How Do You Slow Down?
12-22-2002 | 03:14 AM
#11
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Joined: May 2002
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QUOTE
xxxmonoxidechild:
if u talk to any one who knows alot about cars they will tell u that downshifting to slow down is stupid, why are u going to use your clutch when u have brakes? think of it this way, out of the twp things, what is easier and cheaper to change when they run out? the brakes obviousely. so why not use them. this topic came up in my automotive class in high school and i wish i remember what the teacher said exactly, but i know he said that it was not good to downshift to brake. im not making fun of any one for doing it cause i myself used to do it till i learned that it was not right. plus it just makes sence that u should use ure brake instead of your clutch cause brakes are alot cheaper to replace.
If you do it correctly, you blip the throttle to mactch what the gear you're changing into will be and there's nil clutch slip.if u talk to any one who knows alot about cars they will tell u that downshifting to slow down is stupid, why are u going to use your clutch when u have brakes? think of it this way, out of the twp things, what is easier and cheaper to change when they run out? the brakes obviousely. so why not use them. this topic came up in my automotive class in high school and i wish i remember what the teacher said exactly, but i know he said that it was not good to downshift to brake. im not making fun of any one for doing it cause i myself used to do it till i learned that it was not right. plus it just makes sence that u should use ure brake instead of your clutch cause brakes are alot cheaper to replace.
The only real disadvantage I see to slowing the car with the engine is decreased fuel economy and perhaps wear on the transmission. The tranny is wearing a part that's not used in regular driving and cruising though, and will last almost as long as it would normally (well over 100K miles, with care).
[ December 22, 2002, 10:16 AM: Message edited by: Mike Free ]
12-23-2002 | 04:49 AM
#14
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Joined: May 2002
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i completely disagree with you, monoxxxide. i'm sure there are different braking techniques used for different kinds of driving and racing. i'm sure wrc drivers use the brakes to help bring the tail around to slide through a corner, and schumacher uses a combo of brakes and engine braking. furthermore, f1 cars have a knob on the steering wheel to adjust the amount/severity of engine braking, so downshifting/engine braking is probably used a lot in formula 1. tell your high school auto teacher he needs to learn a little more before he goes around teaching students "this is the absolute, concrete, right way to do this particular thing." did you ever think that maybe he's teaching highschool for a reason, and not teaching at skip barber or some race school? (i'm aware that he may just enjoy teaching highschool students, so don't use that as your retort)
12-23-2002 | 05:15 AM
#15
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 54
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From: Harrisburg Pa
Vehicle: 2000 Tiburon
It's absolutely true that downshifting to help slow the car down will wear stuff out quicker.
So what? I'm paying the repair bills, so I'll drive any damn way I feel like it.
I have read many books stating that downshifting promotes more clutch wear, more engine wear, and it's true, but each driver has to determine what's important for them.
And BTW, if you know how to heel-and-toe downshift, then you know that this method does not put any extra strain, nor does it promote quicker wear of the clutch/drivetrain. It will still cause engine wear, but that's one of the things you have to deal with when you choose to drive a car a certain way.
For heel-and-toeing, I basically brake with the left side of my right foot, and "roll" my foot over to blip the throttle. This brings up the revs... then you let out the clutch in the gear you are downshifting to, and becuase you've matched revs, there's no driveline shock or jerk felt in the car. When it's done right (and it's tough.. I can only get it right about 90 per cent of the time) passengers have no clue what's going on. They think everything is normal.
So what? I'm paying the repair bills, so I'll drive any damn way I feel like it.
I have read many books stating that downshifting promotes more clutch wear, more engine wear, and it's true, but each driver has to determine what's important for them.
And BTW, if you know how to heel-and-toe downshift, then you know that this method does not put any extra strain, nor does it promote quicker wear of the clutch/drivetrain. It will still cause engine wear, but that's one of the things you have to deal with when you choose to drive a car a certain way.
For heel-and-toeing, I basically brake with the left side of my right foot, and "roll" my foot over to blip the throttle. This brings up the revs... then you let out the clutch in the gear you are downshifting to, and becuase you've matched revs, there's no driveline shock or jerk felt in the car. When it's done right (and it's tough.. I can only get it right about 90 per cent of the time) passengers have no clue what's going on. They think everything is normal.
12-26-2002 | 08:24 AM
#17
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Does anyone besides me just let off the gas.....seems simple enough but i see so many people braking when all they needed to do was stop accelerating (and of course stop tailgating).
just my .02
***p.s.***
Man i need to start running my yap more i've only got 17 posts frown
[ December 26, 2002, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: kieron ]
just my .02
***p.s.***
Man i need to start running my yap more i've only got 17 posts frown
[ December 26, 2002, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: kieron ]
12-26-2002 | 08:21 PM
#18
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Joined: May 2002
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QUOTE
kieron:
Does anyone besides me just let off the gas.....seems simple enough but i see so many people braking when all they needed to do was stop accelerating (and of course stop tailgating).
just my .02
***p.s.***
Man i need to start running my yap more i've only got 17 posts
DING DING DING! You win the Grand Prize!Does anyone besides me just let off the gas.....seems simple enough but i see so many people braking when all they needed to do was stop accelerating (and of course stop tailgating).
just my .02
***p.s.***
Man i need to start running my yap more i've only got 17 posts
Yes. I always sincerely hoep that the people behind me that lay on the brakes when I take my foot off the gas realize some time in their life that they didn't see brake lights because by following at 2 or 3 car lengths *I didn't need to use them*.
As once owner of a vehicle that on a *good* day chewed up a set of $30 carbon metallic pads every 35,000 miles (and $50 semi-mets lasted 20K), I learned how to conserve my brakes...
12-26-2002 | 08:53 PM
#19
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Well my car has just about 60K on it and until i hit about 45k all i used to slow me down was the brakes. Sometimes I jammed on the brakes and sometimes i slowed down before i needed to but the brakes that come on a four wheel disc tibby have easily lasted me 60k with multiple trips to the track and more street racing than regular driving. Now i have started using the engine to slow me down but honestly i wish i knew how to stop doing it. My roommate got me downshifting to stop instead of just putting it in nuetral and letting the brakes do their job. (Freaking stupid roommate) thanks for the post space
12-28-2002 | 02:29 AM
#20
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Joined: Feb 2002
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when the occasion calls for it...i will slam on the brakes and come to a hault, however if i'm just slowing down iwill let off the gas and downshift....then usually go around the slow car and stomp on the gas!!! *LOL* my pad have a little more then 25% of the pad left and i have 92000 on my tib!!! my pops still tells me that i dont have to downshift but ....i'm constantly in race mode....just me i guess.