Hi
I was woundering if you guys could tell me how to downshift in like a maxima. cause im new to sticks and i dont really know how to do it. cuase i heard there is two ways. ok the first way is just downshifting like 4,3,2,1 and the other way i heard was that you could just press the clutch in and press the brake and then shift to first when your at stop. is the second one true? if soo is it bad for the transmission?

 

yeah u can do the second one, but u want to be close to a stop, u dont have to downshift as u slow down, if anything its easier on the trans to go straight to first after stopping..

 

I have always just shifted into neutral when coming to a stop sign or stoplight. I slow down with just the brake until I hit about 1200 RPM, push in the clutch, shift into neutral, and coast up to the stop sign or light. Seems like it would save gas cuz I am at 700RPM whenever I am coming up to a stop.

 

You're not asking about downshifting, you're asking how to stop.

Some old-school people will swear all day long that engine braking (downshifting) is the way to go, for all sorts of different reasons, like it "saving the brakes". What it really does, unless you mesh the engine and wheel speed perfectly, is wear out the components of the clutch. Brakes and clutches are both routine maintenance, but one is far easier and cheaper to repair. Even if you're a pro at it, engine braking wastes gas.

There are some cases where you do want to engine brake. Driving in the mountains downhill for a long time comes to mind. But other than that, use your car how it was designed: the engine is for going, the brakes are for stopping. Shift into neutral and hit the brakes. When you're not moving anymore, shift into first.

 

for coming to stop lights, just slow down with the brake in neutral.
wait at the light in neutral, and put it in first when you are going to go. don't just leave it in first and wait at the light.

like jargoone mentioned, hills may require downshifts...also on turns
i downshift to 3 to cruise out of a turn, or 2 to accelerate hard out of the turn.

it takes practice, but ALWAYS make sure you rev match when downshifting, otherwise there'll be tons of wear on the clutch if not done properly.

 

 

rev-match?

 

yeah...like when you downshift from say 3rd gear to 2nd gear....
you need to bring the engine speed up to the speed of the transmission by blipping the throttle.
so clutch in, shift from 3rd to 2nd and hit the gas to bring up the revs, then clutch out. you should be able to get the revs for the lower gear. if not, it will put wear on your clutch.

 

technically, improper downshifting wears the synchros, which are part of the transmission

i used to downshift all the time, but about a year ago i started coasting to stops...much easier, much cheaper. $100 brakes > $2000 tranny

 

this is an on going debate wtih my friends. some say to down shift through ever gear. i say put it in neutral and coast. i usually slow down, drop my clutch and put it in 2nd with the clutch still in just in case the light turns green. also, i tell them improper downshifts and not rev matching will put more wear and tear on the motor.

 

modern cars have synchronizers capable of downshifting....
if you're worried about your synchros, just double clutch.

i don't recommend downshifting for coming to stops (unless you are in snow or on a hill). but regardless you have to know how to downshift properly for daily driving. its the proper way to make a turn (in gear) rather than coasting through it in neutral, and not having any control of acceleration during the turn.

 

Have fun replacing your brakes every 3 months

 

my brakes are fine, thanks.

have fun replacing your clutch

you know you still have to use your brakes even when you downshift right? so you can have fun replacing both.

 

wtf, thats what brakes are for, ur supposed to use them shlts to stop, how does it make any sense to downshift to a stop, i'll admit u can use downshifting to HELP u stop, but u still gotta use the break, and i'd say wearing out the brakes compared to wearing out the trans is a no brainer $100 for brakes, or $500+ for trans work.... u make the call

 

 

exactly...
replacing brakes has nothing to do with downshifting...you think everyone that drives auto replaces their brakes in three months? be practical.

i just changed my 99 stock pads this past winter...thats 3 years buddy.
and the only reason they were run down, was because they overheated at the track, and i WAS downshifting at the track...so your theory is pretty garbage.

i bet your replace your brakes more frequently than i do, even with downshifting. and you dun know your clutch is gonna go before mine magnum

 

Its been 1.5 month since I put my brembo & metal master pads and I don't downshift. So I have like 50% pad left becuase I don't downshift? (can't its auto)




























my stock pad lasted 30000 miles with no downshifting

 

 

owned.

 

wow i didnt mean for you guys to get in a big hugh discussion about downshifting and the right way to stop lol. but i do want to thank you guys for confirming the ways that you can stop in a manual.

 

stop the way its most comfortable to you. done.

 

 

nice debate. so, just curiosity, how does downshifting use more gas (unless of course the tiny amount you might use to blip the throttle to match revs)? I was always under the impression that gas was only used when you pushed the gas.

 

its because your engine is at say 4000-5000rpm instead of 700rpm in neutral. it won't be anything significant.

