To or not to engine braking

[Avatar]

Some say engine braking will damage the clutch/flywheel etc.. I've been doing this and my first brake pad replaced at 160k. It's mainly about stability. More stable/controll when doing this.

Do you guys, when doing engine braking, half way depress the clutch or fully engage it? I found out engage half way stops faster (sound from engine and feel from the steering).

Do you engine brake using first gear? First gear engine brake at low speed allows me to bring it to a full stop.

Cons for engine braking - cause damage to clutch in the long run. Confuse rear cars when doing this as the brake light doesn't come on. I actually got rear end twice when stopping. First time was two months after I got the car.

But it's fun and more controll. Especially in winter or cornering.

[GoiNGPoSTaL]

Some say engine braking will damage the clutch/flywheel etc.. I've been doing this and my first brake pad replaced at 160k. It's mainly about stability. More stable/controll when doing this.

Do you guys, when doing engine braking, half way depress the clutch or fully engage it? I found out engage half way stops faster (sound from engine and feel from the steering).

Do you engine brake using first gear? First gear engine brake at low speed allows me to bring it to a full stop.

Cons for engine braking - cause damage to clutch in the long run. Confuse rear cars when doing this as the brake light doesn't come on. I actually got rear end twice when stopping. First time was two months after I got the car.

But it's fun and more controll. Especially in winter or cornering.

[Asad_A203]

I think its alot cheaper to replace brake pads than a clutch. Engine braking is probably only needed for track racing and semi drivers where conventional braking just wont cut it, using it on the street car for day to day is a bit of an overkill. I know its fun and all, I just wouldnt engine brake all the time. I really some times want to do heel and toe too, just so I won't lock up my brakes but damn that ABS and not letting me do the extra work (haha).

Pros:
Saves gas
Saves brake pads

Cons:
Prematurely wears clutch/tranny
Idiots behind you won't know your braking

[phucyall]

Engine braking from time to time is a great idea, but you have to do it right. Engine braking requires you to release the clutch, downshift, match the revs and finally engage the clutch. Then you let go of the accelerator and let the engine slow the car down. This produces no more wear on the clutch then normal stopping.

Now what you guys are talking about seems more like what I call "clutch braking". This is where you literally use the clutch instead of the brake. Engine remains at idle rpm and you try to get the car and the engine to match rotation with the clutch alone. This is huge stress on the clutch, but it is more effective then what I described above. Most people do call both of these methods "engine breaking", but one of them uses only the engine while the other relies on the engine but uses the clutch mostly.

If you know heal-tow-downshift it makes for much better engine braking. I usually only do proper engine braking, and only when I need to slow down gradually. Like coming off the highway, when I hit the offramp I downshift to slow down gradually. When I need to brake harder I just use the brakes (or both brake and engine with the heal-tow-downshift).

[Action Jackson]

For me engine braking only on the track to establish car balance. I may do a bit of this in winter streetdriving too for the same reasons.

On the streets I use the brakes. Pads are way easier to replace esp. if I do it myself.

[bembem]

Some say engine braking will damage the clutch/flywheel etc.. I've been doing this and my first brake pad replaced at 160k. It's mainly about stability. More stable/controll when doing this.

Do you guys, when doing engine braking, half way depress the clutch or fully engage it? I found out engage half way stops faster (sound from engine and feel from the steering).

Do you engine brake using first gear? First gear engine brake at low speed allows me to bring it to a full stop.

Cons for engine braking - cause damage to clutch in the long run. Confuse rear cars when doing this as the brake light doesn't come on. I actually got rear end twice when stopping. First time was two months after I got the car.

But it's fun and more controll. Especially in winter or cornering.

Wow... had a long response but deleted it.

Please take some manual driving lessons as you are NOT a safe driver.

I will say one thing tho. WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SHIFTING IN TO FIRST GEAR AT 5-10KMPH JUST TO STOP? Use the damn brakes and stop causing accidents. /rant

[Sylvestre]

As someone else stated, once you match the revs properly on the downshift, there's no harm. And unfortunately you have to realize that the majority of drivers out there have never driven a manual as such, they have no idea how it works. You shouldn't rely on downshifting if it's not fully safe (i.e. the car behind you won't have time to realize you slowed down without the brake light going on as well as reversing on a downhill without the back-up lights going on).

[bembol]

I hate when drivers constantly tap their brakes, this what causes traffic/ripple effect! Learn how to control your car and take your foot off the gas whether it's Standard/Automatic.


I'm sure I'll get a few laughs, I do it but I also turn ON my lights. LOL So it's my fault that I get Rear Ended because the dipshit behind me doesn't know when to brake?

[Chr1s]

I can't believe you're asking if it's safe to keep doing this, considering you've been rear ended twice already

You should be getting a ticket for doing this on the road (just like you do when your brake lights do not work). You want FUN, go to a track.

[afzan]

I'd rather replace my brakes than put more wear on my clutch/engine...

[chickenbones]

Like other have mentioned, if you rev match then there's no additional harm to the clutch.

Also if you rev match the car won't suddenly slow down either, it's more gradual.

[Avatar]

I can't believe you're asking if it's safe to keep doing this, considering you've been rear ended twice already

You should be getting a ticket for doing this on the road (just like you do when your brake lights do not work). You want FUN, go to a track.

I didn't do it intentionally or shifting down abruptly which will hurt the tranny. So the problem was they are following too close (ticket). They all happend in broad daylight and not in night time. A skillful driver should look for the distance between the cars and not the light. I'm sorry but they have to go back to driving school.
Have you seen signs to leave 2 car spaces before yours on hwy before.

[JayTee1]

Should an automatic car engine be broken in as well?

[mrlooneytoon]

Should an automatic car engine be broken in as well?

LOL?

[bionicbadger]

Brakes are cheap to replace, a transmission is really expensive to fix/replace...