G37 Coupe

whats the proper way to downshift brake

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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 12:45 PM
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whats the proper way to downshift brake

I was wondering whats the proper way to down shift brake on a 6mt? How would you brake from 60mph to probably like 20 without using the brakes...

Curious as to how people do it without screwing up their car.
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 12:48 PM
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Heel-toe during downshifts and make sure you don't hit redline.
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 12:49 PM
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rev match

typically you won't be doing this from 60 to 20. When I use my engine to brake, I also use my brakes.
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 01:00 PM
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yeah you should never be doing it with ONLY the tranny slowing you down, but using the brakes/downshifting is totally fine

+1 for rev matching
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by hispeed-lowdrag
yeah you should never be doing it with ONLY the tranny slowing you down
Why not?
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 01:29 PM
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I down shift rev match to engine brake all the time. But be sure to rev match.

Watching a video with explanation will be more helpful than reading instructions. Search for down shift rev match on youtube. There should be tons of videos.
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by mindonmatter
Why not?
I shouldn't have said never (I use just the tranny all the time haha) I was just thinking about going from 60 -> 20 as a really abrupt slow down and that big of a jump you would probably do some kind of damage if you were just engine braking

but yeah if you've got a decent amount of road then by all means just rev match and use the engine to slow you down and save your pads
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 08:50 PM
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I'd rather replace $200 worth of brakes that I can do myself than a $500 clutch that I need to pay someone $100/hr or more to install.
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by colburs
I'd rather replace $200 worth of brakes that I can do myself than a $500 clutch that I need to pay someone $100/hr or more to install.
the clutch is WAY more durable than your break pads, you're not going to destroy anything as long as you somewhat know what you're doing
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Old Apr 6, 2010 | 11:11 PM
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Originally Posted by hispeed-lowdrag
you're not going to destroy anything as long as you somewhat know what you're doing
Famous last words.
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 09:12 AM
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I use my clutch more heavily than my brakes when i slow down. My clutch is covered for 4 years or 60000 miles which ever come first so it makes more sense for me to wear in my clutch not my brakes. At 60 I prob go into 3rd gear use some brakes to help bleed off the speed then pop into 2nd once i feel like the car has leveled out.
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnEnglish
Famous last words.
haha yeah I guess that was a pretty loaded statement
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 09:57 AM
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the clutch is WAY more durable than your break pads, you're not going to destroy anything as long as you somewhat know what you're doing
The brakes are designed to slow the car, the clutch is not. I'm not saying to put it in neutral everytime you hit the brakes. I'm saying that downshifting and slowly releasing the clutch to match engine and wheel speeds will wear out your clutch much faster than if you just left it in gear until you are almost fully stopped. Even in 6th the car can go to a pretty low speed before you need to pull it out of gear.
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by colburs
The brakes are designed to slow the car, the clutch is not. I'm not saying to put it in neutral everytime you hit the brakes. I'm saying that downshifting and slowly releasing the clutch to match engine and wheel speeds will wear out your clutch much faster than if you just left it in gear until you are almost fully stopped. Even in 6th the car can go to a pretty low speed before you need to pull it out of gear.
that's what rev-matching is for my friend

my clutch comes out just as fast (maybe a hair slower, but close) downshifting as it does when I upshift
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Old Apr 7, 2010 | 10:23 AM
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no need to tell me about rev matching. Been using it for years on and off the race track. I was trying to keep the conversation at a more street driver oriented level but perhaps I strayed from his original question.

If you want the most stress free shifting, rev match without using the clutch. Try it and get back to me...my friend.
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