How Do I Downshift Properly?

Justice97

I did this in my 280zx all the time, never had an issue. over 223k on the engine and Tranny. Never replaced synchros, still shifts smooth. I don't know about the "during a turn," I guess I never really paid attention.

Neutral is just that neutral. Then engine revs to an idle and you are just coasting. Personally I don't see the danger in it. Your brakes stop the car, never ever ever use the engine or tranny to stop the car. Why, they are crap loads more expensive. That is for racing when you need engine assist, our brakes are fine for street driving. If you need engine assist on the streets you are going to get a DA award soon.

I think i understand the OP completely.

i.e. Exit freeway doing 70 cruising because it is a clear access road and you feel spirited...there is the turn around. 70-60-50-40-30-20 in about about 150 yrds. No need to downshift in that short amount of time, that would be silly. Not to mention you just stressed the hell out of your engine and tranny and maybe ground some gears trying to keep up. Your engine in 6th gear will not bog down and chug until you get to about 15mph. I typically leave it in gear till i get down to the turning speed about 15 or 20. Push in clutch change place it in second let out clutch and prepare to accelerate after I exit turn.

I understand some will get technical about driving a stick. Really it is not rocket science and you will figure out when to down shift and when not to.
I do not down shift to brake I down shift to maintain the correct rpms for the speed I am driving. If i am going to continue to apply my brakes till i come to a stop, i typically do not down shift.

Just my opinion on down shifting.

Asheth

You're basically asking if you should always row your gears up shifting and down shifting?

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grant

If you have S-mode turn it on, and let the car heel and toe for you..use the brakes to slow the car to the speed you want to go through the corner at, and select the gear you want to exit the corner in before you start the turn in to the corner

If you don't have S-mode have someone show you how to heel and toe. You can't effectively explain braking and throttling with the same for in words.

MJB

You are a rookie manual driver OP, all these techniques will come in time. You have S-mode so make sure you keep it on. Rev matching/ heel and toe is a little more advanced driving and involves some skill that I don't think you are up to just yet. And like mentioned above, you need someone in the car teaching you, sorta hard to explain something like that on a forum

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Spooler

My suggestion would be to look up Heel-toe downshifting via Youtube. You can also catch some good live videos on television during road race events that are broadcasted live.

Downshifting is to maximize your braking power via the brakes and the engine. Over revving is a no-no. Hmm, seems some folks on here have never been on the ragged edge slowing a car down quickly. S-mode is nice, it does the throttle input for you. I am kinda old school and like it all to be the drivers skill.

Aviator44

If I understood you correctly, just throw the car in neutral and use your brakes to slow down. Once you come to the 20-30mph range, put it in whatever gear you need to accelerate again.

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Rob298mx

Just takes practice man, find out where the tach will be for that given mph and the rest is simple. For heel to toe downshifting, it certainly takes some finesse and practice. You need to roll your foot over to blip the throttle. Like others have said, watch some YouTube vids and go out and practice.

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DIGItonium

How I do it is that if you downshift without blipping the throttle, the engine forces itself to rev itself up. If you blip the throttle, just rev it high enough such that the engine doesn't need to ramp up to that speed. Don't rev too high since it's overkill. Then let the clutch out like normal. Do it just right and it'll be smooth sailing.

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1slow370

ok we are definitely having some conflict in here because some are giving advise for sport driving and some are just going daily, like the whole not putting it into neutral in a corner daily sure why the hell not if you are slowing down, on a race course though this will unsettle the rear end so it is a no-no. heel and toeing on the street is just a pain in the ***, if you are drving on the street and down shift to pass just clutch change down and let the clutch out a little slower or latter than you give it gas to get the engine going before the clutchs slams in, if you are slowing down clutch, off gas, on brake change down, slowly let clutch out so you don't shock tires until it is full engine braking. On the race course heel and toe and drop that **** while standing on the brakes

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roplusbee

LOL. I wasn't even going to look at this thread until one of my coworkers said "hey, that one looks like a winner!"

I personally don't coast in neutral for fear of being rear ended (again) and I like to have a gear to get out of dodge if necessary. All that is on the street.

On a road course or canyon / spirited / Tail of the Dragon run, I engage SRM (since I normally have it off) and ensure that I stay above 3k RPM so that I don't loose boost response. I learned that hard way that SRM downshifts can cause the car to lurch forward, so I stay above the boost threshold.

Your experience could be different. We don't know what your setup is (NA or FI). The only advice I can give you is to learn how the car behaves and adjust as necessary. Seat time is where it's at.

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Akurei

I'm sure everything has been already covered, therefore I will cover it again just in case. If you really want to perfect shifting. train yourself to shift more smoothly, then more faster or better at first. It's gonna have a lot of downfalls, but that way you are paying attention to RPM's and mph with a glance. People who say, "hear the engine" don't know what they're talking about. You can hear the engine when you learn about the critical parts of the car first. It's best to pay attention to the rpms and mph as your upshifting gears. Then you'll know where you can downshift gears. Obviously you can't stare at your guage the whole time so look at rpms and then mphs when you shift with a glance. Play with it. I rather let you learn yourself, it is more fun as you reach the "peak" (whenever that is lol). As far as corners, youtube some videos man, a lot of stuff you can see on the video's there on how they do it. Obviously a lot of people downshift a little bit right before the turn or curve. If say a right curve turns more to a L shape turn then obviously you are gonna have to move your car more to the left side of the road and line yourself up right in a lot slower pace than a curve. Don't listen to me, as I am a beginner myself, just watch the videos

FPenvy

is this real life?...........

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exsanity

..or is this just fantasy..

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FPenvy

well played sir!



RIP Freddy

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exsanity

:bow:

RIP indeed.

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