Changing Down The Gears When Slowing Down.

[Tilly2]

At the risk of being ridiculed, I need to know how to stop my car, or slow down my car without changing down the gears 4,3,2,1.
I was taught to do this when I learned to drive many moons ago.

I do a lot of town driving and I am finding that constantly depressing the clutch is actually taking its toll on my left knee. (as well as the Badminton!)

I really don't know what to do with the gears, if I just put my foot on the brake. Obviously, I don't mean an emergency stop. I mean approaching a junction and stopping without going down the gears.

What do you do with the clutch and the gears?

(Try not to take the mikey, please!)

[Retrochic]

Hypognosis -most cars where I come from are automatic including the Chevy Silverado I used daily, with a 'comforting 6.6 liter turbo diesel V8 engine ;-)

[Dodger666]

//Dodger, that is you 2nd form of braking.//

Uh? I only need one form of braking, the one designed by the car manufacturer.

If I needed to use engine braking I wouldn't put it into a lower gear until I'd slowed the car down to a suitable speed with the brakes.

[derekpara]

I am with OG, Bright Spark, ZacMaster, Hopkirk et al on this one. ' Brakes to slow, gears to go' is the technique recommended by the police and IAM. The only exception would be when descending a very steep hill and you are advised to select a lower gear to assist the braking.

I still use 'Heeling and Toeing' and double de-clutching occasionally just to keep my hand in so to speak, but I do practice and recommend 'Gate Changing', ( going from 1-3, 2-4,3-5 etc but you need to change at the right revs.

Now,here's another one for you, Tilly : 'Gas-Changes'. I throw it open.

[Tilly2]

No idea about that, derekpara.

I've got the hang of using my brakes now. It's a doddle!

[derekpara]

Pied Piper, I agree that the method ( changing up 1-3, 2-4 etc) is best used on a decline, vever on an incline.

A 'gas change' by the way, is used when changing down, say 4-3. The foot is kept on the throttle as the clutch is depressed and the gear selected. The revs rise accordingly to make for a smooth and fast gear change.