I have a 2003 MC, 5-speed, 56k miles and I've owned it for a year. I have several questions about the clutch and a possible issue. So, here's the questions...

1. I've read in many posts about heel / toe technique. What is that?

2. About where should I feel the clutch engage in the pedel; near the floor, mid-way or near the top?



Now the possible issue. First off, the clutch has never given me any problems and seems to working the same as when I bought it a year ago, except for this...

When I approach a right hand turn in 2nd gear and gas it around the corner (taking the turn fast) when I shift into 3rd the pedel has little to no resistence to the floor, the clutch seems to engage near the floor (so it seems) and has little to no reisitence back up. Then, everything works fine again. I never have this with normal driving or normal turning speeds, only when I take turns fast. I've noticed it three times now and will continue to recreate this more to see if it's more my imagination due to concentrating more on driving then shifiting or if it could be a problem. If a problem I would think it would be something that would happen all the time, not so infrequently and under only these circumstances.

Anyone have any ideas what could be the cause or reason this happens?

Thanks,
Ron

 

Heel-toe technique involves using the brake and gas pedals at the same time. The idea is to begin braking, then push the clutch in and move the shifter to neutral. Then roll the outside of your foot onto the accelerator pedal and blip the throttle enough to match revs with the next gear down. While the revs are up, push the clutch in and pop the shifter into gear. When done right, it makes a perfectly smooth transition without upsetting the balance of the car while braking. It takes some practice but it very rewarding and isn't too hard to learn. I double clutch the downshift of the heel-toe but it's not necessary and makes things more complicated.

Now on to the clutch...the stock clutch should engage close to the floor. It's a little hard to tell if there's anything wrong with yours. There is the possibility of air in the clutch line or a bad slave cylinder. If the clutch was going, a good test when cruising in a high gear (4th or 5th), floor the accelerator. If the revs go up and then fall down, your clutch is slipping.

Does the problem only occur when your turning or does it happen whenever you shift into 3rd when driving hard?

 

Thanks kapps.

As to the clutch, no slipping in the higher gears, it's soild. It only happens when I make hard, fast right turns, that's the only time it happens. If I drive hard going straight, it's fine. My clutch engages at the lower half of the pedel, near the floor to the half way point.

 

Hmmmmm - - been researching clutch issues on this forum, and if the clutch on Minis is supposed to engage near the floor, there is something wrong with my 2006 MC clutch. It doesn't engage until almost the end of travel (farthest from floor) and I HATE it - almost impossible to have a smooth takeoff from start.

 

A perfectly performed heel-toe downshift takes a fraction of a second (really fast) and is much smoother/faster and more fun than trying to let the clutch out smoothly as one would normally. I cant imagine going back to the old style.

A parallel technique is simply bliping the throttle during downshifts, as to pass. So you dont need the brake, but still make engine speed match road speed for the gear you want. To get good at both and to make them second nature will take time. I've been doing for what seems like forever. The best practice are twisty roads wherein you need to downshift for power and decelleration all the time.