lets say your sitting at a stoplight for a minute and you hold the clutch down, will this cause it to wear quicker than disengageing it?

 

Yes, you're putting pressure on the throw-out bearing. Put it in neutral and let out the clutch. Besides that, your leg won't get tired from holding down the clutch, especially in heavy traffic.

 

yeah, it is easier to do let it out i was just wondering if it actually made a difference mechanically, thanks for the reply

 

But, then you are wearing the input shaft bearing of the transmission. The way I see it is it's cheaper to replace the throw out bearing than take apart the tranny and install a input shaft bearing. If you aren't wearing one your wearing the other.

Actually, if you think about it you are disengaging and engaging the clutch twice if you puit it into neutral at a stoplight therefore more wear on the clutch disc itself.

The Z's clutch is quite light in stock form. However, in my Firebird the pressure plate has such a high holding pressure that I have to give my leg a break at the stoplights and throw it into neutral every so often.

my .02

 

Ive only been here for a few days but it seems like this question comes up 2 -3 times a week. I could be confusing myself since I use the search option so much.

 

I have never driven my cars that way.

 

I just happened to see this today:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...062301111.html
He addresses this very issue on the seventh question.

I used to think the right thing to do was to leave it in neutral to reduce wear on the throwout bearing.

 

no matter what that guy says I cant imagine myself holding the clutch for that long... can you say pain.

 

It like a leg press. You leg strength improves over time.

 

Shift into neutral at a stoplight? Never tried it. If I’m waiting for a train to pass, I might put it in neutral.