Opinions on downshifting

ryan0

Why are you going through the gears if you don't engage the clutch?

Why would you wear out synchros if you don't go through the gears?


synchros should only come into play when you push the lever into 'gear'... if you're rev matching, it will save wear on the synchros.. but if your not releasing the clutch, why bother?

SPOHN

I didn't say I was doing that. I said if. And many drivers even pro do this when carrying high speed into a short braking zone. I've seen plenty of videos showing both ways. And the reason I'm asking is I believe that by going threw the gears it may slow down the engine and transmission speed to a little bit more suitable speed to make engagement smoother while also preserving the tranny. That's why I'm asking to understand the variables. I'm just making points of what could be. Just want to hear from experience members with track time there input.

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ryan0

are you sure you werent watching them blip through a sequential?

on one end of the trans is the diff... on the other end is the motor... if you don't release the clutch and tie the two together, they won't slow each other.


my bottom line... ideally, if you can blip, brake and clutch through all the gears, you will stop faster (if you are smooth enough)... but most importantly, do what feels comfortable to you... if you're jerking the car while braking, it is much worse than just keeping the clutch in... but don't bother rowing through gears if you're not releasing the clutch... it either makes more useless work for yourself (rev matching) or put useless wear on your synchros... just skip from 6 to 3...

but what do i know...