Engine Braking (not breaking)
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
Engine Braking (not breaking)
What is the consensus here on whether or not to use the engine for braking? Yes, it works to slow the car, but it subjects the clutch to more wear. Should the braking be left to the brakes as to not prematurely wear out the clutch?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,418
Likes: 198
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
If I'm about to come to a complete stop I will shift into neutral and use the brakes only. If I'm just slowing down I will use engine braking. I always try to match revs. The clutch gets abused enough during acceleration no reason for additional abuse slowing down.
Last edited by MARSC6; Jun 5, 2009 at 02:14 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,267
Likes: 8,542
From: Rochester, NY
I use engine braking most of the time only in slow traffic, I try to always match the revs if I downshift at higher speeds. I also find myself just engaging the clutch downshifting but keeping the clutch engaged in traffic when coming to a stop.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,030
Likes: 6
From: Maumelle Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Try this
I understand most of the NASCAR stock car drivers went to Ron Fellows or equivalent road racing school and learned to use the brakes for slowing, and then down shift to accelerate through and off the corner.
Downshifting was used in the old days of road racing when brakes tended to fade and engine braking assisted the braking. With modern brakes engine braking is unnecessary and causes unnecessary wear on the engine and drivetrain.
I know this will be totally rejected by some forum racers. I don't race I just listened to the X drivers on the NASCAR telecast when they were at a road track last season, and I stayed at a Holiday Inn.
LJ
Downshifting was used in the old days of road racing when brakes tended to fade and engine braking assisted the braking. With modern brakes engine braking is unnecessary and causes unnecessary wear on the engine and drivetrain.
I know this will be totally rejected by some forum racers. I don't race I just listened to the X drivers on the NASCAR telecast when they were at a road track last season, and I stayed at a Holiday Inn.
LJ
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
This is what I thought. I have tried to break myself of this habbit, though. I used to use the clutch to slow my last manual, but don't want to abuse the clutch in the vette.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
Originally Posted by LarryMJones View Post
With modern brakes engine braking is unnecessary and causes unnecessary wear on the engine and drivetrain.
With modern brakes engine braking is unnecessary and causes unnecessary wear on the engine and drivetrain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 9
From: Upstate New York
+1
I have always downshifted through the gears when coming to a stop, I try to match the RPMs, and in 30 years of driving I have yet to replace a clutch on a car I have owned since new. I think if it's done properly the additional wear by downshifting is minimal....the pleasure is maximal (if that's a word).
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,030
Likes: 6
From: Maumelle Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
55 Ford
LJ
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 160
From: Coralville Iowa
Remember - just being in gear and lifting your foot is "engine braking". Every Vette owner here with an automatic does it every time they stop or slow down unless they shift their car to neutral (which I would not recommend)............
Last edited by mksz51; Jun 5, 2009 at 03:17 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
Remember, brake pads are relatively inexpensive, and easy to replace.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
It's also cheaper to replace brake pads than a clutch...
Drive it and sync things up properly.. you can have fun without any penalty. Be one with the car
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,636
Likes: 1,185
From: Lake Worth Beach, Florida
I understand most of the NASCAR stock car drivers went to Ron Fellows or equivalent road racing school and learned to use the brakes for slowing, and then down shift to accelerate through and off the corner.
Downshifting was used in the old days of road racing when brakes tended to fade and engine braking assisted the braking. With modern brakes engine braking is unnecessary and causes unnecessary wear on the engine and drivetrain.
I know this will be totally rejected by some forum racers. I don't race I just listened to the X drivers on the NASCAR telecast when they were at a road track last season, and I stayed at a Holiday Inn.
LJ
Downshifting was used in the old days of road racing when brakes tended to fade and engine braking assisted the braking. With modern brakes engine braking is unnecessary and causes unnecessary wear on the engine and drivetrain.
I know this will be totally rejected by some forum racers. I don't race I just listened to the X drivers on the NASCAR telecast when they were at a road track last season, and I stayed at a Holiday Inn.
LJ
I use the brakes exclusively to slow down, they are a lot less expensive to replace than a clutch. The only thing about using the engine to slow down is the sound and backfires you get through the exhaust.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
Hell I have always used the engine with rev matching. Two cars have gone over 180,000 with no clutch problems. They were Japanese makes though. I find it part of what is fun with the manual transmission.
