I just got my 82 trans am about 3 weeks ago and it's the first manual car I've driven. I was wondering if it's bad for the transmission to downshift in order to slow down. Car still has stock clutch!

 

no it's not bad lot of people do it that way

 

no its not bad.... as long as you're not slipping the clutch.


some people ( especially those new to manuals) tend to slip the clutch for a little longer if they're doing downshifts to slow down.. this REALLY wears on the clutch.


remember, the clutch isnt wearing out when its not slipping... (driving around engaged).. its only during that brief time of slippage as it engages between shifts, or launches, that wears on it.

i downshift alot...

in a SAFE place, you might want to try blipping the throttle a bit while downshifting.. it makes it easier to shift, smoother stops (once you get the hang of it), plus it sounds cool and makes you feel good.. lol

 

blipping the throttle when you downshift will get the egnie rpms up quicker to match the change in gears, wont shock load your drivtrain as hard either.

 

How do I know if my clutch is slipping? Is blipping like tapping the gas?

 

Brake pads are easier to change than the clutch.

The only time I downshift during deceleration is if I'm approaching a corner and will be accelerating out of it. If I'm coming to a stop, I just knock it out of gear and brake.

 

if you have the pedal partway down, consider it slipping...

im just saying, when you let it up, still be just as swift(and smooth) about it as when you upshift. at first, you may want to hold the clutch at the friction point for a second, and thats a bad idea.

once you get the hang of it, you'll find you let off the brake some just as the clutch engages, and its all one smooth stop.. its alot easier then it sounds.... lol


yes, blipping is tapping the gas.. just enough so the RPMs go up to where you want them for the next gear..

hmmm... on the topic of downshifting, i hear that all the time... brake pads are easier to change then clutches....


i agree....... but even with me downshifting all the time (almost every stoplight), my clutchs magically last as long as everyone elses....

 

yeah i've always down shifted and never had to replace clutch early

 

And I've always braked to a stop and never had to replace my street pads early.

 

Yes. Try and practice tapping the gas whilst downshifting, either to slow down or dropping a gear to pass someone. If you get pretty smart, you can "heel & toe" as well:- You're on the brakes, but you foot can cover enough of the gas pedal to "tap the gas" whilst you downshift.

BTW if I'm travelling pretty quick, I can blip the throttle before locking my automatic down a gear without shocking the driveline. (I owned a Rover SD1 3500 SE automatic for 4.5 years, never hurt that)

Best of luck.

Mark.