Downshifting to 2nd or 1st while moving (technique)

R0bDC

Noobs!

Dwight Frye

The OP needs to rethink his entire technique. Which would you rather replace, brakes or a clutch ? You shouldn't shift into 1st until you are at, or almost at a complete stop, and quit downshifting for engine braking if you are street driving. Save the F&F moves for the track and save wear & tear on expensive components.

Mitco39

I use engine braking as much as possible, always have, always will. IMO it is a safer alternative to throwing it in neutral and coasting, because if for whatever reason if you have to move and your in neutral its going to take a significant amount of time to get moving again.

I am not sure what sort of wear and tear you speak of? With SRM clutch wear is pretty much obsolete. Not to mention you are using your brakes less and running cool air through the engine while it slows down.

Plus it sounds cool! lol

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Vaughanabe13

Perhaps I did a bad job describing the problem or maybe it's the title, but I almost never downshift into first so that's a non issue. All of this hyperbole about how I'm wrecking my car really isn't needed. The question wasn't about whether or not to downshift to first. It was that I was getting some lugging at slow speeds in second and I just didn't have the proper timing I needed.

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Mitco39

You know, up until reading through this this morning I was shifting down into 1st all the time, with no issues. I will make a conscience effort to try and stay out of 1st for a bit and see how I like it. Like it was mentioned earlier in this thread, it does seem to lug a bunch, and especially with a turbo you dont want to have to lug it. You will have to wait so much longer for the boost to hit.

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2007 Chevy Duramax - EFILive Tuned By Me
2010 40th W/ Nav - Boosted Performance - UpRev Tuned By Me
The Mrs. Ride -2012 335XI N55 BMW - Cobb Tuned By Me, Built by her
My Build --> http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...39s-build.html

Rusty

Noobs! I'm been down shifting into first gear even before alot of you were even born. Learn how to drive a stick. First gear is there for a reason. Use it.

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cheshirecat

That reason being taking off from a dead stop.

Not all transmissions are built the same and the 370z does not enjoy being shifted into first while moving at anything faster than a crawl. The synchros yelling at you while they work to fix your technique should be a hint.

Anyway, as far as engine braking goes, it seems the transmission is stout enough to handle it without excessive wear and tear. As long as you are properly rev-matching, you shouldn't experience any issues.

Zenmaster

I always just engine break in second

gsxr750

Its best to not really shift the car down from second to first while moving , unless your speed is only around 10mph.

In stopping I only down shift once the car is almost at a stop (from 5th-1st etc.) to save wear and tear on the clutch and tranny.

Its a lot easier to replace brake pads, then a clutch or tranny.

Down shifting should only be done when really its really required or driving the car hard.

Rusty

I've got no problem with down shifting mine into first. 6th to 5th is another deal.

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gsxr750

Most of the shifting problems develop once there is wear or damage to the syncro rings.

I had a 98 Nissan Hardbody truck that was real easy to shift thru all the gears when new, but as it approached 100k miles you couldn't get the truck into 1st gear unless you were doing about idle or 5 mph.

Immediately after selling it I compared it to my new 2000 frontier and the new truck would go into 1st no matter what speed you were doing.

On the new truck decided to take it a lot easier on the tranny and not always down shift unless it was really necessary .

Also Mobile 1 synthetic tranny oil made it shift a lot smoother, the racing royal purple could help if you have problems.

IDZRVIT

Anyone like cod tongues?

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Luciano13

Im not sure why your going from 35mph & 4th gear into neutral?? You should always down shift with braking. For one you will never have this problem if your engine is breaking as well as your breaks, 2 your brake pads will wear out 50% faster, & 3 the car sounds so much better if your down shifting gears. I know you mention first manual, but don't treat it like its an automatic. Manuals do NOT us engine breaking automatically, you need to make your car do that manually!!

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Chteelers

My clutch pedal is never held depressed for any period of time. When decelerating, I shift down through the gears, engaging each one on the way down. In addition to adding engine braking, which helps settle the suspension during decel, this also means I can get back on the throttle at any point instantly because a gear is always engaged. The clutch is just used momentarily between gears, not held.

When coming to a stop, I ride 2nd gear to a near stop then shift into neutral.