hey everyone, i haven't been here for a while, but i do have a question now that i think about it. ok, lets say i'm going down the feder at 45 mph, and there's a traffic light, it's red, so i have to stop. i start slowing down, and my dad tells me i'm not doing it right, what i do, is i put in the clutch, take it down to second, leave the clutch in, and brake, or take it to neutral and brake, he says, what i should do, is start braking first, then start pushing the clutch. i don't know why, but i feel that my way is more comfordable, because when you take your leg off the gas, the car starts slowing down immidiatly. thanks for the help. if neither of these ways sound right, would you tell me how to do it, cause i don't feel like messing up my car.
thanks,
wes

 

I think what your dad is telling you to do is use your engine to slow yourself down. When your still in gear and you let off the gas without putting in the clutch your wheels outrun the motor making it slow down. Theres been many threads on engine breaking, some say its alright for the engine and some say its bad. When you really think about it it sounds pretty bad because your wheels are forcing your engine to go faster when it cant. But dont quote me on any of this because its just speculation......

 

I usually downshift a little when I come to a stop, but I don't overrev it. Just work my way down the gears, then throw it in neutral one it starts slowing down and then I just use the brakes.

 

It never made sense to me to leave the clutch engaged when braking. Why put the unnecessary load on the engine? The engine is supposed to drive the wheels, not the other way around. IMO, you are braking correctly.

 

so what your saying is to leave the clutch engaged and start braking??? or to start braking then engage the clutch. ugh, i'm so confused. also, lets say i were to engage the clutch first, is it bad for the engine??? thanks for the help

 

the reason that its nots so good to "ride the clutch" especially with a hydrolic transmission is that it causes unnecessary friction on the clutch , thus causing u to wear your clutch plate faster. when ever downshifting, especially in engine braking, u should match the revs of the engine before letting of the clutch.

 

What I do is.... say i'm coasting in 4th and coming to a stop, I use the brake to slow down a bit, then I press the clutch in and go to neutral... after that I use the break to stop the car. Is there anything wrong with that?

 

engine braking just makes braking more constant, but it wastes alot of gas.... ive gotten 50+ miles per fillup just by avoiding engine braking...

 

do what ever is comfortable for u man.. i just take it out of gear then brake.. unless i have to stop quickly.. then i would downshift to a lower gear for a faster stop.. plus if u are going on a fast turn about 80 miles an hour i would recomend shifting to a lower gear.. if u could react fast enough.. cause u dont want ur brakes to lock up.. that is how i crashed my car.. cant stop spinning