I've searched but didn't find a answere. Question is is there a procedure for braking in a new stock clutch? I have a new engine with 1232 miles and clutch with 1500 miles. Is it normal to smell clutch when down shifting? AATCO who installed the clutch says there was no brake in needed. Reason I ask is because I been using the clutch to down shift more rather than using the brakes to stop. I'm not letting go of the clutch pedal all that fast but still get a little smell when ever I do down shift, or is this normal? Worked and still works fine for the first 1200 miles or at least untill I started paying attention once I started intentionally down shifting on purpose. Keep in mind the Z has been parked for awhile and since that time a month later I was rowing through the gears and broke the front input shaft seal in the transmission and begun leaking fluid out the bell housing. But the car was parked a month before that happened and hasn't been driven since so doubt that is related to the question. Thanks Z

Edited February 20, 201015 yr by WingZr0

A tip I got from an experienced racer way back when - "brakes are cheaper and easier to replace than clutches and transmissions."

Beat me to it. I'd rather replace nrake pads than a clutch anyway, especially if I have to pay someone else to do it.

In my experience, a clutch is used for starting from stop and easing the transition from gear to gear. The only time a clutch would be "slipped" is during the take-off period from stop. I've NEVER had any sort of clutch trouble (the first one lasted 37 years) and wasn't quite used up even then, and I drove the crap out of it, power-shifting, burn-outs, you name it. I routinely use the gears to assist in slowing the car, blipping the throttle to match to the lower gear. Minimal clutch wear....

If you're having a clutch burning smell, you've got an installation issue or a bad clutch out of the box.

There is nothing better than a really fast corner entrance(to fast)light brakes,downshift to second,stabilize the chassis,Then hold the throttle down.I will pass you.sorry....s30 rule...

I was using that more as an extreme metaphore but I get what you mean about the potential to over rev. One of the main drags in this town is a highway, so when going from 4th I started to brake, clutch pedal in, let the revs drop about halfway then let out the clutch while still keeping the revs below 4 to 5 thousand. Only to assist in braking. Thought I'd phrase it that just to see if any shifting condition that made that burning smell was allowable which I'm now told is not.

I'm not really following this, so just to be clear; you use the ENGINE to assist braking, not the clutch. Heel/toe matches the revs so that you can let the clutch out quickly without upsetting the chassis. If you're braking with the clutch, you're doing it wrong.

So thats how you do it James? And is that a challenge I hear . Jim- I think you about got it. Thought I was doing it right, so what do they mean by "using the engine compression to assist in braking"? I explain a little more clearly EXACTLY what I'm doing. I'm going in a straight line on the highway at 75mph and see a red light ahead. I clutch in, hit the brakes shifting from 4th to 3rd, rpm's now at 2,000, at around 65mph I then let the clutch out a bit till rpm's hit 5,000 making the car stop quicker then put the clutch in again to let the revs drop (it's at this point I smell something), at 50 to 55mph I let the clutch out all the way in 3rd and revs hit about 4,500, then down shift in each consecutive gear as usual coming to a stop. Is it that I'm feathering the clutch too long and that I should actually brake to a lower speed other than 65mph untill I am able to just come straight off the clutch in 3rd or any other gear for that matter?

Edited February 21, 201015 yr by WingZr0

I'm not sure I'm following this either.

With all respect, Wing. It doesn't sound like you know how to downshift. Here is a basic rule; the clutch pedal is either fully depressed for a gear shift action or your foot isn't on the clutch pedal. Don't ever downshift like you describe! Ever! Never "let the clutch out a bit"! The clutch pedal is either in or out - no in between! Of course you're smelling a burning clutch! You're burning the hell out of it!

More clutch conservation tips:

ALWAYS sit at a red light with the car in neutral.

ALWAYS use your brakes to slow or stop. Only downshift to select the gear you wish to accelerate with - AFTER you finish slowing down.

I'm not sure I'm following this either. With all respect, Wing. It doesn't sound like you know how to downshift. Here is a basic rule; the clutch pedal is.... Only downshift to select the gear you wish to accelerate with - AFTER you finish slowing down.

OHHH DAMN , guess I had that scalding coming ! Now that we understand each othere I thought I was doing a race technique called power braking, or do I have that concept wrong too? Learned how to shift like described in a 70's Honda Civic hatch back, also did it my 88 BMW 320i both of which I never smelled a burning clutch which is why I thoug it unusual.

Edited February 21, 201015 yr by WingZr0

Well hopefully I didn't hurt it to bad since it was only the last 200 miles I drove that way. But still damn, can't believe I was doing that and to a new clutch. Thats just negligent abuse of a Z, hope my parole doesn't get revoked!

Edited February 21, 201015 yr by WingZr0

Engine braking literally happens when you let off the gas. That's it. If you run the car up to 6000 rpm and push in the clutch, the car will continue on slowly losing speed for a long time, just coasting. If you get the car to 6000 and just take your foot off the gas but don't touch the clutch, the car will slow down pretty rapidly. That is engine braking; that is using the engine's compression to assist in braking.

I don't know what the name for what you're doing is, other than burning the $^!# out of the clutch. I would suggest that you find an autocross school near you and attend. It's cheap and they'll help with the rectal/cranial extraction then when you're comfortable there you might try an HPDE or two at a big track. Driving instruction, especially when you're driving and the instructor is sitting next to you pointing out what is going right and wrong, is amazingly helpful.

Head in arse! Found myself using that term more and more on other people, now I'm the butt of it ! My idea of engine braking was simply go to next lower gear and come straight off the clutch but at a low enough mph speed for that lower gear so when the clutch was released, for that one time only, the revs wouldn't redline. Shifting fast enough that way so the flywheel and trany speed still closely matched never made a burning smell and the clutch never slips. But that feathering stuff did a bad deed. And as the next post is pointing out, I believe I was down shifting WAY TO soon . What does HPDE mean now I need classes ? Thanks guys for helping me out; Case of the Head In arse, solved.

Edited February 21, 201015 yr by WingZr0

Yea, that'll work. As long as you don't slip the clutch.

HPDE = High Performance Driver Education