Downshifting bad?

ZKraken22

"Use your brakes to slow down, downshift to the appropriate gear for the speed that you're going. That's what the brakes are meant for. Using your engine to slow you down is tough on the engine and transmission. Brake replacement is way cheaper than engine/transmission repair."

Really? So im on the GTR Forum and saw that comment on a thread talking about downshifting. When i come to a red light i downshift to slow down my car instead of using the brakes to save my breaks. Does that really hurt the engine/ trans? The GTR guys seem to think so. I have the 7 speed auto BTW.

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MicTheProduce

If anything, you are using your transmission more than usual. This then leads to more wear than usual.

BGTV8

Gears are for going, brakes are for stopping.

Backloading the transmission places the load the wrong way around in the g/box, hence it will wear more quickly

SouthArk370Z

In older cars, it could be a problem, but in a modern drivetrain, all you're going to do is increase wear slightly. When decelerating, the ECM cuts fuel to the engine, so it turns onto a big air pump. If the tranny can't handle reasonable downshifts (ie, not downshifting to 1st at 30mph), we got screwed.

There will be some added wear and tear, but not what I would call hurting anything.

If you're downshifting hard, like at the track, all bets are off.

YMMV

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Trips

pads are cheaper than a trans so you decide

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edub370

Not going to hurt anything. We even have such a thing to limit Trans wear. Srm... If anyone can find proof that down shifting has actually caused premature trans failure (not holding my breath) then i will retract my previous statement. If anyone thinks that gradually slowing down via down shifting puts more stress than going wot and banging thru gears then u may wanna re-evaluate your theories on stress loads.

I don't advise doing it all the time, but here and there won't hurt anything

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ZKraken22

that sucks. I love to downshift. I love the sound.

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binary0x01

The transmission was design to shift up and down. It makes no sense in saying "don't use the down shift feature" because you can then argue that you should not use your breaks or horn or anything else because it might wear prematurely... obviously it will wear but you got the car to drive it in a complete manor, not think about what will wear and will not. If something wears out, replace it and keep enjoying your car... wth did you buy it for if not that?

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FirstZin83

Agreed. I'm 47 years old and have been beating the snot out of Z's for 30 years. I have only changed a clutch once in an 83' 280ZX, which was not related to any shifting habits. I've been downshifting with careless abandon the whole time. On the 370Z I've had SyncroRev turned off since I bought the car in 2009. The RPM match is fun for awhile, but takes away the ability to slow down with downshifting. Of course I did have a transmission scare with the 370, but thanks to forum posts. I realized I needed to put some decent fluid in the lines and get rid of that nasty assist spring.

IDZRVIT

I love downshifting my vette and locking up the rear wheels just before coming to a stop. Been doing it for over 20 years of ownership. Ain't broke yet!!! I pamper the Z more on downshifting because it's my wife's car and I need to stay on her good side.

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m4a1mustang

Downshift to your heart's content. I heel-toe 90% of the time.

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Mikes350z

agreed ^... I downshift all the time to slow down and normally heel-toe for quicker stopping power. Don't Automatic transmissions downshift also to help slow down the car?

Seems idiotic to me to think that a transmission that can handle the load of moving a 3,000+ pound car cant do the same for slowing it down? Either way just dont be stupid as stated earlier and down shift into 2nd from speeds of 60 plus or similar situations.

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SS_Firehawk

I can't believe this is an argument. This world is lost.

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grant

The OP comment sounds like it came from "ULTIMATE SPEED SECRETS" by Ross Bently. See attached paragraph

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G37sHKS

Nope downshifting is not a bad idea.. you can downshift all day long without a problem..

/end thread

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