i just keep it in gear... if i downshift its only once to get some engine braking in... i wanna save my brakepads but also save my tranny from unneccesary wear and tear

 

If anything, make sure your car's always in gear unless it's stopped. So if you're coming to a stoplight at 45mph, don't drop it into neutral and coast.

I always downshift to at least 3rd gear...usually down to 2nd.

 

Uh, I'd rather change brake pads more often than clutches, but that's just me.

 

This has been discussed over and over again. Shifting into neutral is a bad manual driving technique. If you're in 6th, the best thing to do is downshift to 4th, and then 3rd and 2nd or just 2nd. Make sure you rev match for each downshift.

This actually allows your brake pads to last for YEARS and never get brake dust. I never have brake dust on my wheels because I barely ever use my brakes - I just tranny brake.

The reason that neutral braking is bad is because, what if someone runs in front of your car, or you need power immediately to drive again? You won't be in gear and you'll have to fumble around to get back in. You are supposed to ALWAYS be in the correct gear for a situation.

Neutral braking is n00b.

 

Rev matching/tranny braking isn't going to cause any harm to your clutch or transmission. Neutral braking is not a good manual driving habit.

 

[QUOTE=afwfjustin,Jan 12 2007, 04:08 PM] Rev matching/tranny braking isn't going to cause any harm to your clutch or transmission.

 

wow.... lots of mixed opinions about the subject. i agree with alot of them and disagree with alot of them.

but thanks for all the info. i personally would rather replace brake pads more often then my clutch.

i see so far nothing wrong with holding onto 6th untill it bogs. which ur usually 20 feet from the next car by then or u'd be apply a little bit of throttle to get u there. so the % of avoiding an accident is far less then downshifting where ur taking the momentary time of being without power.

 

I understand that 'sometimes' it may be alright to just coast down in 6th or neutral if there's nobody on the road and nothing in sight. Hell, I do it sometimes if I'm lazy and coming up on a toll booth or something. But the point is, is that the OP is a new driver and other new drivers could come on to this board and think that neutral braking or 6th gear to bog are acceptable techniques when they are not.

And downshifting to 1st is pretty pointless as 2nd gets the job done easily enough. I don't see how downshifting from

6>4 and 4>2

is that hard. It keeps you in your power band and allows you go accelerate if need be. Plus, downshifting and tranny braking is just plain fun It's part of the fun driving experience of owning a manual transmission!

 

I don't disagree with you there.

I go with the flow of my mood and the situation. Safety is a factor and sometimes I just like to hear the whine of the engine.

I am just recognizing that when the clutch engages, some wear occurs.

 

even if u rev matched perfectly their would still be friction... and wear and tear. ur meshing two obeject together.