The more you use downshifting, the faster your clutch will be worn out?
i always downshift within an interval between 20 and 60 mph from 6th to 2nd.
people around me advised me not to use engine break or downshift since more usage of it will be caused a clutch worn. is it true? because those buddies dont really know about that kinda matter. any suggetion or advise appreciated

 

i never engine brake. the S has excellent brakes so there's really no need to engine brake. i only downshift for power, in which case, i blip the throttle to match clutch/flywheel speed (to prevent the engine from slowing the car). as to whether or not engine braking is bad for your motor, i have no idea, but from performance driving point of view, there's really no need to engine brake. in terms of clutch wear, i suppose there will be. the more you stress out your clutch when it contacts a flywheel of differring speed, the more wear there will technically be. that is why it is so important to rev match when you down shift. not only do you preserve your clutch/flywheel, but you also maintain chasis balance, especially when you are entering a corner.

 

It is true. If I had an option I would rather replace pads than a clutch. Just my $.02

 

Brakes are much cheaper than the clutch, and don't put a lot of stress on expensive transimission parts. Years ago, I recall reading in some advice column that downshifting was preferred, but more recently, I've read (I believe it was in "Car Talk" column that braking is best for the reasons I mentioned above. When driving downhill in mountains, I shift to a lower gear so that I don't ride the brake. I learned the hard way years ago that if you ride the brake too long, the break pads overheat.

 

I have always downshifted in all my cars as I slow down, as to always keep my car in the proper gear for the speed I'm traveling. And have had no probs, but then again I never have had a car for more then 42k miles, never replaced brakes or clutch on any of my cars. If you rev/match downshift w/smooth clutch engagement I don't see it creating any 'extra' abuse to the car. Dumping the clutch into 3rd at 75mph is another story. IMO you should never be 'rolling' in neutral, reason being, lets say you are in neutral, something happens, and you need to move, you now have to depress clutch, put in gear, release clutch, and get on the gas.....granted this does not take long, but if a car is coming at you, fractions of a second count. IMO if done right, it won't put 'extra' abuse on the car, and will save your brakepads a bit
Steve

 

I use the brake to slow the car and downshift to be in the proper gear/power for that speed.

 

I've always down shifted with every car I've owned without any worn out clutch problems.

 

I always downshift also and my clutch lasts as long as anyone elses too. Some people must not rev match well.

 

I have always downshifted my cars when slowing down, granted that I always rev match. I have never had any clutch problems with any of my cars. I agree with V8NV-mys2k, that in an emergency situation you need to be in the right gear. This is something that I learned when I first learned to drive, so I just stuck with it.

 

I downshift, but I don't do it as the only means of slowing down