 

I guess, but the intake valve, while opening more often, is still only letting the minimal amount of fuel through, thus should be such a small amount not worth mentioning. oh well. didnt think into that enuf, my b

 

 

If you know how to downshift properly, you can really limit the stress put on the transmission and the clutch. Furthermore your breaks wear out much quicker than your clutch. A proper compromise between engine and traditonal braking will be the most efficent way to break and to prevent wear on both your clutch and breaks. It is also a necessity to know how to properly engine break because in an emergency it is the fastest way to stop the car.

 

That's like saying stop by not not stopping.

What kind of emergencies are we talking here? Snow/ice/losing traction-type emergencies? Even so, by saying the "fastest way to stop a car", if you're just engine braking it's still going to take some time to stop in most cases that warrant "emergency" actions.

Crap, why even have brakes at all?

They are always old-school people, or young people who've been brainwashed by their grandpa. But that's fine, if they like replacing their clutch that much...

 

It's not about what's more efficient. It's about what is gonna cause less wear in the long run. Brakes were meant for stopping, period. Unless you're in an emergency, engine braking is senseless IMO.

It's not necessarily the fastest way to stop. It's the most controlled way to stop if you don't have ABS. On dry pavement, using the brakes will almost always slow you down quicker. And most people can't downshift nearly as quickly as they can mash on the brakes. And if you don't have ABS, pump the brakes while you slow down. If you can't do this, go learn how to brake at a driving school.

 

When you have 22,000 pounds of weight behind you, downshifting+brakes is the way to go.

Sorry, my max is auto but my truck is a manual.

 

Its a bad idea to just put the car (5 speed) in neutral and only use the brakes to slow down. Instead (if you're really so set on not downshifting) just leave the car in gear and only push in the clutch when the car is almost at a complete stop. When the car is in gear, the engine still helps a little to slow the car down instead of when the car is in neutral and your brakes have to do all the work. I'm pretty sure this works the same way on automatics since the transmission doesn't just throw the car into neutral whenever you start to brake.

 

i do know how to downshift properly. i've been complimented on how smooth it is, and i dont make it smooth by letting the clutch bring the engine up to speed. i know to rev-match and all that. regardless, there will be wear on the clutch. brakes do wear out faster than the clutch, but they cost about 1/10th the price, and its very easy to replace. brakes are there to slow down the car, thats its only job, so why not use it for that one purpose? when the clutch goes, thats $300 for the clutch, resurfacing flywheel, plus about $400 for installation. brakes costed me $60 total, and that was just regular maintenance...it was time to be changed. they lasted approx 35k miles. so its better to replace your brakes 5 times than replace your clutch. plus...even with downshifting, don't think you're not wearing out your brakes, because you are.
in an emergency, you think its faster to downshift and then press the brake rather than just stepping on the brake? doubt that.

i downshift when the situation calls for it, but if its not needed, i won't do it. before turns, down hills, needing more power...ill downshift, but other than that, ill usually let the brakes do the job.

btw, its spelled BRAKES!

 

Do whatever is easiest first. Dont make it complicated otherwise your risk of an accident will increase. Do what you feel comfortable with and then work on different methods.

Personally I mix the two, sometimes I just put it in neutral and brake, but most of the time I just keep it in gear and let it help with slowing me down. It also helps maintain a consistant speed. I live in a very Hilly area aswell, but that doesnt mean there isnt flat areas around. Do whats easiest, In the long run, as long as your driving normally there isnt going to be that big of a difference in the long run.

Have fun driving, dont make it a big deal, do what works best for you. My Dad gets ****ed because alot of the time I granny the car, but I also get loads better gas mileage than he does, It also keeps me out of trouble.

 

i guess i wasn't clear...
when i say i brake, i am in gear, until about 1200rpm or so, but in 3rd or 4th, the engine isn't doing much braking.
but i was saying i don't always downshift when its not required or necessary.

 

DOWNSHIFTING IS INTENDED FOR ACCELERATION ONLY

period.

Its a technique used for racing and cornering and using the differential in aiding in the car's cornering ability. Using a car's engine for slowing down as in downshifting is not what its intended for.

Here are a few scenarios where downshifting would be appropriate.

1 - You are on the highway in 5th gear and you want to pass someone. Drop down to 4th, maybe third if your speed will allow, hit the gas and pass.

2 - You are entering a pretty decent turn and don't want to slow down. Downshift a gear, hit the gas, and accelerate through the turn. The differential will apply more power to the outside wheel aiding in your cornering ability.

3 - You are on a long downgrade and to avoid boiling of brake fluid (usually only happens under heavy towing load), downshift to a lower gear so your brakes don't fade and you still have more stopping power.

Downshifting is not intended for slowing down. Its primary function is for acceleration to take advantage of the gear ratios of the lower gears.