Earlsfat

I know this has probably been asked a 1000 times, but I couldn't find it so...

When slowing to a stop in a manual trans car, do you downshift?

I got to thinking about it, wouldn't that just wear the engine down faster? I'd rather replace brake pads than piston rings.

As a matter of fact, when I drive RD, I don't downshift when I'm going to stop, just shift into neutral, and brake.

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wrightz28

Nope, only in the event of needing to stop in a hurry, thus hence the term "engine braking"

ZL1power69

when i had the iroc i usually downshifted when i was slowing down or coming to a stop. the stock disc/drum setup was not exactly the best. that way, you are also using the engine in conjunction with the braking system to slow the car. if you just put the clutch in and try to stop then you will not stop as quickly and the brakes will wear faster.

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2000 Chevy Blazer ZR2
Performance: AEM intake, TB mod, ported stock y-pipe w/precat deleted, 3in catco cat, 2.5in Flowmaster 40 DF,
March pulleys, MSD SF ignition, Taylor 8.2 wires, Transgo shift kit, Corvette servos, B&M trans cooler.
Suspension: Knaffle 1.5in lift shackles, 1.25in rear wheel spacers, 31in BFG AT's
Exterior: custom ZR2 decals, bug guard, vent visors
Interior: Lanzar headunit w/ ipod input, Pioneer speakers, Scanguage II

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Earlsfat

Well that is sort of my question. If you use the brakes and not the engine to slow down / stop, wouldn't that reduce some stress on the engine, (and give you a little better gas milage... however small it may be) and as a result make it last longer, etc?

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Cheesesteak..... It does a body good.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"All you want to talk about is money, let's talk about love, and sex... forget love, let's just talk about sex. "

goldz28

I down shift but it does not make that big of a difference. When I took my drivers test when I was 16 I got marked down for not down shifting. It also sounds cool.

Earlsfat

heh, I can't downshift RD without it chirping. I've even tried the "bump the gas pedal" before shifting into gear routine... still chirps. Not sure if that's because of the clutch (centerforce dual friction), the rear end (4.11's) or me, but if it's me... then I'll never get it right.

Of course the clutch was REALLY tight before I rebuilt the trans, and I haven't had a chance to test it since I put it back together. So maybe it's not me. Probably is though.

__________________
Cheesesteak..... It does a body good.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"All you want to talk about is money, let's talk about love, and sex... forget love, let's just talk about sex. "

stieh2000

Yeah, I pretty much always downshift, at least to 3rd. Latley I've been heel-toe shifting a lot for the hell of it.

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ZL1power69

i used to go down to second when coming to a stop say from 40-50mph.

__________________
2000 Chevy Blazer ZR2
Performance: AEM intake, TB mod, ported stock y-pipe w/precat deleted, 3in catco cat, 2.5in Flowmaster 40 DF,
March pulleys, MSD SF ignition, Taylor 8.2 wires, Transgo shift kit, Corvette servos, B&M trans cooler.
Suspension: Knaffle 1.5in lift shackles, 1.25in rear wheel spacers, 31in BFG AT's
Exterior: custom ZR2 decals, bug guard, vent visors
Interior: Lanzar headunit w/ ipod input, Pioneer speakers, Scanguage II

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3013891

Genopsyde

i will if i start to slide in the snow.

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1986 Fiero
1990 300ZX TT
1991 Camaro RS 355
1998 Tahoe 4x4
1999 F355 Spyder

ikeyballz

i asked that to the instructor for my drivers ed. he failed me cuz i didnt downshift.. he said if youre going sort of fast, coming to a stop and you DONT downshift, if you dont know what gear to drop it into..and its wet/rainy/snowy you can spin your car out, sort of like locking your tires.. so he said drop gears one by one so you know for sure what gear is right..

my ss sort of bumps when i downshift, but i heel-toe too. it works pretty good. i found that the engine finds the right rpm (cuz of the synchros) better when its revved to like2.5-3K.. (since its easier to drop down than go up..)

well on a side note, maybe i shouldnt downshift cuz my clutch is all worn.

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stepho

I do both. It depends on how fast I am going and what kind of stop I am coming up on. If its a traffic light I always downshift in case it turns green before I stop, but for stop signs if i'm not going real fast I shift into neutral because I am lazy.

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Blackcrow64

Sometimes I downshift, sometimes I just throw it in neutral and brake normal... Just depends on my mood really. lol

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FormulaLT1

I do both as well. Ofcourse if its a last minute brake, I don't see how you would have the time to downshift for the slowing effect.

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