"Duncan Wood" wrote in message
newsp.uwd585rqhaghkf@lucy...
On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:41:52 +0100, robgraham
wrote:


"David Hearn" wrote in message
...
Heds wrote:
Hi,

I wonder if you could help settle an argument between my wife and I
(at least this one is related to cars!).

She drives with her left foot covering the clutch and says that she
was taught this technique as the correct way to drive and it helps her
if she needs to stop quickly.

I on the other hand say that if you need to stop quickly it is the
brake pedal she should be worrying about and that her left foot should
be flat on the floor or on the purpose built foot rest, unless she is
in the process of changing gear.

She insists that her foot is not on the clutch and just above it so is
hovering and therefore not causing the clutch any problems.

If anyone could help settle this friendly discussion I would be most
grateful. Especially if I could be proved right :-)

thanks
H Phillips

When driving down the motorway? I see no problem with putting your foot
in a comfortable position, quite possibly on the 'foot rest' (if the car
has one, a recent Fiesta I drove has no space to the left of the clutch
pedal at all!).

However, having your foot on the 'foot rest' is incompatible with your
suggested approach of "if you need to stop quickly it is the brake pedal
she should be worrying about". A few times I've caught my foot under
the
clutch pedal when taking it off the rest and trying to get to the brake.
It's a lot further from the rest to the brake (plus involves two
movements - up and across), than from hovering over the clutch to the
brake (one movement - across).


Am I reading you correctly? You appear to be using your left foot to
brake
with. I make this deduction because you say you get it stuck under the
clutch pedal when you move it from the footrest to the brake.

Whatever else you do, you shouldn't be using your left foot to brake
with.
So you shouldn't be hovering it over the clutch pedal.

Or are you resting your right foot on the left footrest???

Rob Graham




Left foot braking's a very usefull skill :-) Although not really on the
public highway.

True. But then so's walking on stilts, but for your everyday driver these
unusual skills are not part of life's rich pattern. Many people know how to
heel-and-toe, and drive long distances without using the clutch, but I
cannot really understand what the OP (and/or his wife) are gaining by what
they appear to be doing.

Rob

Left foot braking's a very usefull skill :-) Although not really on the
public highway.

So is driving with one's legs crossed. Some cars are so comfortable, it's
like being in your armchair.
Hence left foot accelerating and right foot braking. Now there's the test of
a Real Driver.

"Heds" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I wonder if you could help settle an argument between my wife and I
(at least this one is related to cars!).

She drives with her left foot covering the clutch and says that she
was taught this technique as the correct way to drive and it helps her
if she needs to stop quickly.

I on the other hand say that if you need to stop quickly it is the
brake pedal she should be worrying about and that her left foot should
be flat on the floor or on the purpose built foot rest, unless she is
in the process of changing gear.

She insists that her foot is not on the clutch and just above it so is
hovering and therefore not causing the clutch any problems.

If anyone could help settle this friendly discussion I would be most
grateful. Especially if I could be proved right :-)

thanks
H Phillips

Yes it is bad practice and its a habit I have never really managed to kick
since my learning days 17 years ago.

If you don't actually ride the clutch then its not mechanically damaging but
not 'best practice'

MattF

In article , Andy
Cap says...

I guess you don't drive much or very far then.

About 10000/year.

So not very much nor very far.


? I've just tried putting my foot on what I take is
intended to be a rest position and the pedal catches my shoe on the way
up. Couldn't be doing with that.

I put mine on the floor...


I do now recall having a bearing fail a
long time ago, so I may have contributed to it,

You did.

but certainly not a
major issue IMO.

It is on something modern which usually involves subframe removal and
5hrs labour or more.



--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

Conor wrote:
In article , Andy
Cap says...

I guess you don't drive much or very far then.

About 10000/year.

So not very much nor very far.


? I've just tried putting my foot on what I take is
intended to be a rest position and the pedal catches my shoe on the
way up. Couldn't be doing with that.

I put mine on the floor...


I do now recall having a bearing fail a
long time ago, so I may have contributed to it,

You did.

but certainly not a
major issue IMO.

It is on something modern which usually involves subframe removal and
5hrs labour or more.

Just did my first focus clutch, 6 hours, I reckon the next will be sub 5

Duncan Wood wrote:

Rob Graham




Left foot braking's a very usefull skill :-) Although not really on the
public highway.

I remember the first time I tried left foot braking - nearly skidded as
my left leg just pressed down hard as it would on the clutch!

On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:44:04 +0100, Conor wrote:


About 10000/year.

So not very much nor very far.

So how does the annual mileage make a difference ? I recall having one clutch
changed and have driven several cars to between 100-150,000 miles.

I put mine on the floor...

Fortunately that does not make it compulsory for all of us.

I do now recall having a bearing fail a
long time ago, so I may have contributed to it,

You did.

Perhaps, or maybe it was just a crap bearing.

It is on something modern which usually involves subframe removal and
5hrs labour or more.

I reckon I can afford 5 hours labour, once ever 50 years, if the alternative is
having to keep waving my leg about. Sad to say, I doubt the bill will ever
materialise.

..

"Mark W" s@o wrote in message
...





Left foot braking's a very usefull skill :-) Although not really on the
public highway.

So is driving with one's legs crossed. Some cars are so comfortable, it's
like being in your armchair.
Hence left foot accelerating and right foot braking. Now there's the test
of a Real Driver.

Nah the real test is the numpty from the states who bought a new motorhome
and taking it on the freeway set the cruise control then nipped in the back
to make a cuppa..lol

Redwood wrote:
"Mark W" s@o wrote in message
...


Left foot braking's a very usefull skill :-) Although not really on the
public highway.
So is driving with one's legs crossed. Some cars are so comfortable, it's
like being in your armchair.
Hence left foot accelerating and right foot braking. Now there's the test
of a Real Driver.

Nah the real test is the numpty from the states who bought a new motorhome
and taking it on the freeway set the cruise control then nipped in the back
to make a cuppa..lol


Shame its not true...

http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/cruise.asp

;-)

In message , David Hearn
writes

[...]
However, having your foot on the 'foot rest' is incompatible with your
suggested approach of "if you need to stop quickly it is the brake
pedal she should be worrying about". A few times I've caught my foot
under the clutch pedal when taking it off the rest and trying to get to
the brake.

Ouch!
Only the right foot should be used for the brake!
--
Gordon H
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