Downshifting?? Pros and cons? good or bad
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 734
From: Sacramento, CA
I rather eat up my brakes than my clutch... I only downshift if I want power.
What about clutchless shifting? I know at certain gears you can just jently push it into gear without any grinding or anything.
What about clutchless shifting? I know at certain gears you can just jently push it into gear without any grinding or anything.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,386
From: Long Island, moving to arizona soon
5th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,792
From: Sterling Heights, MI
No one has mentioned competition driving. You do want to down shift to keep the revs in the proper place in the power band for max torque when racing through the twisties. For normal driving just have fun doing it the way you like. The extra ware on the clutch and trans are probably not that serious a factor over the life of your car.
Retired Mod
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,658
From: Long Island, NY
Doing this is good if done for the right reasons, bad if done for the wrong reasons or done badly.
Done in anticipation of needing the lower gear without having come to a full stop is one thing, and I do this on a normal basis as I approach turns and Interstate-type entrance/exit ramps.
Using the tranny instead of your brakes as you approach a full stop, anywhere from no real benefit to not so good. I still do this sometimes, as a habit I picked up from riding motorcycles and never lost (but I do double-clutch rev-match as I drop down).
Not rev-matching as you do any of these, bad.
Norm
Done in anticipation of needing the lower gear without having come to a full stop is one thing, and I do this on a normal basis as I approach turns and Interstate-type entrance/exit ramps.
Using the tranny instead of your brakes as you approach a full stop, anywhere from no real benefit to not so good. I still do this sometimes, as a habit I picked up from riding motorcycles and never lost (but I do double-clutch rev-match as I drop down).
Not rev-matching as you do any of these, bad.
Norm
x 100
Gentleman's Relish
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,189
From: AZ
Clutch in, then move shift lever into the neutral gate
Cluch out, kick the throttle to rev engine up (you'll eventually get the hang of this part)
Clutch in, then move shift lever to lower gear (when you get the above step right, you'll know it when you get to this one)
Clutch out as usual
It's occasionally a useful technique to have at your disposal in cold weather, when the engine revs drop so quickly that you end up below the rpm where a 1st to 2nd upshift needs you to be at.
Norm
Cluch out, kick the throttle to rev engine up (you'll eventually get the hang of this part)
Clutch in, then move shift lever to lower gear (when you get the above step right, you'll know it when you get to this one)
Clutch out as usual
It's occasionally a useful technique to have at your disposal in cold weather, when the engine revs drop so quickly that you end up below the rpm where a 1st to 2nd upshift needs you to be at.
Norm
When I used to drive my 00 V6 manual I had it down to a science to where the down shift would be seemless no matter what RPM/Speed I was down shifting from. The trick is to learn what RPM's are safe to downshift from so the engine isn't overreved when you engage the lower gear. Then learn to recognize it by sound.
Also if you do it correctly (meaning the engines RPM is close or dead on where it needs to be as you engage the lower gear) you won't be prematurely wearing the clutch. I had 98,000 miles when I changed the clutch in my V6 and that was done as preventative. It still had 25% left according to the dealership.
So the "excessive clutch wear" argument is BS. If you are constantly burning the clutch (and you will know the smell) then of course you're going to toast it/ruin it pretty quick. It's also a good clue you are downshifting/engine braking incorrectly. I sold the car with 123K miles on it and it had many more years and miles still in it.
Oh and I usually downshifted when in traffic or on the freeway from 5th to 4th or even to 3rd depending on speed and a bunch of other factors. Not usually to a stop...that was kind of pointless to me.
Last edited by Derf00; Jan 16, 2009 at 03:01 PM.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 339
From: Erie, PA
sorry well i do brake a little while downshifting but i heard it causes your clutch to go out faster so i wanted to post to see if just braking is better i think i need a new clutch though cause every once in a while when i try to put it into first or second at a complete stop it is really hard and wont go in but it will go into third or higher just fine any help? and any place to get a good clutch that does well with a STS turbo?
6th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,635
From: state of confusion