downshift?

is it better to down shift from say 5th gear and go 5-4-3-2-1 in the gears or shud u just throw it in neutral and break.i heard its better to put it in nutral b/c breaks are less expensive than a cluth and that if u down shift it will mess up ur syncronizer mechanism or sumthing like that idk but can somebody tell me which is better and why?>

  Paul24

Umm how about both. If ur a good enough driver and you practice you can downshift and brake @ the same time (please dont contest this). Also depends on what u'd rather brake with. If your just looking to stop fastest yeah press the brakes nice-n-hard and you'll be doing just fine but if you dont want to wear the brakes you can downshift from like 3rd to 2nd to 1st. EX. On my car in going 70 id rev then put it in 3rd @ 55 id put it in 2nd then @ 30 id hit 1st. That pretty much the best downshifting anyone could do in my car. Urs is probably diff. oh yeah you only mess up the syncros if ur a bad downshifter. PM me to learn how to do it.

Kay. You dont really downshift unless u dont want to waste ur brakes. The only reason u do it is for entering corners and shifting to a lower gear to speed up faster. U dont use it for braking. @ least u shouldnt

  VMJYogi

keep in mind that braking with the engine will wear out the clutch a bit and will most certainly wear out the synchros in the transmission faster. its best to just use the brakes to stop the car. u can either leave it in gear or just put it in neutral to stop, doesnt matter. but downshifting is mostly used in racing to get out of corners even faster (read the double de-clutching thread by John, its a sticky here in general chat).

  Inygknok

That is so not friggin true. i could double clutch all day within 300 rpm of perfection. That is speeding up and/or braking. If ur good that syncro could last you forever. Like i friggin said nigga!!

  VMJYogi

if u double clutch for downshifting the correct way, u will obviously not wear the synchros out that fast, but then you wouldnt be braking at all like the other guy was asking. thats wat i was explaining. if u engine brake by downshifting, then you aint downshifting the proper way.

  Inygknok

ohh yeah i got u. If ur trying to do the whole jerk the car with the engine thing then yeah ur syncros'll be gone fast.

  VMJYogi