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

R0bDC · 04-10-2013, 06:39 PM

Noobs!

Dwight Frye · 04-10-2013, 07:54 PM

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 · 04-11-2013, 10:31 AM

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

Vaughanabe13 · 04-11-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Mitco39 · 04-11-2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Rusty · 04-11-2013, 12:29 PM

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.

cheshirecat · 04-11-2013, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 04-11-2013, 02:19 PM

I always just engine break in second

gsxr750 · 04-11-2013, 03:56 PM

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 · 04-11-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

gsxr750 · 04-11-2013, 05:20 PM

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 · 04-11-2013, 07:29 PM

Anyone like cod tongues?

forza370z · 04-12-2013, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zenmaster

I always break engine in just second

Re-ordered.

J/K J/K

Luciano13 · 04-12-2013, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaughanabe13

I apologize if this is the wrong forum....I didn't see a section for non-track driving technique.

Anyway, I think I've gotten pretty decent driving the Z in 90% of situations (this is my first manual I've owned). However, there is one situation that I feel like I never handle correctly.

Say I'm approaching a yield right turn in 4th gear, 35MPH or so. I need to slow down a lot to check for traffic. I see a car and decide I need to slow down and possibly stop. So I clutch in and brake and either keep the clutch in or go into neutral

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!!

Chteelers · 04-15-2013, 02:25 PM

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.

04-11-2013, 10:31 AM	#63 (permalink)
Mitco39 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada Posts: 2,089 Drives: 40th 370z Rep Power: 132	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 cheshirecat, JARblue, Vaughanabe13 and 3 others like this. __________________ 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

04-11-2013, 12:29 PM	#66 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,172 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684437	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. Mitco39 likes this. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

04-11-2013, 05:20 PM	#71 (permalink)
gsxr750 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: west Posts: 443 Drives: 2012 370z man. sport Rep Power: 13	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. Last edited by gsxr750; 04-11-2013 at 05:24 PM.

04-11-2013, 07:29 PM	#72 (permalink)
IDZRVIT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Halifax Posts: 1,659 Drives: '13 CTS-V, '76 Vette Rep Power: 27	Anyone like cod tongues? __________________ "America.... still builds rockets!" Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp '13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

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04-10-2013, 06:39 PM	#61 (permalink)
R0bDC Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California Posts: 307 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 12	Noobs!

04-10-2013, 07:54 PM	#62 (permalink)
Dwight Frye Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Occupied California Posts: 423 Drives: '09 Tour/Sport/6MT Rep Power: 16	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.

04-11-2013, 02:19 PM	#68 (permalink)
Zenmaster Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 68 Drives: 10 370z M6 40th Rep Power: 14	I always just engine break in second

04-11-2013, 03:56 PM	#69 (permalink)
gsxr750 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: west Posts: 443 Drives: 2012 370z man. sport Rep Power: 13	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.

04-15-2013, 02:25 PM	#75 (permalink)
Chteelers Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Charlotte Posts: 63 Drives: '11 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 13	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.