Motorists who drive a manual transmission car sometimes make it a habit to rest their hand on the gear lever between gear changes. This seemingly harmless operation can cause additional wear on the gearbox.
It seems harmless and many drivers like it, but this habit can cause extra wear on the gears of the transmission, which means that they need to be replaced sooner. By holding your hand on it, the shift fork of the gearbox can press against rotating parts of the gearbox – such as the so-called synchromesh rings – resulting in extra wear.
Can be found in instruction booklets
Although there are also videos claiming that it is not harmful and there are undoubtedly exceptions, we prefer to rely on the expertise of, among others, the RAC, or the British Roadside Assistance. The advice not to drive with your hand on the gear lever can also be found in the owner’s manuals of a large number of cars. Another reason not to do it is that it is much safer to keep both hands on the wheel.
The ANWB also advises against doing so. “With manual gearboxes, there is a mechanical connection between the gear lever and the synchromesh rings”, said a spokesperson. “Moving and already wearing parts can wear out faster if they are subjected to incorrect stress. Not every bucket has to be sensitive to it, but extra wear is possible.”
Foot on clutch
If you want your gearbox to last a long time, don’t try to hold down the clutch while you wait for the traffic light to turn green. Holding the clutch down creates continuous friction between the clutch and transmission, causing both parts to wear out sooner. It is best to shift the car to neutral and release the clutch.
Also, some drivers tend to drive with their foot on the clutch pedal. This can lead to the clutch release bearing coming into contact with parts of the clutch, according to British Road Services RAC. This can cause friction when it is not necessary and over time it can lead to noise and even clutch failure, resulting in an expensive repair.
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