Clutch is killing my knee !

So I need to bust out my tommy copper knee brace? Lol and Aleeve is my fav!

 

Here's a trick I learned from many years of working out - try taking your pain reliever of choice about 30 minutes BEFORE the activity and drinking half a 20 oz bottle of Gatorade. If you wait until the pain starts then of course you're already miserable and just waiting for the relief to kick in which could take 20 minutes or more. For me two extra strength ( 500mg each ) acetaminophen works best but you'll have to figure out works best for you. Do consistent stretching before and after too like mentioned above.

Also, make sure you've got good shoes. A lot of people over look this and they wear the same old worn out shoes for far too long and then don't understand why they have constant ankle, knee, back pain. Get good shoes w/ stiff enough sole and correct support that will help you leverage the clutch and make a point of replacing them on a regular basis.

 

When I was researching CDL schools I asked about "floating the gears" and the instructor I was talking to said they'd never teach that in school b/c if you do it on the road test it's an automatic fail!

Not sure if that's true everywhere but it sure put the fear into me!

 

I went thru the same on road tests. By 90 alley dock i was doing a looong GOAL just to stretch it.

Fyi.. If the truck isnt geared too fast, itll back slower with the clutch all the way out rather than riding the clutch. Theres an initial speed surge then itll settle down into a slow lurch. Any time you have the room let the clutch fully out and rest the knee on your longer backups. Save it for alley dock.

I drive M-F now and can manage. But atlanta will hurt anyones knee. Keep your clutch pivot parts hosed down with PB blaster when you do get a job.

 

On my road test she told me the same thing and I told her I was never taught to double clutch and I have floated gears for over 10 years and she started out making me double clutch and I wont lie I struggled bad then halfway through the test she asked to see me float gears and I think that the rest of the trip I missed 2 gears when down shifting so she passed me

 

Start doing squats to strengthen the joint.

 

Not all clutches are the same. If you shop for a clutch replacement you will soon find that there is an option for a soft clutch. It's much easier to drive. I had that option in the truck I bought. I don't know what advantage there is ordering trucks with hard clutches. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable might be able to explain that.

 

It’s a rite of passage. Don’t worry it’ll soon be a thing of the past. I’ve got torn ligaments in both of my knees and CDL class brought tears to my eyes, but just bear with it and you’ll be in an automatic Volvo before you know it