I just bought a 2004 Z06 with 74,000 miles on it. My buddy has basically the the same car. We have an arguement going. It is that I downshift thru the gears to slow the car down at a red light. He just goes to neutral and applies alot more brake. He says that I'm going to ruin my tranny and my clutch. He says that replacing the brakes is cheapier than replacing the tranny. I agree with that but not about downshifting. He also keeps in neutral till the light changes.
Advice would be appreciated.

 

I really don't have a answer for your question ( sorry ) BUTT I down shift when stopping.....I bought the car to have fun and that is fun for me.....I might also do a burn out or 2 and I am sure that is only going to make everything last longer LOL...These cars were built to be driven almost like a race car maybe your buddy should watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FquFrOalAAY

That is my .02 for whatever it is worth,
Sid

 

The only thing I could see it potentially damaging is the syncros. This is, of course, if it's done incorrectly. Practice double clutching if you don't want to worry about it; do that properly and you'll rarely even use the syncros. There's certainly no need to downshift to slow down, but if done correctly you could probably extend the brake pad life even further.

As far as issues with the clutch, I always downshifted on my last supercharged z06 with the stock 50k mile clutch. Not a single issue.

 

I downshift to accelerate not slow down but that's just me. Your use of the transmission probably won't shorten it's life. My thing is just letting off the gas and listening to the Corsas burbbling as the car slows, I can't get enough of it.

 

There's no winner to this argument, it's all personal preference. Sometimes I downshift, sometimes I use the brakes.

 

You're asking a transmission to do what it's supposed to do, as long as you do it correctly I'd voter for down shifting. There's really very little wear on the clutch for something like this, so I'd say slowing by using your brakes will cause more wear. But that's just my opinion, and probably not worth $.02...

 

As long as you're rev-matching on downshifts or the rpms are low, there is no added wear on the trans or clutch.

 

Brakes are for slowing down. When I drive my 01 C5Z on the track I use the brakes to slow down not the transmission. Downshifting is to get in the right gear to accelerate out of the turn. IMO, your buddy wins.

 

but It's still a good time and fun to practice your heel toe technique even when you are doing that the brakes are doing the stopping and you shouldn't even feel a tug when the clutch is released

 

I love listening to the engine unwind, so I typically brake while leaving it in gear, then pop it into neutral when I get down around 1k rpm before coming to a stop. As others have said, brakes are designed for slowing down; might as well use them for that purpose instead of all this unnecessary shifting.

 

I agree that this is the most correct answer. But drive how you like to drive. I doubt it is adding much wear.

 

Sounds like that comes from someone who doesn't know how to heel-toe under heavy braking. At the braking limit, I can slow the car more with the addition of a heel-toe downshift and the using the engines resistance at the rear wheels. Reason I know this for a fact, is upon a rare 5-3-2 or 4-2 misshift in the braking zone, I've damn near left the track by carrying too much speed into turn-in.

Call it the potential of maybe the need for a little more rear brake bias, but regardless, the fact is I can decrease stopping distance with heel-toe downshifting versus braking only on approach.


As fars as the arguement goes, if your downshifting and releasing the clutch forcing it to reaccelerate the engine, then yes, you are increasing wear by doing it. If you can rev-match at minimum, or heel-toe at best, wear is quite minimal. I will add though, decelerating a motor from higher rpm is more strenuous on the engine internals due to the lack of resistance on the piston during the exhaust stroke.

Point is, if I had to make a true judgement I would say coasting to a stop certainly places less wear upon your drivetrain components. With that said though, I heel-toe on the street (more or less toe-toe during street driving using the side of my foot during light braking) and always will, as that's how I've always driven. I'll heel-toe anything...my friends laugh sometimes when they see me heel-toe a toyota pickup or something...lol...just habit. Sometimes I'll go to neutral if I'm certain I need to stop, but if there's a chance the light will change, I'm heel-toe downshifting in preparation to go back on the move.

 

If you are braking hard enough on the streets to require you to downshift to add more rear brake bias, then you don't belong on the street. On the track, do what lowers you lap times consistently without additional wear. I still think that downshifting to slow the car down is not the most correct way to do it, but I'd it works for you, go for it. I would just adjust the brake bias if this is an issue for you on the track.

 

Downshifting sounds cool, but serves no purpose on the street, IMO.

 

The VHS tape I got with my 02 says not to down shift to slow down in normal driving situations instead leave the car in gear and press the brake to slow down only depressing the clutch just before coming to a stop. Not nearly as much fun as down shifting...

 

Brakes are cheaper than an engine or trans

No need to ever learn heel/toe unless your a track rat.

Enjoy the car however you decide to drive it.

 

Well, Z06's didn't exactly offer in car adjustable brake bias valves. Point is, downshifting plays an active role in driving a car aggressively. Like I stated, I use downshifting selectively in road driving situations when I think reacceleration before a complete stop is necessary. I also might add, that downshifting every gear is excessive....5-3 and 4-2 is pretty useful...plus you get to listen to your exhaust if you have one... .

I got news for people though, you're not gonna be replacing trannys from downshifting on the street approaching red lights.

 

I do what your buddy does. I don't use my trans and clutch to slow the car.

 

My preference as well...

 

RJB34, I'm in agreement with your friend.

By the way, we are talking about driving on the street, which is all together different than at the track.