Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

[twineusa]

What do you guys think? I had this discussion with a buddy of mine...I thought down shifting would be less stressful on the brakes, but put more stress on the transmission, but he thinks downshifting's the way to go...what do you think?

[liquid]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

I think it really depends on how aggresively you're driving, and in what situations. I tend to do both during easy driving. However, I never downshift past third gear. If I'm driving aggressive, I tend to use mostly downshifting, with some brakes in order to keep the car steady.... It's hard to explain, kind-of a feel thing. I don't think there is a definite answer to this question... and I think a mix of the two is best. Just don't go downshifting into first gear

[Mr. Burns]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

I figure if I brake more than I downshift then my brakes will wear out sooner... giving me an excuse to upgrade to some big brembos! However wearing out the clutch could enable me to purchase a lightened fly wheel... hmmm now look what you've done!

[Khyron]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

Technically if you are definately going to stop (ie, stop sign) you should just brake. But if you are coming to a red light and it might turn green you should keep in a gear that will give you acceleration. This is stressed on a bike because at all times you need to be able to blast the throttle and get out of the way of cellphone wielding blind assholes. If you are in 4th at 20km/hr you won't be able to get away. I downshift for hills and turns, more for fun than anything. Using engine compressions to slow you down makes you run a bit rich - not something you'd want to do all the time. My opinions anyways.

Khyron

[R_Ethug]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

umm its a mix i guess.. like geoff said if your approaching a yeild kinda thing i'll DS into 2nd and if i'm approaching intersections/stop signs i usually will go 3rd to 2nd and brake at the same time once i get to 1000rpm in 2nd i put it in neutral and coast/brake the rest of the way

[Aleks]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

Its easier to replace brakes than a clutch, so I usually just brake, but you get to know what speeds = what RPMs in certain gears, so I can match them up a bit, it decreases the slippage when engaging....but yeah, if I'm slowing for a corner, downshift, if the stop brake....

[bart]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

best thing to do is downshift, once you're in second, you can just brake then. but remember, when you downshift, blip the throttle, perfectly match the rpms, so it feels like upshifting, this way, very little wear on the clutch and you're car doesnt jerk.

btw, when you do this, and you're coasting in gear without pressing the gas, the car is using zero fuel, so think of it of saving gas too.

long time ago when i first got my car i always just put it in neutral and broke, always thought too that brakes are less important than a transmission, but not anymore, if you do it right its fine.

[1.8Trip]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

best thing to do is downshift, once you're in second, you can just brake then. but remember, when you downshift, blip the throttle, perfectly match the rpms, so it feels like upshifting, this way, very little wear on the clutch and you're car doesnt jerk.

I do this too. It's become almost a game to try and match the rpms. I still can't get that heel-to-toe thing though. I either brake too hard and not enough gas or the other way around.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

haha i do heel/toe downshifting every once in a while but i don't actually do the proper technique its more like 3rd gear brake a bit put in neutral blip gas put in 2nd.. i can do it very smoothly its just not super fast lol

[bart]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

ok, i give $100 to anyone who can do heel to toe braking in their Mk4 with the drive-by-wire brake protection still engaged...

maybe thats why you guys cant get it!!!!!

[Khyron]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

ok, i give $100 to anyone who can do heel to toe braking in their Mk4 with the drive-by-wire brake protection still engaged...

maybe thats why you guys cant get it!!!!!

I don't think that engages as long as the clutch is in (whole point of doing it) - pretty sure you can rev match while brakes applied. You can't do brake stands tho.

Khyron

[bart]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

you sure? i've been stopped and pressed in all 3 pedals, car wont rev past 1500rpm.

[MrHeavyFoot]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

ok, i give $100 to anyone who can do heel to toe braking in their Mk4 with the drive-by-wire brake protection still engaged...

maybe thats why you guys cant get it!!!!!

I'll take your $100. I heel/toe all the time.... not always very well as there is a little bit of built in lag in the DBW throttle (that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it).... but I do practice heel/toe all the time.

What is next to impossible is left foot braking because you aren't just blipping the throttle, it is constantly applied and it will cut out after you have the brake on for a second or two.

[Aleks]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

I thought DBW was on 02+ cars, am I wrong in that, I read it in another forum......

[MrHeavyFoot]

Re: Slowing Down...down shift or brake?

I thought DBW was on 02+ cars, am I wrong in that, I read it in another forum......

Nope. Definitely have it on my '01. I seem to recall that *maybe* the very earliest MKIV's didn't, like the 99.5 Jetta, but I'm not 100% sure on that.