"Side-stepping" or "slipping" the clutch...

[Young_Jedi]

I'm turning to you pros for some clarification on the terms "side-stepping" the clutch and "slipping" the clutch. I have a vague idea what these terms literally entail but i'm not 100% sure. I'm a bit embarassed to ask but what is your interpretation of these 2 terms?

[xsiveone]

Well.. I'm absolutely no pro here, but what I think the meaning is..

Side stepping the clutch would probably be what it sounds like. Basically, dropping your foot off the side and dropping the clutch. I could be wrong though..

Slipping the clutch is just not fully engaging it until you get traction. It's basically feeding in the clutch at the friction point. If you let the clutch all the way out, you might have traction problems.

Maybe the experts can verify this... Like I said, I'm no expert with this because I've never drag raced a car at a track before.

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[No Doubt]

That description is correct. However, it's not good for the clutch to slip it nor is it good for the drivetrain to just "side step" it or "dump it". Although most people slip the clutch to some degree during slow speed driving such as around parking lots or in stop and go traffic, whenever you do so you are causing more wear on the clutch disc.

Higher performance clutches such as the Spec Stage 3, etc., will not slip at all, even if you wanted to. They are like an on/off switch.

[xsiveone]

My mom would never wear out a clutch on a car by riding it. The problem was that nobody ever wanted to ride with her either because it wasn't a very smooth ride.

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