Braking with the gears what ridiculous practice

Idiophreak

tomstickland wrote: »

The amount of braking was minimal, plus even if the brakes failed I'd be under control.

A very good point, actually...unlikely maybe...but at least you'd stand a chance if your brakes failed...

tomstickland wrote: »

If I was to make the brakes do most of the work I would have ended up doing 20mph in 4th which is a bit of joke.

As others have said - this wouldn't help you if the traffic moved off and you had to keep moving...

I always thought gearboxes were designed for changing gear - both up and down...not just for changing up...

Inactive

tomstickland wrote: »

TBH I don't really care if people think that engine braking is "a lot of work" or "an extra thing to think about", I do it because I enjoy it. I change gear a lot -.

That is fine Tom, it's your car, however we are discussing the correct style of driving.

The DSA and the IAM both promote ..brakes for stopping..gears for going, they are the experts, so I trust their judgement.

Inactive

Idiophreak wrote: »

A very good point, actually...unlikely maybe...but at least you'd stand a chance if your brakes failed...

Modern car brakes do not fail.

I always thought gearboxes were designed for changing gear - both up and down...not just for changing up...

Indeed, but a gearbox is not designed to stop a vehicle, brakes are.;)

BillScarab

Since when do modern brakes not fail?

Looking at both the highway code and the IAM site both (unsurprisingly) recommend gentle continuous braking. Neither mention gears at all, they certainly don't say leave it in top gear until you are stationary.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304
http://www.iam.org.uk/pressroom/drivingtips/drivingtip36.htm

benjus

Interesting thread... I normally use a little engine braking (e.g. exiting a motorway, I would first stop pressing the accelerator, then start applying the brakes, then take it to 3rd or 2nd as it slows down. I certainly don't do the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd thing).

I'm curious to know how best to handle a blow-out. I had a rear tyre blow-out a couple of years ago which was a really scary experience. I was doing something between 50 and 70 on a dual carriageway, and I don't remember exactly what I did as it happened so fast. I think I slowed the car down by dropping it through the gears. At some point I think I applied the brakes, which sent the car completely out of control and hit the central barrier. Fortunately it wasn't going very fast by this point, and traffic behind me had had enough time to become aware of what was going on, so no-one was harmed - although the car suffered a fair bit. The driver who had been behind me stopped to see if everything was OK, and said that he was surprised I'd been able to control it for so long.

So... in that situation, I would say that the brakes are a very bad idea. However, is engine braking a good idea or should I just have put it in neutral and hoped it would stay on a straight line and just coast to a stop?

tomstickland

I've just been observing myself, and noticed at local traffic lights in 40 limit I just used the brakes in 4th, then when speeds were slow I changed to 1st.

So I think it depends on what I'm doing. If it's faster, smoother then I'll be changing gear a lot anyway, so tend to use the engine to knock a bit of speed off so I'm then ready to get moving again in the correct gear.

There is a half way house - use the brakes gently, but also change down the gears as the speeds fall off. There's no need to use every gear, just 5-3-2 or 5-3-1.

Regarding brake failure, it's very uncommon but excessive pad wear (metal on metal), hose failure, seal failure, or boiling old fluid have been known to happen.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

BillScarab wrote: »

Since when do modern brakes not fail?

Looking at both the highway code and the IAM site both (unsurprisingly) recommend gentle continuous braking. Neither mention gears at all, they certainly don't say leave it in top gear until you are stationary.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304
http://www.iam.org.uk/pressroom/drivingtips/drivingtip36.htm

The IAM website may not, but the course certainly does.

pault123

I think the brake failure idea is being taken a bit out of context.

Theres no way anyone brakes with their gears approaching every stop incase their brakes fail! :rotfl:

Inactive

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

The IAM website may not, but the course certainly does.

Which " course " would that be?

AdrianHi

benjus wrote: »

Interesting thread... I normally use a little engine braking (e.g. exiting a motorway, I would first stop pressing the accelerator, then start applying the brakes, then take it to 3rd or 2nd as it slows down. I certainly don't do the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd thing).

I'm curious to know how best to handle a blow-out. I had a rear tyre blow-out a couple of years ago which was a really scary experience. I was doing something between 50 and 70 on a dual carriageway, and I don't remember exactly what I did as it happened so fast. I think I slowed the car down by dropping it through the gears. At some point I think I applied the brakes, which sent the car completely out of control and hit the central barrier. Fortunately it wasn't going very fast by this point, and traffic behind me had had enough time to become aware of what was going on, so no-one was harmed - although the car suffered a fair bit. The driver who had been behind me stopped to see if everything was OK, and said that he was surprised I'd been able to control it for so long.

So... in that situation, I would say that the brakes are a very bad idea. However, is engine braking a good idea or should I just have put it in neutral and hoped it would stay on a straight line and just coast to a stop?

Something like 85% (forget where I found that figure now) of blowouts are caused by poorly maintained tyre pressure leading to heat build up when doing higher speed and the tyre then shreds.
Does you car have a DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) or similar (e.g. ASC) system? These systems are designed to keep the car under control in wet slippery conditions, but they also help a lot keeping a car under control in a blow-out situation.