calys968

Is it better to downshift when coming to a stop or is it okay to just put the car in neutral and use the brakes to stop it?
Also, while at a stop is it better on the clutch to have it in nuetral rather than keeping it in 1st?

Thanks!

777

iTrader: (21)

put in neutral and let the clutch out...it's better...downshifting will wear out the clutch...and leaving the clutch in and keeping it in first i've heard is not real good for the hydraulics...not that it will hurt anything anytime soon...i've just heard the less you use it the longer it lasts...

lilstephsls1

iTrader: (5)

heard the same as 777

Slammed-am

Downshifting to slow down stresses your drivetrain.

Just coast in neutral.

Be good to your car.

Lithium

iTrader: (47)

Everything 777 said, I used to downshift a lot when I first got my car. Now I almost always put it in nuetral when coming to a stop, instead of downshifting. I would rather wear down the brakes instead of the clutch. When stopped I always put it in nuetral.

C.J.

Anybody ever have any trouble once you put it in nuetral at a light w/ the clutch out and then you go to put it in first w/ the clutch in and it is pretty difficult to get the car back into 1st?

Raise

iTrader: (31)

come on guys, u gotta downshift now and then....gettin out there and playin with the gears is all part of the fun!! i agree tho, for the most part, its probably best to coast...and if u dont have to actually stop, just give the throttle a good nudge and throw it in the correct gear depending on how fast you are going.

Muerte_X

iTrader: (1)

Ive heard that keeping in neutral causes less wear on the throwout bearing, if you can double clutch/rev match, then the wear on the clutch/drivetrain will be pretty much nothing. I know in some cars, while slowing down in gear, the injectors will shut off, so you're not using any gas. Not sure if this is the case with LS1s though.

calys968

Thanks a lot for your replies. I've always put it in nuetral rather than downshifting but somebody told me that it's better to downshift so I was just looking for more opinions.

BlueSix

Neutral is better. Think of it this way....which is cheaper...a clutch or brake pads?

YsoFast

It’s also better to keep the car stock because it’s easier on parts. Just drive it and have fun. I have seen cars babied that don't last as long as cars that are driven hard. It’s all about the maintenance.

luv2spd

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I've always coasted to stops in neutral.

Tony99SS

iTrader: (5)

YOu should ALWAYS keep your car in gear while at a traffic stop, and at all other times in traffic. The reason is not some vague notion of one part wearing faster than another, but rather simple defensive driving: How are you going to take split second, reflexive action to avoid an accident when you aren't in the right gear to accelerate?


Tony

TYR_FRYR

Bad news: Your car will wear out, and a clutch is considered a 'wearable' item. When it's shot, replace it, end of story. Nothing you can do other than not driving will prevent this. I never see anyone asking if they should only drive 25mph because coming to a stop from that speed would make your brakes last longer. Yes, there are things to you can do to increase it's useable life, but if you're worried about this amount of clutch wear, you don't have enough to do. If you're really concerned about performance you're not going to hold out on replacing that 200K clutch just because the disk isn't completely worn yet anyway.

Worse news: Either way you do it, it's much more likely that you will either sell the car, or some dumbass will smash it at an intersection long before the clutch needs to be replaced. The insurance co. won't give you any more $ for your car even if you tell them you really "babied that stock clutch along". Enjoy coming to a stop however you like best and consider yourself lucky if you own the car long enough to replace the clutch in it. It's not that big of a deal.

That being said, I personally do both, depending on if I'm really in the mood to hear the Loudmouth rumble or just cruising along.

BlackTA98 LS1

iTrader: (4)

When i had a manual I usually only dowshifted if i was coming to a stop down a hill, just to save the brakes.

Dont leave your car in first at idle though... leave it in neutral

Wo0111

My .02

When at a stop I always try and keep the car in neutral if I know I'm going to be stopped for a while. It's hard on the throw-out bearing to hold pressure against it like that (same as if you drive down the road with your foot resting on the clutch).

If it's hard for you to get the car back into first then put it in second before you attempt to put it into first. That usually works but if it doesn't then put it in second and ease up off the clutch to get the car to creep and then put it into first (it should go right it).

As Muerte_X said, if you downshift correctly you aren't going to wear the clutch out or stress the drivetrain, it requires you to rev match correctly. I downshift all the time and have had zero problems with all the cars that I drive. Coming to a stop light I usually won't downshift pass third since I can roll almost to a stop in third although sometimes I'll use second if I'm coming up on a corner. I almost never try to downshift into first since it seems to be hard on it (all the different transmissions I've shifted never seem to like to go into first from a good role).

-Mike-

EDIT:
Accidently posted this under my dad's sn, I'm Screamn03

Black Z/28

I guess I'm in big trouble then cause I live around some winding roads and I use the clutch to slow down going into a turn so that I'm in the right gear when I accelerate out of the turn. Of course I could just slow down a little and use my brakes but then I might as well sell the Camaro cause I really look forward to those tight curves.
But on normal roads I mostly use brakes (but sometimes it's still fun to downshift and enjoy that wonderful sound (especially when slowing down beside a Honda with a fart can)).

99BLACKBIRD

iTrader: (1)

Is double clutching rev matching? Or are they two seperate things. I've always heard of double clutching, but never understood what the hell it was. I know about rev matching, it's just the double clutching I'm confused on.

2_wacko

iTrader: (2)

I put it in neutral then just use the brakes to stop.

2kt/a

iTrader: (1)

I've always been partial to downshifting. It sounds more intimidating, and if the light changes before you stop you're already ready to go. Hell' to quote Black Z/28 I've downshifted automatics with exhaust if it pisses off the kid in the Honda with a fart can! He gats pissed when his girlfriend is sittning shotgun and you take him out of the hole!