Is downshifting to slow down bad for the clutch?

[jonnydoe48]

for example, coming to a stop, say you are in third,

slowly let go of clutch to slow down, downshift to second

slowly let go of clutch in order to come to a stop


is this bad for clutch? should i just brake instead?

 

[funnylittlman]

Rev match to ease clutch wear when downshifting.

 

[jonnydoe48]

i see, wouldnt that defeat the purpose of the slowdown thing thgouh? im talking about normal day to day driving heh.

 

[drumsbeloud]

when you rev-match, you're only getting your engine spinning up to speed to smooth the clutch engagement....the lower gear (and higher revs) will slow you down.

 

[funnylittlman]

Yeah, if you match the rpms where you think they'll be when you let the clutch out fully, then it does the same thing. Instead of letting your clutch rev your engine up to that RPM, you're doing it manually, and it's easier on the clutch.

You're not defeating the purpose at all... try it.

 

[jonnydoe48]

ahh i get it. i need to practice this. thanks guys.

heh i need to memorize the rpms/speed matching for each gear.

 

[FSRbikr98]

The car will slow down just as fast if u rev match, if u notice when u downshift to say second (rev matching) and hit the brakes the car will come to a stop faster then if u left it in neutral because the engine and the brakes are both working to slow the car down

 

[funnylittlman]

Na,

It'll all come naturally the more practice you get

 

[65 VW Bus]

Brakes are cheaper and easier to replace then clutches. Downshifting will put some wear on a clutch.

 

[funnylittlman]

Brakes are cheaper and easier to replace then clutches. Downshifting will put some wear on a clutch.

NOT if you REV MATCH

*edit*

Ok let me correct myself... Yes it COULD put some wear on the clutch if you do it improperly, but I know a few guys around here whom have their original clutches (over 100K) and rev match when down shifting.

It's how you do it, not the frequency.

 

[funnylittlman]

But you are right 65vw,

Brakes ARE cheaper!

 

[jonnydoe48]

should i just blip the throttle a little and release clutch when matching, or hold it down for a period of time?

 

[Dimitrios]

That may be true (that brakes are cheaper to replace, etc), but part of the reason for driving a manual to begin with is having the control when you accelerate and deccelerate (braking/slowing). Coasting to a stop may be fine sometimes (i.e. throwing it in neutral and just coasting), but most of the time, you need to accelerate again and being in gear at that point helps.

 

[funnylittlman]

for example:

You are in 4th gear going about 40 with the RPM's at about 2.5K

Downshift into 3rd and "blip" the throttle to about 3 to 3.25K release clutch.

OR

Go into 2nd and blip throttle to about 4.5K

The whole point is to keep the RPM's where they WILL be when you engage the clutch

 

[enigM@]

i brake while i downshift

 

[65 VW Bus]

Here is what Click and Clack from Car Talk say about downshifting.
http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Archive/1997/September/07.html

 

[122 Vega]

Brakes slow cars, not clutches. You rev match to be in the proper gear to accelerate out of turns, not to slow down.

Britt

 

[GOTZOOM?]

I use heel/toe rev matching to slow down. Always feels good when you get it perfectly matched. Takes practice. Sounds really good when you have an exhaust.

 

[Apexi]

its not the clutch id worry about with downshifting... clutches can take the abuse..id worry about your synchros... $$$$

 

[RX-KEVIN]

I make a habit of downshifting when I come to a stop for a couple of reasons

1 I always have the car in a gear with the clutch out (good habit)
2 the brakes have more of a booster affect when the vac is high (better braking)
3 any jump you can get on that mustang when the light turns green can help your chances of waxing his 5.0 ass