Clutch Life Livng in the City

[Ghostrider 310]

No downshifts are better yet, brake linings are cheap, synchronizers are not, downshifting may be fun but it's a lousy way to scrub off speed unless one cares nothing about repairs.

[pk2]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

No downshifts are better yet, brake linings are cheap, synchronizers are not, downshifting may be fun but it's a lousy way to scrub off speed unless one cares nothing about repairs.

Dad, is that you??

Truer words were never spoken, first time I've heard it here though. Clutches are expensive and make for crappy brakes. Brakes are are cheap and make for, well, great brakes. You're also giving your throwout bearing a work out every time you ride and slide the clutch. And Though these are strong gearboxes, your not doing your synchros and gears any good whipsawing them back and forth every 50 yrds.

Ideally, off the clutch, throwout, gears as much as possible around town (with out dogging the motor.) Pretend there all made of Chrystal. Save it for the track.

Regards, PK

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

No downshifts are better yet, brake linings are cheap, synchronizers are not, downshifting may be fun but it's a lousy way to scrub off speed unless one cares nothing about repairs.

A properly executed downshift puts very little stress on syncros. If fact a non sycro "crash box" will tolerate downshifts if done properly.

[Ghostrider 310]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

A properly executed downshift puts very little stress on syncros. If fact a non sycro "crash box" will tolerate downshifts if done properly.

Yeah maybe if Michael or Mario Andretti is the down-shifter, of course nether of them have to pay when they crush a gearbox. Hey your car your call. With my suggestion you never screw the pooch. I've been shifting since age six in my father's auto lot, I feel I'm as good with a gearbox as anyone with that kind of years on the job can be, especially since my brother and I dusted many junk car gearbox experimenting with every kind of shift; I still say the brakes is the better way to go.