Downshifting is necessary, but NOT to slow down... (archive)

with. This is just plain wrong advice! A racers sage advice is, "Brake parts are cheaper than engine parts." Furthermore, using a lower gear to decelerate--in or before a turn--upsets the brake bias and balance of the car.

Performance downshifting requires alot of technique, practice, and the timing is crucial.

Use the brakes to decelerate nearly to the point of wanting to accelerate. At that point downshift using a "heel and toe," as well as a "double clutch". This will save engine, transmission, and clutch wear.

Double clutching is a method of downshifting that allows for rapid downshift gear engagements. It was originally used to downshift a "crash box," which was the old time transmission that did not have synchro rings. Double clutching is very easy on a transmission--unless you miss a shift--and will extend the life of the synchro rings ten fold.

To double clutch:

Press in clutch; move gear lever into neutral; release clutch; blip throttle spiritedly; press in clutch; move gear lever into lower gear; keep engine RPM's high enough to compensate for lower gear ratio; release clutch.

This process must be performed seamlessly, and quickly, in order to work.
All of those steps should take about 1/2 of a second to complete!

When done properly the gear engagement will feel effortless. It'll make ya go WOW!

It's one of those "feeling" things, like hitting a baseball out of the park; when done correctly, it just feels great!

Double clutching info and more

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Re: Downshifting is necessary, but NOT to slow dow M5Man 16:03 10/22/2000 (0)

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