M7 Operation
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 140
Likes: 114
From: South Carolina
M7 Operation
So, it’s been 20yrs since I had a manual as a daily driver,
Good news, the old muscle memory still works, therefore have not embarrassed myself during several tests drives
Question for folks using the M7 quite often:
when trapped-stuck in heavy bumper-bumper stop- go traffic
Is it “put in neutral” and wait
or “in-out” ride the clutch…. This seams to me to put a lot of stress on the clutch
Mods, if wrong section please correct
Good news, the old muscle memory still works, therefore have not embarrassed myself during several tests drives
Question for folks using the M7 quite often:
when trapped-stuck in heavy bumper-bumper stop- go traffic
Is it “put in neutral” and wait
or “in-out” ride the clutch…. This seams to me to put a lot of stress on the clutch
Mods, if wrong section please correct
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
30 years of experience daily driving a manual, including C4/6/7 Corvettes. Never did I put it in neutral unless I was sitting for so long I got tired of holding the clutch pedal down.....like when I lived in LA for 10 years and my 11 mile daily commute took a minimum of 2 hours, one way, every day. Or for the prior 10 years having a worse stop & go drive in Seattle.
I never wore out a clutch or any of the related components over 10s of thousands of miles. Putting it in neutral does Zero regarding longevity. It's nothing but a comfort factor.
The clutch system is hydraulic. You don't have any springs on a release fork pivoting on a stud or a conventional throwout bearing to wear. If it was putting undo stress on it by going "in/out", what do you do when operating the brake pedal?
I never wore out a clutch or any of the related components over 10s of thousands of miles. Putting it in neutral does Zero regarding longevity. It's nothing but a comfort factor.
The clutch system is hydraulic. You don't have any springs on a release fork pivoting on a stud or a conventional throwout bearing to wear. If it was putting undo stress on it by going "in/out", what do you do when operating the brake pedal?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 645
Likes: 72
From: EAST TEXAS
The clutch system is hydraulic. You don't have any springs on a release fork pivoting on a stud or a conventional throwout bearing to wear. If it was putting undo stress on it by going "in/out", what do you do when operating the brake pedal?[/QUOTE]
Not to be adversarial, but there is still a throwout or release bearing in a hydraulically actuated system. Regardless of mechanical or hydraulic actuation, there still is a mechanical bearing to press against the diaphragm spring or clutch fingers to release pressure on the clutch disk. And yes, if you are sitting still, with the transmission in a gear, with the clutch held in, the throwout bearing is spinning under pressure. Probably not enough of an issue to make a difference in the life of the unit, but from a technical view, it is putting some minute amount of unnecessary wear on it.
Not to be adversarial, but there is still a throwout or release bearing in a hydraulically actuated system. Regardless of mechanical or hydraulic actuation, there still is a mechanical bearing to press against the diaphragm spring or clutch fingers to release pressure on the clutch disk. And yes, if you are sitting still, with the transmission in a gear, with the clutch held in, the throwout bearing is spinning under pressure. Probably not enough of an issue to make a difference in the life of the unit, but from a technical view, it is putting some minute amount of unnecessary wear on it.
Last edited by davanz; Jul 3, 2025 at 08:02 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,142
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From: Missouri City, TX
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 616
From: Blacksburg Va
I agree. I put it in neutral too. Sometimes it is a trade off as these aren't always the fastest trans to go from N to 1st. I hate it when I head out from a stop light and an SUV in the other lane gets ahead. I am not trying to do stop light drag races but it is annoying. OTOH, if I ever need a clutch I will probably try doing it myself which doesn't look like much fun compared to say my wife's Mustang.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,034
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From: near philly
I never wore out a clutch or any of the related components over 10s of thousands of miles. Putting it in neutral does Zero regarding longevity. It's nothing but a comfort factor.
The clutch system is hydraulic. You don't have any springs on a release fork pivoting on a stud or a conventional throwout bearing to wear. If it was putting undo stress on it by going "in/out", what do you do when operating the brake pedal?
The clutch system is hydraulic. You don't have any springs on a release fork pivoting on a stud or a conventional throwout bearing to wear. If it was putting undo stress on it by going "in/out", what do you do when operating the brake pedal?
no way to release a clutch without that bearing.
They aren't meant to run for long periods of time.
Can it work out, sure.
Personally I have no idea why anybody would want to hold down a clutch if you know you are just going to sit there.
Any more than a brief stop I'm going to neutral.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Not to be adversarial, but there is still a throwout or release bearing in a hydraulically actuated system. Regardless of mechanical or hydraulic actuation, there still is a mechanical bearing to press against the diaphragm spring or clutch fingers to release pressure on the clutch disk. And yes, if you are sitting still, with the transmission in a gear, with the clutch held in, the throwout bearing is spinning under pressure. Probably not enough of an issue to make a difference in the life of the unit, but from a technical view, it is putting some minute amount of unnecessary wear on it.
yeah this is false other than it is not a "conventional" throwout bearing. It's actually a more complex hydraulic throwout bearing.
no way to release a clutch without that bearing.
They aren't meant to run for long periods of time.
Can it work out, sure.
Personally I have no idea why anybody would want to hold down a clutch if you know you are just going to sit there.
Any more than a brief stop I'm going to neutral.
no way to release a clutch without that bearing.
They aren't meant to run for long periods of time.
Can it work out, sure.
Personally I have no idea why anybody would want to hold down a clutch if you know you are just going to sit there.
Any more than a brief stop I'm going to neutral.
Again...Putting the transmission in neutral is a matter of leg comfort, it has zero to do with any measurable longevity increase or decrease.
Below are what the hydraulic release bearing looks like for those that are curious. The top one is what I used with my RPS lightweight street twin. It has an adapter on it. The other is my "Monsterized" OEM unit.
But hey....you do you. If putting it in neutral makes you feel better so be it but it does zip regarding wear. Peace out
