okokok.. Manual Shift Question...

[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.

[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.

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by ZL1power69

...you just put the clutch in and try to stop then you will not stop as quickly and the brakes will wear faster.

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?

[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.

[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.

[ZL1power69]

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

[Genopsyde]

i will if i start to slide in the snow.

[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.

[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.

[Blackcrow64]

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

[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.