Miata Mailing List: June 1997, Message #51
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From: 	"epsilon7" <epsilon7@worldnet.att.net>

Subject: "riding the clutch": Response 

Date: 	Sun, 1 Jun 1997 23:04:24 -0500



My 2 cents:



You want to depress your clutch pedal ONLY under one condition:  when you

want to change gears.  



Don't do these:



Sit at a light with the clutch "in" (depressed) (runs up cycles in the

throw-out bearing).  Instead, trans. in neutral and clutch out.

  

"Ride the clutch" (partially depressing it while trans is in gear) (wears

out the throw-out bearing and the clutch disc).  Very bad. 



why?



Depressing the clutch results in:  

1.  The throw-out bearing turns against the pressure plate.

2.  The springs are depressed on the pressure plate.

3.  The clutch disc is separated from the flywheel (no connection between

engine and trans.)



When the clutch pedal is out:

1.  The throw-out bearing is not turning.

2.  The pressure plate springs are pushing the clutch disc fully against

the flywheel. (Full connection between engine and trans.)



To me, minimal wear on clutch/throw-out is the situation when the clutch

pedal is out.



Some might would argue the throw-out bearing is cheaper than the

input-bearings in the tranny (sit at a light with the clutch in), I say the

load is nil and the tranny bearings are sitting in an MTL bath...the

throw-out is self-lubed and when it dries out, it goes bye-bye.



Regie Bryant

'93 Red B-Package,  HT, LSD, 

Team Sebring SC, JR catback, SP8000's, J&S knock mgmt, JR Sways, CRI Horns