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

theboydiddy · 03-23-2012, 02:27 PM

Talking about the Z M/T with SRM. I know I have to change my "drive" thing.
I don't ever switch to first. I find it pointless. If I'm coming to a stop sign I usualy just hold the clutch down and rolling look both ways and continue on 2nd gear taking off really slow. If I'm coming to a stop sign on a busy street I hold the clutch down (put it on first gear but continue to roll without letting go the clutch.) Make a complete stop 1st gear is already in with the clutch being held so then i let go the clutch slow and proceed. I don't drive with the s-mode on. I wanna practice and understand the car first, learn how to down shift as well. After I master all of that then I'll use the SRM, fix my clutch that is kicking back a lot and too high up as well

wdkwang · 04-10-2013, 02:36 PM

I was googling about it last night and ran into your thread

Mitco39 · 04-11-2013, 09:31 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

Zenmaster · 04-11-2013, 01:19 PM

I always just engine break in second

forza370z · 04-11-2013, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zenmaster

I always break engine in just second

Re-ordered.

J/K J/K

IDZRVIT · 04-11-2013, 06:29 PM

Anyone like cod tongues?

Luciano13 · 04-12-2013, 06:19 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, 01:25 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.

Luciano13 · 04-16-2013, 09:56 AM

that's way it should always be done in a manual. If youth driving an automatic, u don't throw her into neutral @35mph when your about to stop. U need engine braking to keep it in the right rpm range in case u need to gitty up & go

dP3NGU1N · 04-24-2013, 12:16 PM

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 if it's a longer brake.

Now let's say I underestimated how fast the oncoming car was going and the car has already passed me, and now I'm free to drive through the yield turn. Now obviously I need to engage a gear and I'm going probably 10-15 MPH in neutral/clutch disengaged. It seems just a tad bit too fast to switch into first, because prior experience tells me going into first will throw me forward from the sudden braking under load. So I try to engage 2nd. Here's where it gets tricky. The car really lugs and feels like it's going to stall as I engage 2nd. The RPM has already fallen despite the efforts of synchro rev. I have to give it significant gas in 2nd to prevent stalling and it takes a few seconds to get my RPM back up and get back into the power band.

So how should I have handled this situation? Just hit first and accept the jolt to prevent the lugging in 2nd? Or should I have blipped the throttle manually or done something before/after switching to second?

Regarding your scenario where you're in neutral, coasting at about 20mph, and RPM has dropped: If SRM is turned ON then it should give you a smooth shift into second at the proper RPM for the speed that you are going; regardless of how you're dropping the clutch (because it is perfectly synced). If this IS NOT the case then something is WRONG with your SRM.

If you want to do it manually then you need to match the engine speed with your drive shaft speed; at about 20 mph, 2nd gear should be somewhere in the vicinity of 2500-2800rpm (i can't remember because I do it manually). Either way you should never feel a jolt while driving if you are in the right gear for your speed. When driving any car I like to emphasize smoothness in any transition (gear change, lane change, turns, brake, acceleration) and speed will come.

Sorry if someone already said this, I didn't take the time to read the rest of the thread but I DID notice some troll posts to, what I think, is a legitimate question.

04-10-2013, 02:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
wdkwang Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 899 Drives: slidewayz Rep Power: 22	I was googling about it last night and ran into your thread __________________ Powerhouse Amuse \| K&N Typhoon Intakes \| MotorDyne ART Pipes \| Borla Catback Exhaust \| B&M Short Shifter \| Intake Ducts \| Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers \| Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap \| Tints \| 10000k HIDs \| Vtak, yo!

04-11-2013, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mitco39 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada Posts: 2,089 Drives: 40th 370z Rep Power: 133	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, 06:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
IDZRVIT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Halifax Posts: 1,659 Drives: '13 CTS-V, '76 Vette Rep Power: 28	Anyone like cod tongues? __________________ "America.... still builds rockets!" Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp '13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

04-16-2013, 09:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
Luciano13 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 2,130 Drives: 2016 Solid Redz Rep Power: 247	that's way it should always be done in a manual. If youth driving an automatic, u don't throw her into neutral @35mph when your about to stop. U need engine braking to keep it in the right rpm range in case u need to gitty up & go __________________ http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...lid-red-z.html

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-23-2012, 02:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
theboydiddy Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New York City Posts: 938 Drives: 370z Pearl White Rep Power: 16	Talking about the Z M/T with SRM. I know I have to change my "drive" thing. I don't ever switch to first. I find it pointless. If I'm coming to a stop sign I usualy just hold the clutch down and rolling look both ways and continue on 2nd gear taking off really slow. If I'm coming to a stop sign on a busy street I hold the clutch down (put it on first gear but continue to roll without letting go the clutch.) Make a complete stop 1st gear is already in with the clutch being held so then i let go the clutch slow and proceed. I don't drive with the s-mode on. I wanna practice and understand the car first, learn how to down shift as well. After I master all of that then I'll use the SRM, fix my clutch that is kicking back a lot and too high up as well

04-11-2013, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zenmaster Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 68 Drives: 10 370z M6 40th Rep Power: 15	I always just engine break in second

04-15-2013, 01:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chteelers Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Charlotte Posts: 63 Drives: '11 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 15	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.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Auto downshifting. WTF?!	Dav	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	28	07-26-2012 11:19 AM
Opinions on downshifting	SPOHN	Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip	32	03-07-2012 10:56 PM
Apparent Rear Hatch Opening Technique Discrepancy	OldGuy	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	6	03-27-2011 07:09 PM
downshifting	supraman626	Engine & Drivetrain	7	12-28-2009 01:53 PM
Is my M/T technique ok?	Z-WHIZ	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	21	10-22-2009 11:40 PM