tecman4

Hello,
I have a 03 se and sometimes I downshift to 3rd or 2nd to get an extra boost to pass.
Would this hurt anything?
and can someone explain what torque braking is?
I know it has something to do with hitting the brake and gas.
I still can't get over how much power the max has!!

Maximam

There is no benefit to manually downshifting to pass.

Torque brake is left foot on brake while right on gas. Hold rpms at 2500ish and let off the brake while flooring it. This is done to get a better launch when racing.

skandalouz

iTrader: (2)

i always peel out like a motherfuker when i do that.

PCGuRu2K

iTrader: (34)

That's the prob with fwd cars.. We have too much torque so we jsut spin out.. Having poly motor mounts, quaife or differential and stiff suspension will help on a launch,.

NT2SHBBY

hey dude..where'd u get ur quaife or LSD? and how much? will it work with my 3.5?

PCGuRu2K

iTrader: (34)

I got my quaife used on the org. There's lifetime warrenty so it'll basically last forever.. $800.. They don't make quaife;s for the 3.5.. I have a 2k1.. Just what comes stock from the factory HLSD,VLSD,LSD..etc..

2k1seae

iTrader: (1)

Sometimes I will down shift in anticipation of a pass. This way you don't have to wait for the kick down (read hesitation). For me this is an advantage bedause it gives me more control. I don't always do it though (mainly around town). It doesn't hurt the transmission. You're just doing manually what the tranny does automatically.

Skier

iTrader: (1)

Hi, I have an 03 Auto SE as well, and was wondering if downshifting to 3rd, then second to engine break is damaging? I don't go into 2nd over 50 mph. It's got to save on break wear, but I don't want to damage tranny either.

Thanks....

MaximaDisciple

You're wrong on that point. You should try it a see for yourself.

Todds_max

Regarding braking......Bottom line is brake pads are cheaper than auto transmission rebuilds. You force the clutch packs into action when you downshift at an RPM that creates engine braking. The transmission clutches have to speed up the engine to a matching speed before the lower gear will engage. This repeated practice will wear your transmission. My nephew used the downshift technique like a manual trans in his sentra, and yes, his auto tranny finally went. You also produce uneven front/rear braking using this method.

Regarding acceleration......I also notice a delay in downshifting though... especially if I just mash the pedal instead of slamming it to the floor. I still think the tranny figures it out better than I can most of the time. I'm not in aggressive mode enough to bother with manual shifting but will try it sometime. I would like to see how it feels to run it up to 6600 instead of the 6200 shift.

Maximam

Tried it and feel there is no benefit. My tranny downshifts immediately so wtf is the point?

Upshifting is another story!

Maximax2

You can probably force the downshift to happen faster, but that buys you, what, a half-second or so. Without the manual downshift, at least you know the tranny's not doing something unnatural - and let's face it, passing someone with a 2k3 isn't hard...

I read elsewhere (and used successfully) 1,200 rpm is best for torque braking; at 2,500 I would expect to burn the tires off...

2001SE

the point is , that its a lot faster then to downshift manaully to 2nd going like 50. at those speeds, it will take maybe 1-2 sec for the tranny to actually downshift, or you can just do it automaticly by flooring it and it will downshift immeditley. and that's what really kills the tranny, the downshifting, i bet upshifting wont hurt it as much or even at all, depends on how you do it

E55AMG2

iTrader: (4)

the manual downshift has a slight advantage when it comes to fuel economy (simply because you arent pressing the accelerator any harder to downshift). Performance, well, sorry there is no benefit. Now if you go from a stop, you can hold gears longer if you shift manually, just make sure not to bang off the rev limit.

sloppymax

iTrader: (8)

performance wise, if you are doing 45 and just punch it, it has to climb rpms to get to the VI opening. if someone besides you with the same max and mods and they put it in lower gear at the same speed then their rpms are higher and have less work to do to get to the VI opening which is where it pulls the most. if i leave my 2k1 in drive, it feels ok to punch it but if i put it in second at 45 or 50, im right under the VI opening and pull much harder.

Loe max

iTrader: (6)

Maximam

My car is a 2k1 located 2100ft above sea level. 2000+rpm is what is needed to get anything under 2.4 60fts. I guess a 2k2+ is another story.

I stand corrected.

† ErV †

i guess its an electric problem.. my trans upshifts @5000 in 1st and 2nd so the only way to bring it past 5k is to manually hold it in gear. further if you are passing several cars (or just stuck in stoplight traffic) and meging back and forth in traffic waiting for the oncoming lane to clear up will appreciate just putting it in 2nd so that it does not upshift whenever you let off the gas. it saves wear and helps you brake (engine braking effect). thats what i do anyway. i would rather drive at 4k for a mile than sustain 15 shifts within that distance. probably the only reason that transmission is still holding up somehow.