break clutch break?

hagoonabear

hi guys booked my drivers test, I am nervous about breaking though driving years but always clutch first then break, any tips on proper usage

nc19

If you clutch in before braking you are no longer fully in control.

you should brake until the car nearly starts shaking before clutch (if braking to a full stop)

sjb25

hagoonabear wrote: »

hi guys booked my drivers test, I am nervous about breaking though driving years but always clutch first then break, any tips on proper usage

You will be hammerd for coasting if you do that break first then clutch only when nearly fully stopped

cantdecide

The lesson here is that it's one continuous, steady braking maneuver interspersed with gearing down.



Firstly, know he throttle operates in three positions;

- accelerating (pedal to the metal)
- maintaining speed (neither accelerating or braking, just rumbling along)
- decelerating (lift off the pedal and now you're 'engine' braking')
[You don't necessarily have to use clutch at all- that is unless you need to drop a gear because the revs have dropped too low- maybe because you're braking to a stop for example]
-To continue to go slower again you move away from the throttle and over to the brake pedal




There are lots of ways and occasions to use the brakes but the one that will give you the most rounded knowledge of steady braking (in my opinion) is as follow;

Imagine you're zooming along a 100km/h dual main road and you realise there's a roundabout coming. You know that if there's traffic on that round about you may end up coming to a full stop or rumbling through in 2nd gear

- You begin by maintaining your speed until you feel it's time to slow down

- The first thing you do is lift your foot off the throttle (engine braking) to begin scrubbing off some speed and you leave the clutch alone.

- The next thing you're going to do is move over and push the brake (while leaving the clutch alone at this stage) and you're now braking proper
- you are going to try to not vary your braking- you want to hit that brake once and maintain that one pressure so that it brings you to a near stop at the roundabout ahead (or full stop if there's traffic on the roundabout) without lifting the brake or having to press harder- one continuous braking maneuver- not going on and off the brake (which you may do instinctively- most learners do.
- you will then cycle through the gears independently of the brake- the brake stays where it is and you go
- clutch-in, drop gear, clutch out
- clutch-in, drop gear, clutch out

and so on until you've scrubbed off sufficient speed to enter the roundabout safely or to come to a stop due to traffic.

I hope that makes sense...

MascotDec85

cantdecide wrote: »

The lesson here is that it's one continuous, steady braking maneuver interspersed with gearing down.



Firstly, know he throttle operates in three positions;

- accelerating (pedal to the metal)
- maintaining speed (neither accelerating or braking, just rumbling along)
- decelerating (lift off the pedal and now you're 'engine' braking')
[You don't necessarily have to use clutch at all- that is unless you need to drop a gear because the revs have dropped too low- maybe because you're braking to a stop for example]
-To continue to go slower again you move away from the throttle and over to the brake pedal




There are lots of ways and occasions to use the brakes but the one that will give you the most rounded knowledge of steady braking (in my opinion) is as follow;

Imagine you're zooming along a 100km/h dual main road and you realise there's a roundabout coming. You know that if there's traffic on that round about you may end up coming to a full stop or rumbling through in 2nd gear

- You begin by maintaining your speed until you feel it's time to slow down

- The first thing you do is lift your foot off the throttle (engine braking) to begin scrubbing off some speed and you leave the clutch alone.

- The next thing you're going to do is move over and push the brake (while leaving the clutch alone at this stage) and you're now braking proper
- you are going to try to not vary your braking- you want to hit that brake once and maintain that one pressure so that it brings you to a near stop at the roundabout ahead (or full stop if there's traffic on the roundabout) without lifting the brake or having to press harder- one continuous braking maneuver- not going on and off the brake (which you may do instinctively- most learners do.
- you will then cycle through the gears independently of the brake- the brake stays where it is and you go
- clutch-in, drop gear, clutch out
- clutch-in, drop gear, clutch out

and so on until you've scrubbed off sufficient speed to enter the roundabout safely or to come to a stop due to traffic.

I hope that makes sense...

If you go and master this you won't go too far wrong

hagoonabear

thanks guys for the info including the handy post by cantdecide , going to write this out and learn it have a driving lesson this Wednesday so hope to start learning how to do it properly . Just nervous incase I conk out while trying to break

LeinsterDub

I thought the whole stepping down though the gears thing was done away with. It never did it and wasn't tested on it.

hagoonabear

LeinsterDub wrote: »

I thought the whole stepping down though the gears thing was done a away with. It never did it and wasn't tested on it.

seriously ? I hope this is right , someone told me also to wear a blank pants :P so the tester on the day can't see

cantdecide

LeinsterDub wrote: »

I thought the whole stepping down though the gears thing was done away with. It never did it and wasn't tested on it.

I really have no idea if they test for it or not but it's still poor practice with practical drawbacks in the real world such as when driving in the ice and stability and burdening the brakes if not done.

In other words; to be a well rounded driver you need to learn about gearing down whether they test for it or not. It's just part and parcel of driving. It's not hard- you just have to pay it the attention it deserves to add it to your skill set.

Squidgy Black

I've a horrible habit of engaging the clutch before braking, instructor told me I'd be crucified when I sit my test for coasting. Better off learning the right way from the start.

Craftylee

Especially bad when going down hill - if you clutch in before braking you will actually speed up until you hit the brake. It's a bad habit to get into and the earlier you stop doing it the better.

Remember use the gear to match your speed- if your in 4th going 60 km/h and you need to slow down to 50 km/h then you just use the brake, there's no need to use the clutch.

Westeros

I'm currently taking driving lessons. Started from scratch with no experience of driving and I've been told to do as cantdecide has said. Was told the driving instructor will look out for it.

Pov06

It's okay to only drop down to 3rd gear whilst braking and then push in the clutch pedal just before the car starts shaking.

You don't need to drop down to 2nd if you don't want to and you definitely shouldn't drop down all the way to 1st while slowing down. 1st should only be engaged when the car is stopped (or rolling at a couple km/h).

cantdecide

Pov06 wrote: »

It's okay to only drop down to 3rd gear whilst braking and then push in the clutch pedal just before the car starts shaking

They say the engine is 'labouring'

Pov06 wrote: »

You don't need to drop down to 2nd if you don't want to and you definitely shouldn't drop down all the way to 1st while slowing down.

The way I was told it by my instructor (several moons ago ) was that you can brake to a stop in either second or third depending on the conditions-

eg if you're progressing at the 50km/h speed limit in 4th and a traffic light turns amber, brake and drop to 3rd and then brake to a stop.

If you're progressing but see there's a red light ahead, brake and at your ease, drop to third then to second and brake to a stop.

That's what I was told at the time and I find it's still relevant.

Pov06 wrote: »

1st should only be engaged when the car is stopped (or rolling at a couple km/h).

IMO, pretty much first should be used for moving off or if you find yourself in heavy traffic or in a car park type setting and you have to slow to a walking pace without actually stopping. Learners will always find it tricky to get back to first smoothly. I'm sure there's a protocol for using it from a tester/ instructor's point of view but I wouldn't change from 2nd to first without stopping unless I have to