+1 I have have about 6 or 7 manual cars and trucks.....I downshift all the time never had any issues with premature wear never had any tranny issues......I don't drive like an indy racer but I do some enthused driving on occasion around the curves or on some tracks. in the area.
Do you down shift while daily driving?
- Thread starter thecavemankevin
- Start date
+1 I have have about 6 or 7 manual cars and trucks.....I downshift all the time never had any issues with premature wear never had any tranny issues......I don't drive like an indy racer but I do some enthused driving on occasion around the curves or on some tracks. in the area.
Right on brother, Exactly what I do and all my friends look at me like WTF until i leave their dumbasses back at the light.
HondaEat-R
Member
Brake pads are a lot cheaper than clutch kits. Just use your brakes, why would you downshift every gear to slow down ? It's ricey
C
cymx5
Hell, even Indy racer's don't have the transmission problems referred to in this post. They have engine problems.
Wagonbacker9
Member
- :
- 2004 'Hoe
if you're spinning it up to redline and being agressive on the clutch, then yeah, I would agree, but using the engine to slow the car down over an eigth mile coming into a stoplight instead of waiting til the last 200'.... I would argue is anything but rice, its efficient driving.
+1. Not Ricey........I concur with it being efficient.
MikeHTally
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Speed3, 2006 Chrysler 300C, 2003 Ram 1500
Many downshifts on many cars over many years. The only clutch work was on a 'yota pickup needing a slave cylinder at 80K or so.
They do! Alison automatic transmissions can be programmed to downshift through the gears all the way down to 2nd gear as the RPM limit comes into range.
The French GM A5S 390R in my roadster will down shift in sport mode or can be easily downshifted with a quick pull on the stick. It is a great performance option. I suspect you'll see more of this as time goes on.
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- 92 & 16 Meyatas
ha, i down shift my auto tranny as well...have for 8 yrs! 140k, no issues
wardgillette
Member
Anticipation
If you KNOW you are going to have to slow down, get off the gas and coast.
If traffic is kind of slowing down, down shift into the proper gear.
If you are going down a long grade, shift into the gear that keeps you at an appropriate speed.
If you don't want the guy behind you to see you braking, downshift.
If you want to haul ass through every corner, downshift before and accelerate out.
Brakes are cheaper than engines.
If you KNOW you are going to have to slow down, get off the gas and coast.
If traffic is kind of slowing down, down shift into the proper gear.
If you are going down a long grade, shift into the gear that keeps you at an appropriate speed.
If you don't want the guy behind you to see you braking, downshift.
If you want to haul ass through every corner, downshift before and accelerate out.
Brakes are cheaper than engines.
HondaEat-R
Member
Every single time you push the clutch in and engage or disengage, you're putting wear on the throw-out bearing, clutch safety switch, and clutch disc. If you downshift almost every gear during regular driving, you're using the clutch that much more...simple huh ? I'm not saying it's going to outright ruin your car or drivetrain, however I am saying that for the average person, Downshifting is not needed 99% of the time.
Rev Match downshifting is quite a different story, due to the fact that it will put much less stress / wear on the syncros, and the engagement of the clutch disc to flywheel will be much smoother than a typical downshift. Even still, what's the point, so everyone can hear what your exhaust sounds like in each gear ? You downshift when driving in a spirited fashion, or snowy weather, or to maintain a desireable speed downhill, AKA when it is needed (like Apexing and tracking out of corners), not slowing down to traffic lights, that's just silly, really....
I'll reiterate that downshifting won't ruin your car and you likely won't even notice the wear for a long time, BUT if you don't Rev-Match properly, it IS putting undue stresses on drivetrain parts. Whether or not you notice the wear isn't really the arguement. I literally just called one of my old SR20 buddies, whom currently is a Mechanic at Skip Barber Racing School, and he insists that downshifting should only be done when needed, and not just to slow down, IE a situation where brakes will suffice.
Rev Match downshifting is quite a different story, due to the fact that it will put much less stress / wear on the syncros, and the engagement of the clutch disc to flywheel will be much smoother than a typical downshift. Even still, what's the point, so everyone can hear what your exhaust sounds like in each gear ? You downshift when driving in a spirited fashion, or snowy weather, or to maintain a desireable speed downhill, AKA when it is needed (like Apexing and tracking out of corners), not slowing down to traffic lights, that's just silly, really....
I'll reiterate that downshifting won't ruin your car and you likely won't even notice the wear for a long time, BUT if you don't Rev-Match properly, it IS putting undue stresses on drivetrain parts. Whether or not you notice the wear isn't really the arguement. I literally just called one of my old SR20 buddies, whom currently is a Mechanic at Skip Barber Racing School, and he insists that downshifting should only be done when needed, and not just to slow down, IE a situation where brakes will suffice.
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Wagonbacker9
Member
- :
- 2004 'Hoe
lol my 59 year old dad is apparently "young". I'm sure he'd appreciate that.
HondaEat-R
Member
I didn't say that only young people Downshift, if you were paying attention you'd read that I did say "A lot of the younger car guys I know downshift constantly and when not needed"
I like how people argue things on the forum that are factual, not opinions. One more time for everyone.... IF YOU DON'T REV-MATCH PROPERLY, YOU WILL PUT EXCESS WEAR ON THE CLUTCH AND SYNCROS when down-shifting. This is not debatable. Whether or not you care is a totally different ball game.
I like how people argue things on the forum that are factual, not opinions. One more time for everyone.... IF YOU DON'T REV-MATCH PROPERLY, YOU WILL PUT EXCESS WEAR ON THE CLUTCH AND SYNCROS when down-shifting. This is not debatable. Whether or not you care is a totally different ball game.
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Wagonbacker9
Member
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- 2004 'Hoe
relax man, I'm just goofin around with you! so serious in the MS3 section....
HondaEat-R
Member
Hahaha, I'm trying to relax man, sorry. I'm trying not to be a dick, but it's tough when people ignore facts, and instead substitute opinion.
Take this into consideration: I just got finished listening to a guy at work tell me that "Global Warming" is fake, and that Humans and our "industries" don't in any way adversely affect the Environment. He was dead serious too, it was painful. That's why I'm so pumped up, hahah, god damn it.
Take this into consideration: I just got finished listening to a guy at work tell me that "Global Warming" is fake, and that Humans and our "industries" don't in any way adversely affect the Environment. He was dead serious too, it was painful. That's why I'm so pumped up, hahah, god damn it.
funksilver07
Member
- :
- 2007 Sunlight Silver Mazdaspeed 3 GT
OMG, you have to be kidding right? You drive a stick and don't want to downshift? Downshift for christ sake, or just buy a car with an automatic tranny and be done with it.
WOW....
WOW....
HondaEat-R
Member
Thanks for the tip, but I'll keep down shifting for when I'm driving some twisties, not approaching traffic lights.
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HondaEat-R
Member
It's pretty awesome that you save brakes ($30), and instead use your clutch ($300).
