How Do I Downshift Properly?

MJB · 09-13-2014, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totopo

just skip all the other gears. No need to even heel toe on the street. Just brake, clutch, shifter in neutral, finish braking, turn, shifter to second, slowly clutch out and a little gas as you come out of turn.

Ummm.. you should never just shift into neutral while the vehicle is moving, let alone during a turn.

olddudesrule · 09-13-2014, 06:05 PM

If you don't have the time for one-on-one lessons, look up manual shifting on You Tube. There's hundreds of videos on there for driving enthusiasts. I agree that you're skills will grow with time, but be careful on the street. There aren't a lot of areas, sans a highway transition, where you should be going from 70mph to 20mph. Don't drive past your skill limit.....makes it unsafe for you and for the rest of us.

I would seriously suggest, like someone on here already has, that you get involved with an autocross club in your area. Guys and gals there would love to teach you everything you want to know, and you can thrash the hell out of your car if you want.

Justice97 · 09-23-2014, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJB

Ummm.. you should never just shift into neutral while the vehicle is moving, let alone during a turn.

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.

Bad Boy · 09-23-2014, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Thats exactly what I do and exactly how I feel. Good man.

Rangerz · 09-24-2014, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad Boy

Thats exactly what I do and exactly how I feel. Good man.

I was taught to never coast to a stop in nutral, it was drilled into my head that if something happens you may need to accelerate or slam the breaks on. Can't do that in nutral. I will shift to nutral after coming to a stop waiting for a red light for instance but, always have the car in gear apprpriate to the speed im going while slowing down.

/Angelo350Z/ · 09-24-2014, 01:12 AM

1. Approach the corner
2. Brake to desired speed (don't ride the clutch)
3. Downshift to appropriate gear right before the apex
4. Accelerate out of the corner at the apex

The end.

1slow370 · 09-24-2014, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by /Angelo350Z/

1. Approach the corner
2. Brake to desired speed (don't ride the clutch)
3. Downshift to appropriate gear right before the apex
4. Accelerate out of the corner at the apex

The end.

It's not the end it's another person who didn't read the thread nor help at all.

MJB · 09-24-2014, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm not saying that shifting into neutral during a turn or while moving is hard on the engine or tranny.... but now you have no control of the engine or vehicle in that matter. Yes we know you can coast to a stop with the brakes, but what if you need to push on the gas to get out of a situation quick. That split second trying to shift back into a gear can mean everything.
I've been working for a defense contractor for almost 9 years teaching soldiers how to operate the Stryker vehicle (40 ton 8 wheeled vehicle) and even though its auto, I still had to go to school to get my CDL class B, which had me driving a 26ft box truck that was manual. We were ALWAYS taught never to shift into N while the vehicle was moving. Some people can panic or go full retard when they need to get out of dodge asap, whatever the case may be. Now they're fumbling around trying to get back into gear. Weren't you guys ever taught when you first got your license to never put your vehicle into N coasting down a hill thinking you are going to save gas? Same thing here.

09-24-2014, 01:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
/Angelo350Z/ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Germany Posts: 2,230 Drives: Z34 \| MK7 \| F82 Rep Power: 3662	1. Approach the corner 2. Brake to desired speed (don't ride the clutch) 3. Downshift to appropriate gear right before the apex 4. Accelerate out of the corner at the apex The end. __________________ 2013 MB NISSAN 370Z SPORT

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09-13-2014, 06:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
olddudesrule Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 252 Drives: 2012 Nismo Rep Power: 14	If you don't have the time for one-on-one lessons, look up manual shifting on You Tube. There's hundreds of videos on there for driving enthusiasts. I agree that you're skills will grow with time, but be careful on the street. There aren't a lot of areas, sans a highway transition, where you should be going from 70mph to 20mph. Don't drive past your skill limit.....makes it unsafe for you and for the rest of us. I would seriously suggest, like someone on here already has, that you get involved with an autocross club in your area. Guys and gals there would love to teach you everything you want to know, and you can thrash the hell out of your car if you want.