MustangGT03

Do you guys down shift when you come up on a stop light fast, or is this hard on the trans. I remember I used to do it back in the 70's when I had my 65 Mustang.


Curt

72MachOne99GT

well, i cant imagine it is good for it

its really up to you, keep in mind that using your brakes for what they are made for is probably your best bet

but if you must

its hard on your engine and your transmission

so replace whichever you'd rather brakes, or engine/transmission

i vote brakes, so i use them to stop and have the car in nuetral[:-]

sprostang

Normally I dont. Id rather go through brake pads than clutches. Downshifting will put more wear on your clutch and will need replacement sooner. Therefore, no need to downshift.

rbstang

i double clutch and rev match when i downshift...

BBond007

I have a habit of downshifting, but it does reduce your gas mileage.

eclipsegt

uslaly lets just say im in 4th ill just leave it till about 1300rpm or so and then put in neutral and just ease on the brake slowly

04BlueGT

I'm not sure why anyone would double clutch a modern transmission - there is no need.

I downshift, but I match the rpms so as to not put a heavier load on the drive train. It should not damage the components, but will wear on the clutch a bit.

Then again, I tend to downshift to 2nd at 45 MPH and romp on it just to hear the tires break free, so I may not be the best role model. Still, I like having a car that can do that damned near stock.

Aixtreme89

I downshift all the time.. While my foots on the brake I roll my ball of my foot over and blip the gas up about 1000rpm's so it will match the lower gear to engine speed. So basicly doing it this way it doesnt slow you down at all. It just puts the power in the sweet spot, like if your slowing down, you do this technique so you have rpms where you want them at the apex. But I could only to heal toe after I moved the gas pedal up. I figured out how to do it from the How to's on the Mustang World web site.

If anything it wears the clutch a little more and burns more fuel.

Its stupid to just drop it down a gear without giving it gas to compensate, that wouldl deffinitly put strain on your motor and trans. Its alot more fun the other way. Once you start doing it, you will use if for the rest of your life...

DeViouS

when approaching a stop shift nuetral and brake. engine braking is cant be too good for the engine. plus u get a jerky stop.

Tim37

unless your driving hard (such as autox) there really isn't a need to but i occationaly do it is hard on the clutch. it is not a good habit to get in to. break pads are much cheaper and easier to replace.