D Car — July 2004
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About this issue
246 available scans from D Car — July 2004, in right-to-left reading order. Japanese OCR and English translation drafts are available throughout. Drafts have not received exhaustive image proofreading; unreadable source remains recorded in the archival data.
Page 107 — English draft translation
Automatic-transmission owners may not need this, but clutch technique matters more than you might think if you are aiming for a serious sport compact. Raising engine power and fitting a heavy-duty or twin-plate clutch makes ordinary clutch control much more sensitive. These parts are hidden from view, but you feel the difference every time you drive.
Only enthusiasts really notice, but smooth control of a heavy-duty clutch is a driving skill you can show off to your friends. The trick is to plant your heel and release the pedal gradually, as shown above. With practice, learn to pull away at the lowest possible rpm. Even with a stock clutch, a smooth launch reduces clutch-disc wear and keeps your passenger comfortable. Start practicing!
Captions and page details
PART.1
Half-clutch
In Taku’s case,
Editor · Taku
Press with your toe, then ease off nervously—
NG!
Keep your heel planted as you search for the bite point.
Push in!
A heavy-duty clutch takes more force, so drivers tend to press with their toes. That makes delicate control difficult.
toe pressure
heel lifted
When you try to hold the bite point, your foot trembles because it has only one pivot point, making precise control impossible!
Slowly…
clutch
trembling
lurch
NO!
stalls
lurch
How embarrassing!
planted—
Keep your heel
No!
Unsteady clutch work is no good! Editor Taku uses only his toes, which makes the operation very unstable. The bite point cannot be held steadily, so of course the engine stalls.
Smooth clutch control is the secret to winning her heart!?
Lesson 3
Sport Compact Academy
Menu
File
Press the pedal
Even a heavy clutch is no problem.
style
Michael’s
Half-clutch
When pressing the pedal, keep your heel on the floor!
Michael plants his heel when pressing the pedal. Using it as a pivot lets him release the clutch gradually for precise control.
Firmly.
Keep your heel down and find the half-clutch bite point.
2
With your heel as the pivot, simply ease the pressure from your toes. This technique lets you pull away smoothly at low engine speed in any car.
PI
Keep your heel planted!
Once the bite point catches smoothly,
3
A heavy-duty clutch can be tricky at first. Once the car starts moving, shift as you would in a regular car and you will be fine.
Staff writer Isaka’s approach
Because work often puts Isaka in test cars with over 1,000 ps, he raises the revs slightly just before the clutch bites, then waits for it to engage naturally. Raising the revs transfers drive to the wheels—a little trick. Stalling during a test would be embarrassing!
fully engage the clutch
then release it.
The key is to match the ideal engine speed exactly to the half-clutch bite point.
The bite point varies by car. Slowly release the clutch pedal until the car begins to move; that is the engagement point. If the engine feels like it may stall, gradually raise the revs. The lower the rpm at which you can engage smoothly, the better your clutch control.
Engine speed
Heavy-duty clutches have a narrower engagement point. They feel more sensitive because the disc material, contact surface and clamping force differ from stock. But more heavy-duty clutches are now nearly as easy to use as standard ones, so ask your shop for advice.
+
heavy-duty
contact surface
Bite point
A smooth half-clutch start
107