The topic of using the clutch pedal while braking has been generating heated discussions among drivers for decades. Some press both pedals simultaneously, like a concert pianist during a complex passage, while others are convinced that the clutch should only be touched at the very last moment. And, remarkably, representatives of both camps are confident in their own rightness.
In fact, the question is by no means idle: incorrect use of the clutch while braking can lead not only to awkward jerks of the car, but also to premature wear of transmission components, and in certain situations - to a real threat to safety. Therefore, let's objectively, without fanaticism and garage myths, figure out when it is really necessary to depress the clutch, and when it only creates problems.
Where do the contradictions come from
The root of the disagreements lies in driving schools. Each instructor has their own method. Some teach "according to a simplified scheme": during any braking, immediately depress the clutch - they say it's more reliable, the power unit won't stall. Others approach the process more deeply and explain the mechanics of the phenomenon: why depress, at what moment, and how it affects the behavior of the vehicle.
As a result, newly minted drivers go out on the roads with different skills. And habits, as you know, are later more difficult to change than to change a light bulb in the headlight of a domestic SUV.
On the training ground, it is indeed logical to use the clutch at every deceleration - everything happens at minimum speeds, and the student simply does not have time to coordinate the work of two pedals. The engine stalled - retake the exercise. However, in urban conditions, such "training reflexes" often turn into a mistake, especially when driving at speed.
When the clutch is redundant: braking while moving
Imagine a situation: you are driving on a highway at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour and want to reduce the pace slightly to 50 km/h. Is it necessary to press the clutch at this moment? Of course not. The engine and gearbox work synchronously, the revs are in the operating range, the car slows down with the engine - everything functions correctly.
If you depress the clutch at this moment, several negative phenomena will occur. First, the car will lose the connection between the wheels and the power unit - the effect of engine braking disappears, and the vehicle rolls by inertia. Secondly, on a slippery surface, this can lead to loss of stability: without connection to the engine, the wheels lock faster when braking, and this is a direct path to skidding or uncontrolled sliding.
When the clutch is really necessary: complete stop
Now let's consider another situation: there is a traffic light ahead, and you are smoothly slowing down to a complete stop. Here the clutch is really needed. The correct algorithm of actions is to first press the brake pedal, and then, as the engine speed decreases, depress the clutch and stop.
This approach has two advantages: the engine assists braking, reducing the load on the braking mechanisms; you form a useful reflex - in an emergency, first activate the brake, and do not frantically look for the clutch pedal.
If you constantly press the clutch at the same time as the brake, you are actually disabling one of the deceleration systems - the engine stops participating in the process, and the brakes get an increased load.
Traffic jams, coasting and neutral gear
In urban conditions, especially in heavy traffic, a special logic applies. Here, braking with the gear engaged is not always advisable - the car will twitch, and you will have to constantly keep the clutch depressed. In such conditions, it is wiser to use coasting - release the gas pedal, smoothly depress the clutch and roll, adjusting the distance to the car in front. Or even put it in neutral gear if you are standing for a long time.
But it is important to remember one rule: standing with the clutch depressed at a traffic light or in a traffic jam is a bad habit. First, the release bearing receives a constant load and wears out, and secondly, if your foot accidentally slips off the pedal, the car may suddenly jerk forward.
Therefore, if you are standing for more than ten seconds - move the lever to the neutral position and release the clutch pedal. This will save the transmission components and your nerves.
Emergency braking: sequence of actions
When a really dangerous situation occurs - a pedestrian suddenly appeared on the roadway, a sharp stop of the traffic flow ahead - the pedals work in tandem, but sequentially. The brake always comes first, and only then the clutch.
This is critical: if you immediately depress the clutch, you lose engine braking and some control over the car. And if you depress the clutch a little later, when the revs drop to minimum values, you manage to use both the braking system and the engine as efficiently as possible.
Professional racers, by the way, act exactly like this - not because "it is prescribed by the instructions", but because it is physically more efficient. The car remains more stable, and the driver retains more control over the situation.
The brake and clutch pedals are like partners in a dance: if one makes a move ahead of time, the other must adjust. The main thing is not to confuse their functions and sequence of application.
It is necessary to depress the clutch only when the engine speed approaches idle or immediately before a complete stop. In other cases - let the engine work, because it is also able to brake effectively and help in driving the car.
Remember the key rule: the fewer unnecessary movements with your feet behind the wheel, the longer your car will last. And if someone in disputes on car forums will prove that "he always depresses the clutch first" - just smile and walk past. Let him first study the basics of car mechanics, and not the mechanics of pedals.