1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
[Main 95 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Useful in performance driving; otherwise foolish Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Tue, 12 Oct 2004 13:06:43 In Reply to: Using compression to reduce speed?,,,, dparadis [Profile/Gallery] , Tue, 12 Oct 2004 11:44:21 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
As others have said, brakes are a lot cheaper than transmissions. Price a clutch replacement recently? Using downshifting places loads on the CV joints, transmission, clutch, engine and transmission mounts, etc. Can they take it? Sure. But why do that when you can simply replace the brake pads?
Trucks do it because as diesel engines, they have MUCH more engine compression than cars. This provides a much better braking action, and yes, they still use brakes - they're stopping 30,000 pounds or more.
There is one good reason for downshifting - to put you into a lower gear at a higher RPM so you're in the engine power band. Downshift as you enter a corner, so you're in the sweet spot of the power band when you accelerate out. Downshift coming up to a light so you'll be in the right gear, assuming the light will change before you come to a stop (and there is no traffic in front of you). That makes sense. But to pump your clutch leg and chew off some more clutch material just to avoid using the brakes? No.
posted by 192.249....
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.