Not the clutch disk, but the throwout bearing. The throwout bearing is only intended to be under load while starting, stopping, and shifting. Holding the clutch down while idling or while coasting can increase the demand on the bearing by hundreds of times. Fortunately, the bearings can usually take it. Unfortunately, they can't always. The same goes for the pilot bearing but the load on it is usually less.
You won't wear out the clutch if you have the car in neutral. But it sounds to me that you might be a little to anctious to put the car in neutral.
For example, if you want to save fuel going downhill, put the car in appropriate gear and use as little throttle as possible, but not neutral. The engines uses more fuel idling than it does during enginebraking downhill.
Also, while stopping, use enginebreaking, gradually use lower gears and use gears AND brake to stop the car, in the long run and done in the right way that is the more economical way to drive.
During short stops there's no need to put the car in neutral, just use the clutch, but in any circumstances, make sure to push the pedal to the bottom. Only pushing it half way down can wear out the clutch since the discs then still rotate and rub against each others, but if you put the pedal all the way down the disks stops rotating and are completely separated.
Hope i have helped you a bit on the way to better driving, good luck.
Only if your "RIDE THE CLUTCH" but that is a poor habit to have, you should be downshifting as so your always in the correct gear when you need to accelerate.
Coasting mean your car id not under proper control.
you will wear your brakes more.
If you drive a manual like that there is no telling what else you are doing wrong.
In Europe we have to take a different test to drive a manual.
No, coasting in neutral, or having the car in neutral under any circumstance does not effect or damage the clutch. Clutch wear occurs when the clutch slides across the flywheel, like if you're at a dead stop and pull the clutch out very slowly. To make the clutch last, make clutch movements quickly, so that it doesn't slip as much.
Not true, there is no load at all on the clutch when the transmission is in neutral. The clutch is subject to wear when engaging and disengaging the clutch while the transmission is loaded in gear.
I developed a habit of using as much neutral as possible.
For instance whenever I am coasting downhill, I always put the gear in neutral and coast.
Whenever I see a red light or a stop sign ahead, I do the same and use brake to stop.
My clutch is showing symptoms of wearing out and I'm only at 90,000km.
Heard from someone that you are actually wearing out the clutch when coasting in neutral and you should always have your car in gear. Is that true?
Thanks,
