the truck GO, NOT keep if from going. Too many of them learned to drive from farmers who's tractor didn't exceed 8 mph! When the truck is stopped, the clutch plate is not spinning but the flywheel, with the engine running, is. When you let out the clutch pedal, the pressure plate which contains some strong springs pushes the clutch plate which has the friction material (similar to brake pads) against the flywheel causing it to spin and through the driveline turn the wheels. If you hold the pedal part-way out, you are basically grinding the flywheel. This doesn't hurt the flywheel so much as it wears away the friction material and heats the pressure plate. Do it enough and you will anneal and weaken the pressure plate springs. The worn friction plate and weakened pressure plate will then let the clutch slip all the time. The next step is to remove the transmission from the truck and replace the clutch and pressure plates. You may not have done this much damage yet, but if you continue to drive like your dad, you will.
Getting started up-hill is why first gear is so low - so you can accomplish getting your right foot off the brake and onto the gas as you let out the clutch without killing the engine or rolling into the fool on your tailgate! Go practice on easy slopes!
Regarding starting in second - if you can let the clutch out quickly -"dump the clutch" - and give it the gas afterword, you won't hurt the clutch. If you have to "slip the clutch" all the time, a visit to "Clutch Doctors" may be required.
You are concerned about not exceeding 2500 RPM - Why!!? Sure, I drive my 4.7 between 1500 and 2500 RPM when I'm trying to save my gas money. I also hit 4800 RPM when accerating off the corner where the Chevy dealer is! Don't lug your 3.9 in too low a gear, drive it where it's happy. That's why you drive a stick instead of a slush box!
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2006
13:27:29
| RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Yeah like you said I try to shift no higher then 2500 rpms because of gas money. I have now stopped starting in second gear, and using the clutch to hold my self still. After a few tries even on a steep hill I find it is not hard to get going with out rolling back.
Thanks every body for the info.
Kevin
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modain
GenIII
3/15/2006
13:46:21
| RE: Clutch question
IP: Logged
Message:
No problem. After a while you will not even focus any conscious attention on driving stick - you'll just "do it".
What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2006
14:12:30
| RE: Clutch question
IP: Logged
Message:
that's great Kevin. your truck will thank you for it.
when i was teaching my son to drive my truck('00QC w/ 5spd) one of the first things i did with him was find an incline for him to hold it on and start from. as modain says it will become second nature.
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spt
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2006
14:52:24
| RE: Clutch question
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Message:
Here is some more inspiration not to abuse your clutch. I just had the clutch replaced on my 88 and it cost me $900.00. I am not complianing it was the original clutch with 200,000 miles on it. Here is some more info on the clutch.
http://www.procarcare.com/icarumba/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/icar_resourcecenter_encyclopedia_manualtran.asp
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