do you downshift to first or coast to a stop?
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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down shift into any gear as long as u match revs correctly, as long as u do that no wear will be caused regardless of gear, i never tend to downshift without matching the revs just to ensure its smooth and it also the best way for a quick take off aswell
Evolving Member
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: San Jose, Ca
Originally Posted by Rollaway
umm.. I downshift, rev match and even heal toe with 23,xxx miles on STOCK CLUTCH in my MR and have no problems...
for the record though, 23,--- miles on a clutch isnt really anything to be proud of, it has come down to that, but its not somthing to be bragging. 90,--- yes not 23
Originally Posted by TEXSRT4
do you do it all the time? everytime you come to a stop? thats what the question was. not occasionally when your driving hard. if you manage to do it EVERYTIME, then its just a matter of time, and your lucky. you probably also broke your clutch in properly.
for the record though, 23,--- miles on a clutch isnt really anything to be proud of, it has come down to that, but its not somthing to be bragging. 90,--- yes not 23
for the record though, 23,--- miles on a clutch isnt really anything to be proud of, it has come down to that, but its not somthing to be bragging. 90,--- yes not 23
i know many evo drivers with no clutch problems... a friend of mine has 150+ launches on stock cluch with no problems and even ran high 11s with 1.70 launches on the stockers... another friend of mine has around 70k miles on his 03 on stock clutch....
im addicted to downshifting and rev matching, i cant stop!! 5 to 4 to race on the LIE, 3 to 2 to turn BUT NEVER INTO 1st GEAR.
I put the biyatch in neutral and just ride my way to the stop light - SAVE SOME GAS!! I usually do that as soon as i see a red light coming up and i see if i can make it without having to gas more or go over the red light. People behind me must think theres something wrong with my evo. Wow it sounds kind of annoying actually, no wonder my bf calls me cheap.
I put the biyatch in neutral and just ride my way to the stop light - SAVE SOME GAS!! I usually do that as soon as i see a red light coming up and i see if i can make it without having to gas more or go over the red light. People behind me must think theres something wrong with my evo. Wow it sounds kind of annoying actually, no wonder my bf calls me cheap.
Originally Posted by rlazer5000
I always put it in neutral when I'm coming to a stop. My dad told me downshifting to a lower gear puts more stress on the drivetrain, like someone else mentioned earlier.
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From: brewerton, ny(home of right coast tuners)
Originally Posted by AWDrift07
+1 brake pads are cheaper than clutches. I have a similar problem when my gf drives my car. She'll pull up to a light with the clutch pedal pressed and she'll throw it into first and just sit at a light in 1st gear. I keep telling her, you're wearing my synchro plus to top it all off you're wearing out my throwout bearing by sitting at the light with the clutch pushed in.
Those who think compression braking (engine braking) is harmful to the drivetrain clearly have no idea what is going on. With such a small engine, running fairly low compression due to the turbo, it will never put enough strain on the drivetrain to hurt anything. You put way more stress on it accelerating.
Compression braking does not use gas, and it does not wear the engine. It uses the lack of air/vacuum in the pistons to slow things down. No more wear than cruising along at the same RPM.
Compression braking does not use gas, and it does not wear the engine. It uses the lack of air/vacuum in the pistons to slow things down. No more wear than cruising along at the same RPM.
Evolving Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 129
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From: Green Bay, WI
I have no need, I just kick it in neutral and anticipate a quick shift to 2nd (at the lights). At our DMV in Wisconsin, however, it is requiered to downshift through ever gear. Boo to that!
I found this thread truly frightening!!
It is an example of how misinformed people are.
1) Your car should always be in gear with the clutch engaged unless you are about to stop.
2) You should always be in an appropriate gear for the speed (2nd gear at 10 mph not 5th gear)
3) Using the engine to slow the car is not harmful to the engine or drive train. Cars are designed to do this!!
4) Downshifting while coming to a stop is actually a good idea. It helps slow the car and permits you better control. If you are in an appropriate gear while slowing down and something happens then you have the option to accelerate -- this is much safer as you have more control.
Caveats
If you don’t downshift correctly you will wear the clutch prematurely – just like slipping it too much from a start. If you are slowing in 4th gear, drop to 3rd and just abruptly let the clutch out without rev matching it will obviously wear the clutch and the lash you just created will fatigue the drive train.
That being said... I rarely use first gear unles it is from a stop. Most times 2nd is appropriate. There is the occasional time when I will drop to first (usually requires double de-clutching) but it is rare.
It is an example of how misinformed people are.
1) Your car should always be in gear with the clutch engaged unless you are about to stop.
2) You should always be in an appropriate gear for the speed (2nd gear at 10 mph not 5th gear)
3) Using the engine to slow the car is not harmful to the engine or drive train. Cars are designed to do this!!
4) Downshifting while coming to a stop is actually a good idea. It helps slow the car and permits you better control. If you are in an appropriate gear while slowing down and something happens then you have the option to accelerate -- this is much safer as you have more control.
Caveats
If you don’t downshift correctly you will wear the clutch prematurely – just like slipping it too much from a start. If you are slowing in 4th gear, drop to 3rd and just abruptly let the clutch out without rev matching it will obviously wear the clutch and the lash you just created will fatigue the drive train.
That being said... I rarely use first gear unles it is from a stop. Most times 2nd is appropriate. There is the occasional time when I will drop to first (usually requires double de-clutching) but it is rare.
Last edited by JTB; Nov 8, 2005 at 11:24 PM.
I downshift and engine brake excessively and have never had a clutch wear to nothing.
For what it's worth, engine braking is a bit tougher on the engine itself. Due to the geometry of the crank and connecting rod, the largest force exerted on the rod is at the top of the stroke, and it's a tensile load on the rod. The high vacuum (or more accurately, the low manifold absolute pressure) created by closing the throttle at high revs adds to the tensile load on the rod by virture of the corresponding vacuum in the combustion chamber (primarily during the transision between exhaust and intake strokes), and denies the piston the cushioning effect of the combustion chamber charge during both the compression/power and exhaust/intake stroke transisions.
English version? Bring your car onto the highway and go wide open throttle until about 7k, where I want you to abruptly come off the gas. Feel the whole car say **** you? That's the conrods trying to clearance themselves right out the side of the block. While this is an extreme example, I think that you may get more engine wear by downshifting and engine braking, but it sure does feel good when you get it right!
For what it's worth, engine braking is a bit tougher on the engine itself. Due to the geometry of the crank and connecting rod, the largest force exerted on the rod is at the top of the stroke, and it's a tensile load on the rod. The high vacuum (or more accurately, the low manifold absolute pressure) created by closing the throttle at high revs adds to the tensile load on the rod by virture of the corresponding vacuum in the combustion chamber (primarily during the transision between exhaust and intake strokes), and denies the piston the cushioning effect of the combustion chamber charge during both the compression/power and exhaust/intake stroke transisions.
English version? Bring your car onto the highway and go wide open throttle until about 7k, where I want you to abruptly come off the gas. Feel the whole car say **** you? That's the conrods trying to clearance themselves right out the side of the block. While this is an extreme example, I think that you may get more engine wear by downshifting and engine braking, but it sure does feel good when you get it right!
im glad the double clutching crowed showed up... you guys are aware that these are modern passenger cars and not model t's right? double clutching is completely unnecessary. i guess you guys are just 2fast.