Why downshift a manual car

If the car got loose, it would murder you I could decimate higher horsepower cars that would be eating my rear bumper in, but missing the apex as I stomped them all the way out To the OP, I raise this glass to you sir, for bringing back such great memories! Also, when do you downshift? And finally, a little off topic but in go-karting you would gas about.

Reply 9 years ago on Introduction. I believe you could shift out of 3rd into neutral without the clutch, but I have never really done it that way. The main reason I didn't was that forcing the transmission out of gear takes more force than when using the clutch to go to neutral and may cause you to go past neutral and shove the shifter into the next gear down and grind a gear.

This kind of downshifting is done while braking. Your braking point is almost always before your turn in point, and can continue all the way to the apex, depending on the corner.

So to answer your question, downshifting will usually be before turn in, but can continue almost up to the apex. Most downshifts will be done well before encountering the apex though, depending on the car. When you get back to throttle in any kind of kart or car, it is always dependent on your car's power and where you are apexing at in the corner.

Like you said, in a kart, since you usually are power limited, throttle will be applied earlier than in a car so as not to lose time and momentum.

When in a powerful car, it will be harder to get to full throttle at the same point as the kart because you will be traction limited. Depending on where you apex i. A later apex will mean you need to have a slower entry speed, but will have a higher exit speed than a geometric apex, and an early apex will mean you have a higher entry speed and lower exit speed compared to a geometric apex. Apex point all depends on what the next portion of track is. Ohh i get it. Does engine braking put added wear on the engine?

In other words does the benefit of saving brake pads due to engine braking block, transmission, clutch wear saves money in the long run. Also, is it better to downshift from 4th gear to 2nd at rpm or 3rd at rpm im guessing gear ratios?

Thanks a bunch!!!! I cant w8 to get a miata! Technically yes engine braking wears out your engine faster, anything that makes it rev faster will mean it'll perform more revolutions overall.

Realistically though, as long as it's done properly the effect is minimal. Engine braking has very little to do with racetrack driving however.

Downshifting is relative, the primary objective is to have your car spinning at the right RPM for the corner. Say for example you car accellerates strongest at 4, RPM and redlines at 6, Your goal is to come out the other side of the corner in whatever gear gets you closest to 4, RPM so you can immediately accellerate.

That being the case it seems that staying in third would make more sense, as it would give you RPM to play with on the other side, however, most down shifting is done before the apex, whilst braking.

That being the case RPM may be better. An example may make more sense. Coming up to corner, heavy braking, downshift from fourth to second RPM, continue braking, as speed keeps dropping so does RPM to say or so, turn in, balance car, accelerate away. Essentially the goal is having the right gear at the exit of the corner, if your redline lets you shift early so your not having to shift whilst trying to get mid corner balance then shift early.

On a mechanical perspective, shifting from fourth to second would mean the synchros need to work harder than they would fourth to third. Whilst you where asking Kriley I may be able to help with your other query, the fastest line is relative to the corner and the straight before and after it.

It's hard to write and easy to draw, but think of it like this, you need to slow down to turn. You can either slow down early, turn the car early before the apex and then clip the apex late as you power out, or you can slow down late, clipping the apex early as you brake into the corner, turn late after you've passed the apex and then power away.

If you turn early you can get the power down early, this is good if you have a long straight after the corner and you want as much time as possible to accellerate.

If you have a long straight going into the corner then you want to brake late so you can keep your high speed up as long as possible. That's how you pick a late or early apex. The braking power to accelleration affecting the choice of apex is not true, it only applies to a straight line, on a circuit its all about finding the best way to connect up all the corners and whilst braking late early apex lets you make the most of the power going in, it stuffs up the power coming out.

Drifting isn't faster for a hairpin unless its a loose surface, however for racing applications it does give a wider margin for error when your right on the edge of adhesion than understeering does. You downshift when you need more speed to keep the car in line when in a curve. When you feel you don't have enough power to keep it in line it's already too late : the car is already skidding off the road… I drive my car using downshift capability every day I'm in Europe and most of us drive manual cars, so I'm nothing of a hero when saying this!!

What this Inst' doesn't say is that in a tight curve the car will tend to skid : if you control it with you hand brake you can get out of the curve much faster and gain precious seconds by controlling the skid… But then this is car racing at a higher lever than this Inst' and just another matter.

You may try it without qualms. Don't worry too much, don't ask too many questions ; just do it but skip the heel-toe combination : which is meant to keep constant power to the engine in order to gain milliseconds in a curve, you don't need this to drive kids at school….

Practice in curvy back roads, driving slowly using 3rd and 2nd gear for instance then you'll gain confidence and it will become second nature. When the engine speed drops to near idle before it starts to buck , step on the clutch. Then put the car in Neutral and let the clutch out. If you keep your foot on the clutch pedal while coasting or waiting for the light to change, you're wearing out an important part of the clutch called the clutch release bearing.

TOM: When it's time to move again, push in the clutch, put the car in first gear, and drive away. If you're not sure when to do this, just wait for guy behind you to start blowing the horn.

Extreme downshifting will put the engine and transmission mounts under a lot of strain. So which is better downshifting or braking? Downshifting also known as engine braking is common with drivers for two reasons: it's cool to drive like a smooth, skilled race car driver, and it saves money on brake wear and tear, as pedals, brake pads, discs, and rotors can be costly. Experts who advise against downshifting warn that downshifting makes both the engine and the transmission work harder, and you can end up spending more money on gas and transmission with this process.

The car accelerates much quicker if you change down a gear and stomp on the accelerator pedal. When driving up a hill, the same is true. You change down to get more power if the engine does not produce enough power to sustain speed when driving uphill at higher engine revs.

Overall, downshifting is a useful strategy for smoothly turning curves, handling traffic, avoiding dangerous road conditions such as potholes, snow, or ice , or simply slowing down without using the brake.

Although it is possible to coast to a stop in neutral, you can lose some control of the vehicle if it is not in gear. It's always easier to downshift when you slow if you know the stop is coming but remember you won't affect the car even if you don't.

However, constant braking downhill has its drawbacks. To begin with, your brake pads will wear out faster. Brake pads produce friction material that converts your vehicle's kinetic energy into friction, which slows and stops your vehicle. Over time, the friction content degrades. As a result, brake pad replacement is a necessary part of routine maintenance. However, excessive friction during downhill braking allows the brake pads to wear out more quickly.

It also generates a great deal of heat, which can damage the brake system. Brake rotors can overheat and warp, and brake fluid can boil, causing problems in the device. When you keep slamming on the brakes while driving down a slope, the brake system can no longer handle the heat. The effectiveness of the braking system, as well as your ability to slow down, decreases as the brakes heat up.

In hilly areas, some roads have designated runaway truck lanes. Moving downhill, the bigger the vehicle, the more difficult it is to brake.

As a result, you can prefer to use engine braking, as many truckers do with their big rigs, to assist the brake system when going downhill.

Slowing down in traffic and retaining power on muddy, snowy, or slippery roads are two other situations where engine braking can be beneficial. Why would you use engine braking in these situations? For starters, you can extend the life of your braking system. Additionally, since you are letting off the gas pedal, you will be able to save more money on gas. You will also stop locking up your tires by not putting too much pressure on the brakes, which will help you maintain better control in slippery situations.

Again, is downshifting bad?