Is it bad form for my heel to slide when using the clutch?

[PandaSPUR]

So this is my first car, and thus first time ever driving a manual transmission. I've been trying to get rid of bad newbie habits (most recent one off the list: resting my hand on the gear shift).

Now I'm wondering, is it bad form for me to be sliding my heel when I use the clutch? When I'm depressing it, I notice my heel will slide forward a bit as I get to the last inch or so of motion from the pedal. Then it slides back a bit as I disengage.

I never noticed this until I switched to the "Kagu 3D Maxpider" floor mats, because theres a ridge that happens to catch my heel after I slide forward. So now sliding back is a bit more annoying.

If this is a bad habit, how do I correct it? Is my seating position off? Do I needa get used to using my toe instead of the ball of my feet to engage the pedal?

If its not a bad habit, I'm just gonna get some black epoxy to fill in the ridge on my mats.

EDIT: Pic of floor mat to demonstrate what I mean by the ridge:

[finch1750]

Shoulda got WeatherTechs lol

Are you hovering over the clutch while you drive? If you cant fully engage the clutch I would probably scoot forward a click

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Shoulda got WeatherTechs lol

Are you hovering over the clutch while you drive? If you cant fully engage the clutch I would probably scoot forward a click

I had weathertechs, switched to these cause I like how they look.

And nah when I'm driving my foot is on the dead pedal.

I'll try scooting forward a click or two but im already far forward enough that my knees are still bent at full engagement, so I'm not sure if it'll help much.

EDIT: Maybe I should try the clutch pedal adjustment DIYs on the site? I think my main issue is that the pedal comes back up too far.

[Tcoat]

Don't sweat it. As long as you are pushing the clutch all the way down there is no right or wrong foot placement. If your foot is stable on the pedal then all is good no matter what part you are using.
Now I hand it over to all the guys that will say you have to have precisely a 22.8 degree angle at apex which must be increased by exactly 1.5835 degrees per millimeter until you hit the bottom or you are doing it wrong.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by PandaSPUR

I had weathertechs, switched to these cause I like how they look.

And nah when I'm driving my foot is on the dead pedal.

I'll try scooting forward a click or two but im already far forward enough that my knees are still bent at full engagement, so I'm not sure if it'll help much.

EDIT: Maybe I should try the clutch pedal adjustment DIYs on the site? I think my main issue is that the pedal comes back up too far.

Maybe you are too close then. My leg is basically fully extended Pushing in the clutch/gas (on my MT cars at least)

Though the DIY does help a great deal. I hate the MT on these cars from factory actually. not that it cant be easily fixed

[dvasqu01]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Don't sweat it. As long as you are pushing the clutch all the way down there is no right or wrong foot placement. If your foot is stable on the pedal then all is good no matter what part you are using.
Now I hand it over to all the guys that will say you have to have precisely a 22.8 degree angle at apex which must be increased by exactly 1.5835 degrees per millimeter until you hit the bottom or you are doing it wrong.

Then you have to be sure to know the six trig functions sin cos sec csc tan cot of 22.8


Yes I'll give you the rice noodle😘

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by dvasqu01

Then you have to be sure to know the six trig functions sin cos sec csc tan cot of 22.8

I'm suggesting given the type of curve described by the ball of the foot one should be using hyperbolic functions here.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by dvasqu01

Then you have to be sure to know the six trig functions sin cos sec csc tan cot of 22.8


Yes I'll give you the rice noodle😘

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

I'm suggesting given the type of curve described by the ball of the foot one should be using hyperbolic functions here.

Can you tell me how to do this on my Ti-82?

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Can you tell me how to do this on my Ti-82?

Sorry, it's HP or go home.
RPN for the win!!

[Venom1506]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Maybe you are too close then. My leg is basically fully extended Pushing in the clutch/gas (on my MT cars at least)

Though the DIY does help a great deal. I hate the MT on these cars from factory actually. not that it cant be easily fixed

I'm not here to tell anyone how to drive but you might want to reconsider your driving position if you need to fully extend your leg to push in the clutch pedal.
In the event of a front end collision, if you have your left foot mashed on the clutch, you're going to do some serious damage to every bone starting from your foot straight to your hip.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by Venom1506

I'm not here to tell anyone how to drive but you might want to reconsider your driving position if you need to fully extend your leg to push in the clutch pedal.
In the event of a front end collision, if you have your left foot mashed on the clutch, you're going to do some serious damage to every bone starting from your foot straight to your hip.

thats to get it to the floor, and there is still a slight bend in my knee. I dont need to put it all the way to the floor though I guess I probably would have it slammed down in that situation. not sure I'll change it as its how im the most comfortable but good food for thought. If I was in a wreck that bad though not sure it would make much difference either way

[dvasqu01]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

I'm suggesting given the type of curve described by the ball of the foot one should be using hyperbolic functions here.

Well that's depending what your trying to find I was assuming he will want to find the Distances between the floor to the top of the pedal and the distance from the start point of the pedal to the floor 😜


Yes I'll give you the rice noodle😘

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Don't sweat it. As long as you are pushing the clutch all the way down there is no right or wrong foot placement. If your foot is stable on the pedal then all is good no matter what part you are using.
Now I hand it over to all the guys that will say you have to have precisely a 22.8 degree angle at apex which must be increased by exactly 1.5835 degrees per millimeter until you hit the bottom or you are doing it wrong.

Good to know I'm not doing anything wrong to the car mechanically at least, thanks. Still gonna try to fix it though because I feel like it screws up my reaction time and having to unstick my heel just distracts me, even if for just a second.

Originally Posted by finch1750

Maybe you are too close then. My leg is basically fully extended Pushing in the clutch/gas (on my MT cars at least)

Though the DIY does help a great deal. I hate the MT on these cars from factory actually. not that it cant be easily fixed

Hmm. I guess I'll spend a few hours this weekend tweaking my seat and adjusting the pedal till I get to a good spot.


To the rest of the posts in this thread. . . lmao, you guys never fail to entertain.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

precisely a 22.8 degree angle at apex which must be increased by exactly 1.5835 degrees per millimeter until you hit the bottom or you are doing it wrong

Originally Posted by dvasqu01

Then you have to be sure to know the six trig functions sin cos sec csc tan cot of 22.8

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

I'm suggesting given the type of curve described by the ball of the foot one should be using hyperbolic functions here.

hm, E(x,t) = EmSin(0.7x-0.89t)
B(x,t) = BmSin(0.7x-0.89t)

Now, idk if i can equate the accelration of the ball of your foot towards the clutch pedal to the time it takes to disengage the clutch...id need more time to set that up lol.