Changing gears and test routes....

highlydebased

Will throw the 2 on 1 thread

Firstly-

Changing down through gears when preparing to stop, is this recommended or required? Its a habit I've gotten into, and according to my dad is the "proper way of driving using the engine to slow down..." While I think its ok, and my instructor has said nothing, is it recommended to do so? I think I read on here that in a modern car its not nessecary.......

Secondly, is anyone aware of the test routes for Limerick-woodview test centre.....cheers

Alanstrainor

It's the old way of doing things. If coming to a complete stop, at a stop sign for example, there is no need to cycle down through the gears. Best practice would be to stop in the gear you were in as you started to break.
Remember, Brakes to slow, gears to go.
In the past, car brakes were poor, and every little helped in slowing them down, which is why it was seen as good practice in the past. Since most modern cars will have disk brakes using the engine as a braking tool is only putting stain on your transmission.

Permabear

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giddybootz

Woah!!!! :eek:

So I can stop in 3rd gear and still pass my test?

Permabear

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giddybootz

donegalfella wrote: »

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I love you

Permabear

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highlydebased

Thanks guys


Anyone know about the test routes...?

Jeanious

Alanstrainor wrote: »

It's the old way of doing things. If coming to a complete stop, at a stop sign for example, there is no need to cycle down through the gears. Best practice would be to stop in the gear you were in as you started to break.

Well i dont know about you, but my 1litre petrol wouldnt thank me for trying to stop in 4th at all! Sure, its grand to a certain point but before stoppin itd judder the sh1t outta the car, even 3rd wouldnt be great. I usually slow it right down with the brakes, change down to 2nd, release the clutch (all while still braking) slow down more, then clutch and stop.

fcleere

judder the sh1t outta the car

thats your que to clutch....actually before that would be better:p

Jeanious

yeah thats what i mean, i presume its different depending on the car, but if i was to just brake and not downshift, the car would either a) cut-out or b) id have to clutch way too early (i.e. coast), so changing down is the only option.

fcleere

i dont think its coasting if your slowing down to stop though, although im unsure.
as far as i know coasting is unnecesary use of the clutch, which wouldnt be the case if you are stopping in a high gear.
no its the same in all cars, too low in the revs = cutting out.

Sunjammer

coyle wrote: »

yeah thats what i mean, i presume its different depending on the car, but if i was to just brake and not downshift, the car would either a) cut-out or b) id have to clutch way too early (i.e. coast), so changing down is the only option.

Depressing the clutch just before it shudders would be the correct thing to do

It's not coasting!!! The common examples of coasting are pressing the clutch in to round a bend or travel down a hill or keeping the clutch pressed while down shifting more than one gear at a time for example press the clutch in 5th move to 4th not releasing clutch then drop to 3rd to 2nd without releasing the clutch between gear changes. another example would be letting the car move any distance in neutral.

Jeanious

Well its a long time since i did my test, but i seem to remember always being told only to clutch-in 1 car length at most from where you need to stop. If i tried to do that in 4th it just wouldnt happen, and thered be a serious risk of bouncin into your man in front of me!

Anyway, OP i was just makin the point that if you feel it necessary to change down, i.e. for comfort or to be stoppin at a slower speed, then go for it, cos ive always done that (i.e. never stopped in 4th) and i passed no bother.

Sunjammer

coyle wrote: »

Well its a long time since i did my test, but i seem to remember always being told only to clutch-in 1 car length at most from where you need to stop. If i tried to do that in 4th it just wouldnt happen, and thered be a serious risk of bouncin into your man in front of me!

I think you may have read a little to much into what you were told, the one more often two car lengths is just an example given by instructors to help explain to a learner, you need to depress the clutch to stop the car before it labours (shudders) I do it as do most others all the time even in 5th gear with no bother at all, if you allow the car to shudder you will not be marked in a test for coasting but you will probably be marked for clutch or gears.

Jeanious

Fair enough, but wouldnt it be better to reduce the amount of time and distance youre on the clutch just before stoppin to a minimum?

fcleere

in a nutshell;
if you've to stop in a short distane or quickly,brake then clutch and stop in the gear you're in
if you are gradually slowing down then move through your gears

Alanstrainor

fcleere wrote: »

in a nutshell;
if you've to stop in a short distane or quickly,brake then clutch and stop in the gear you're in
if you are gradually slowing down then move through your gears

Would you mind explaining your logic on doing this? I'm by no means saying that moving down through the gears is not an essential skill. It's just that when coming to a complete stop, stopping in 4th gear is the best practice. As, you keep both hands on the wheel and it's better for your clutch and transmission not cycling through the gears.

Gears to go, Brakes to slow.

It really is as simple as that.
There are plenty of situations where moving down through the gears is needed, like when taking tight corners, approaching slow moving traffic, approaching a yeild sign etc. But when a complete stop is a certainty, you're far better off stopping in a higher gear/the gear you were in when you started to brake.

Fair enough, but wouldnt it be better to reduce the amount of time and distance youre on the clutch just before stoppin to a minimum?

I think you're over estimating the distances involved here. It does depend on the car, but generally stopping in 4th should only require you to clutch in, at about 2~ car lengths from the stopping point.
And that does not mean you wait until the car starts to shudder, the engine should no labour at all when stopping in a high gear. I suggest you try both ways and see the difference.

fcleere

Alanstrainor wrote: »

There are plenty of situation where moving down through the gears is needed, like when taking tight corners, approaching slow moving traffic, approaching a yeild sign etc.

that is what i meant to say, apologies

Jeanious

Alanstrainor wrote: »

And that does not mean you wait until the car starts to shudder, the engine should no labour at all when stopping in a high gear. I suggest you try both ways and see the difference.

Funnily enough i actually did try it yesterday and there wasnt a noticeable difference at all, so i take it all back!

I presume my thinkin was a throwback to my days of learning to drive and crawling along in too high a gear, but yeah i can totally confirm that stoppin in 4th is grand and no different than stoppin in any other gear.