Braking VS Downshifting-Advice For Driving A Manual Car

In this video, I talk about the options of braking and downshifting when driving a manual car. When you are slowing down a car with a standard transmission, you can either brake or downshift (or a combination of both). This video explains the pros and cons of each one. I also give you my own personal opinion of when I brake and when I downshift.

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[anthonyjohnson]

When slowing down you should ALWAYS use the brake even if you're downshifting. This lets the driver behind you know that you are slowing down

[justinjustintheman]

you look like the guy from alvin and the chipmunks

[donbarzini]

To save fuel, immidiately shift to reverse when you are in 5th gear.

[tomezhao]

Note side: when you turning corners you should downshift and then upshift once your around the corner.

[TheGabeOfGabes]

I was always confused because I recently got a manual car and people were telling me oh you always have to downshift but i'd rather wear out the brakes and replace them for 75$ - 100$ than wear out the clutch or transmission which would cost a lot more to replace. Also I am horrid out downshifting, if I ever need to slow down I just press the brake slightly depending on how much and then I give it gas again the whole time without pressing the clutch. Complete stops I go into neutral then brake to a full stop then quickly start back up from gear 1 to 2.

[DeeBee]

One major downside to downshifting is your brake lights do not turn on so the person behind you has less warning you are slowing down.

[dfinma]

Use brakes for braking, not the engine. Brake pads are much less expensive than clutches, engines and gas. Hit the brakes, shift to proper gear, get on with life.

[peter]

This is where uncle Ian from Alvin and the chipmunks went after getting exposed.

[mustangms]

Always downshift, good practice to remain ready to use it in any situation

[therealjuralumin]

his seatbelt is twisted and it’s driving me nuts!

[ernestmartinelli]

My transmission has #300K+ miles and I have never had a problem. Once you know the roads and terrain you should always down shift. I am on my second set of brakes and have never had an issue with my y transmission has #300K+ miles and I have never had a problem. Using the brake is the mark of someone who is learning how to use the stick or is a learner as a driver. Actually rolling in neutral is a dangerous habit to perform.

[DonziGT]

Braking wears pads & rotors, downshifting wears the clutch and transmission components. Brakes parts are much cheaper & easier to replace so that should be a consideration when one is making a decision. I generally downshift in slow slowing situations and downhills where that downshift is going to replace a fair bit of braking. When downshifting the vast majority of wear happens the moment you engage the lower gear, after that it doesn't matter how long the downshift continues to help control your speed. When braking the wear is occurring the whole time you're moving and your foot is on the brake. Downshifting to get a few seconds of slowing just isn't worth it. Ideally one would synchronize the shifts eliminating most of the wear, but doing it right takes more ability than most have and more work than most are willing to do. Also consider that people behind you won't expect you to be slowing without your brake lights coming on so they'll likely get closer to you before they start slowing.

Downshifting/engine braking isn't limited to manual trans cars as implied by this guy. With an auto it's less effective unless you can lock the torque converter, but still useful. I use downshifting in an auto about the same way as a manual and synch the shifts as well, but I use it less often than in a manual. I also have some of my cars wired to be able to engage the torque converter clutch manually so I can get maximum braking from the engine. It also helps with fuel economy and controlling transmission temperature.

[Irishrebel]

personally, the only time the clutch pedal is out, when I'm pressing the gas pedal. If i have to slow down, I go to neutral and either coast down to the speed I need or use the brakes, then I pick the appropriate gear for my new speed and let the clutch out. I have never in 10 years of driving a stick used the engine to slow me down. probably why I have 250K miles on a factory clutch.

[Luifer]

I never ever downshift for stop signs or lights, only for making turns .

[angelamartim]

But purely in terms of wear on the clutch, which is worse? Upshifting or downshifting? In other words, the fact that you are using downshifting as brakes results in more wear?

[kdale]

Helpful when trying to understand the concept! Great!

[jblackops]

I think depending on the stopping distance you have should also have a factor.

[brianliveshere]

I love when you look at the camera for several seconds and take your hands off of the steering wheel! NOT! Thank you for the helpful video, though. Stay safe so you can keep making them!

[redrico]

I feel like there's one major caveat missing from this video. You can't drive aggressively and use downshifting effectively to lower fuel consumption or wear and tear on brakes. A lot of inexperienced and/or younger drivers tend to leave a minimum distance between themselves and the car in the front of them, driving on the edge of their seats. I drove taxi for several years. When you spend that much time on the road you gain a much better sense of traffic patterns, timing for lights, and how to assess the driving habits of other drivers. One of the key things you learn is that you will make more lights by hanging back a little so you can observe the pattern of the traffic in front of you and change lanes/adjust speed accordingly.

It's far better to drive the same ten blocks at a constant speed than speeding, coming to an abrupt halt and accelerating to full speed again for ten blocks. If you're hanging back a little then downshifting is your friend and shouldn't create a hazard for vehicles behind you because you should be accelerating and decelerating gradually and smoothly. So when I'm driving my manual I downshift and upshift to time lights, taking into account how heavy traffic is, the behavior of drivers around me etc. Generally my goal is to avoid coming to a complete stop whenever possible to minimize gas consumption and wear and tear on brakes, clutch, engine etc. If you can learn to hang back you will be able to downshift, change lanes safely and minimize your need to brake sharply and accelerate from a full stop. The key with downshifting this way is knowing that you can ease off the gas pedal so that your engine is essentially braking for you and getting a feel for the low end of your gears so that you can smoothly transition up and down. You also need to pay attention to the incline of the road. If you're moving uphill or on flat terrain then downshifting is quite effective. If you're on a downhill just use your brakes and leave yourself more reaction time by leaving more space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.

[ishtiakmutlib]

What if u put it in neutral then decide not to stop?