slowing down and slowing down in stick shift/manual?

Question

i'm learning manual at the moment, and i was wondering, if i'm slowing down at a round-about or give way sign, do i have to press on the clutch or brakes first?

and if a car does come past and i have to stop, what do i do.

the exact procedure would be good so i won't be confused or unsure about anything.

the title was meant to be "slowing down and stopping" , my bad

Answer 1

The correct answer, as always, is it depends.

If you're not planning to change gears, you'd hit the brakes and never touch the clutch. This would be very common at a roundabout.

If you're going to stop, you'd have to depress the clutch at some point. That point is when you've slowed to a speed that the engine is basically idling in whatever gear it's in. That could occur multiple times if you downshift, and one if you don't. The engine will tell you when you need to hit the clutch. When it starts bucking, you've waited too long.

I'm surprised so many people said they'd hit the clutch first, before they slowed at all. That's not how people really drive, I promise you. They probably just didn't post how they actually drive.

Answer 2

Always use the clutch first, since you probably won't want to stall your engine. The only time that you should use the brakes first is when you are about to get into an accident, then just hit the brakes, forget about the clutch. when at high speeds, I use downshifting, and at low speeds I use a technique called "coasting" that my uncle taught me. What you do is push the clutch, shift to neutral, and release the clutch. You coast, then use the brakes, hence the name. Now, semi's are different. You always have to downshift, but what my dad does is shifts out of gear, revvs the engine, then downshifts. This is because he uses the engine brake (also known as the Jake Brake). You aren't driving a semi, are you? Good Luck!

Answer 3

We don't have round a bouts here, but, if I'm yielding to someone (same thing basically), I punch in the clutch first and then the brake and go down to 2nd gear, so I can pick it back up w/out a full stop. If you do have to stop, I punch the clutch and brake at the same time if it's a fast one, and shift straight over to 1st. And when I come to a stop light, I shift into neutral and put it in 1st when the light changes. Whew!

Answer 4

Take it completely out of gear (press clutch) and use brake until you reach the speed you want.

Have the next gear already in place that you plan on being in and just engage after you are ready to stay at a constant speed or accelerate.

I feel that using nothing but brakes to slow a car down is more appropriate than the engine and transmission. Which is cheaper to replace: brake pads/rotors or clutch/transmission/worn engine parts?????

Answer 5

as for the round-about, it really depends on how fast you are going right before you get there. obviously if you're traveling at a fast speed, you may have to slow the car down with your breaks and can down shift thereafter. if you are going a decent slow speed (20-15 mph) approaching the area (assuming you're in 3rd), press the clutch and down shift to 2nd, the car will still be moving, when it starts slowing below 10 mph (press on the clutch and) you can down shift to 1st (if the car is going too slow and you don't press on the clutch the car will eventually stall [* note this isn't the same as riding the clutch - that's not good]). if you down shift to 1st prior to 10 mph your car will sound like a truck with a hugh engine (i can't really explain that part...but you'll hear it). sometimes if you put it into 1st and you're at a high speed, the shifter (shift stick) will pop into neutral... so just make sure you get used to shifting at the appropriate times. you should begin down shifting at least 50 ft prior. of course, if you are in a high pedestrian traffic area, i would recommend slowing with the breaks first (especially since you are still learning).

remember safety first, so if a car pops out in front of you and you ARE comfortable down shifting (depending on your speed) either to 2nd gear (then break) or 2nd then to 1st gear... do it, if you still need practice... i would continue to use the breaks until you are 100% comfortable.

good luck!

Answer 6

if u can make the round about without stalling in the gear u are in just hit the brakes but if u have to downshift push the clutch in and then hit the brakes when you are almost to the round about then before u accelerate put the shifter in the gear that is most appropriate and slowly let off the clutch. and go again.

Answer 7

The easiest way to slow down is to push in the clutch with your left foot then use your right foot to brake. or you could brake with your engine by downshifting while fine tuning the speed of the car with the brake. You should really be familiar with the car your driving to do this so you don't put it in a lower gear to soon and over rev your car. In bumper to bumper traffic you should signal and make sure you are moving with the flow of traffic then just merge. Try not to cut anyone off. If your in California the law says that if you can't merge with traffic then you need to stop on the onramp until you can, but this will most likely result in you getting rearended.

Answer 8

Brake and downshift at the same time, letting the clutch out each time to help with braking. I follow the same procedure with an automatic. Ya can speed shift up ,right? Ya can speed shift down.

Answer 9

It's all in the feel for it. I always clutch first (to downshift),unless I have to react immediately. Abrupt stopping almost always involves, Brake, followed by downshift. When I know I have to stop(from a high gear 4,5) I slow by downshifting the first couple of gears, then brake and downshift until I'm in first and stop. Really, it's just practice and feel as far as manual goes.

Answer 10

Use your transmission to slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator, depress the clutch and downshift - slowly release the clutch. If you need to completely stop then continue to downshift to at least 2nd gear and then use the brake to completely stop whilst fully depressing the clutch and holding it in...that help?