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Is it bad to "Down Shift" a lot?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by trexTRD, May 15, 2015.

  1. May 15, 2015 at 1:20 PM
    #21
    WheelInTheSky

    WheelInTheSky Ramblin' Man

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    Was just having this conversation with my old man yesterday..

    I love downshifting and tend to do it 90% of the time when I need to slow down. I'll drop any number of gears as long as it doesn't red line; I just keep it smooth with the transition and enjoy the feel. After talking about it, realized i hadn't considered the cost of clutch replacement vs brake pad replacement.. HUGE difference! I'm going to make an effort to use solely my brakes when coming to a stop and not do 90% of the slowing down with gear shifts.

    To the people that say it will wear out your transmission... no. More wear on synchros?.. yes. Transmission as a whole?.. no.
     
  2. May 15, 2015 at 1:55 PM
    #22
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    Not going to hurt anything
     
  3. May 15, 2015 at 2:05 PM
    #23
    jbrnigan

    jbrnigan Well-Known Member

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    Some of the old timer's on the forum will remember "back in the day" before fully synchronized transmissions, double clutching, and matching engine rev's with the lower gear was the only way to smoothly engage gears and the only way to get into any non synchronized gear. That same process on a newer manual transmission, results in little to no wear on the clutch disc or synchronizer assemblies.
     
  4. May 15, 2015 at 2:38 PM
    #24
    MeefZah

    MeefZah Curmudgeonly

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    Fuck yo' overlanding
    It won't harm the transmission. It's an expected use that the transmission is designed to accommodate.
     
  5. May 15, 2015 at 3:32 PM
    #25
    bwana49

    bwana49 Well-Known Member

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    Years ago transmissions were much cheaper. Modern transmissions are a different story. Newer ones have locking converters and other enhancements.

    Heck, I just spent $1500 on a clutch, that's not cheap.
     
  6. May 15, 2015 at 3:48 PM
    #26
    Pigpen

    Pigpen My truck is never clean

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    Wrong.

    Some butts have apparently been hurt:boink:

    No transmissions, however, were harmed in the making of this thread.
     
    TCinNL likes this.
  7. May 15, 2015 at 4:05 PM
    #27
    Cr250jumper

    Cr250jumper Señor member

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    :popcorn: This is a perfect example of the people that "know everything" trying to give advice when they have no fucking clue what they are talking about. Have any of you driven a bigger (heavier) vehicle with an auto trans and left OD off? The transmission will downshift very early, rev the motor quite a bit, and ASSIST in braking, hmmm I wonder why it does that. Also go 60mph and throw your auto into 1st gear and it wont just shift into 1st and blow itself apart, hmmm wonder why it does that too. You can downshift an auto and its not going to blow it up or cause any abnormal wear
     
    tcam27 likes this.
  8. May 15, 2015 at 4:10 PM
    #28
    Red_Taco33

    Red_Taco33 Well-Known Member

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    You're suppost to downshift, this will engage the engine brake and slow you down. As long as you lower it to the appropriate gear it wont hurt the transmission. However for example if you're in 5th gear and you downshift to 3rd gear you will definitely be doing some damage over time.
     
  9. May 15, 2015 at 4:18 PM
    #29
    TashcomerTexas

    TashcomerTexas My truck is a whiner

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    Of course she doesn't. Or he.
     
  10. May 15, 2015 at 4:43 PM
    #30
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    The Taco engine is pretty strong. You can hammer it at redline all day if you wanted to. Downshifts that bring the revs up to 4000-5000 rpm won't hurt it. Meanwhile the A750F 5-speed auto is designed for more demanding applications (e.g. 4Runner V8 - 306 lb-ft, Land Cruiser Prado diesel - 295 lb-ft). In fact the 2010+ Prado has a manual (+/-) detent in lieu of the 4-3-2-L shift gate:

    IMG_6117+prado+VIN+plate_22f1725cb3bd4f68fa1352f60a2e7e2c2b4a95f0.jpg

    [​IMG]
     
  11. May 15, 2015 at 5:39 PM
    #31
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    Be careful not to blow your tranny.
     
  12. May 15, 2015 at 5:50 PM
    #32
    Wile

    Wile Well-Known Member

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    Down shift my auto all the time. 115,000 miles without issue.
     
  13. May 15, 2015 at 5:52 PM
    #33
    Wile

    Wile Well-Known Member

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    This.
     
  14. May 15, 2015 at 6:04 PM
    #34
    Taco me elmo

    Taco me elmo Here, Eat some paint. Drink some Bleach.

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    well you folks keep on keepin with your hard downshift instead of braking.. I wont do it regardless of what you feel is fine.
     
  15. May 15, 2015 at 6:07 PM
    #35
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    It is fine
     
  16. May 15, 2015 at 6:12 PM
    #36
    Cr250jumper

    Cr250jumper Señor member

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    If you downshift "hard" that is your problem. When I manually downshift my auto it actually raises the rpm's on its own before it kicks down to the lower gear, its not a hard shift at all. Then it uses the compression braking from the engine to help slow down. You are supposed to do the same thing in a manual and raise the rpm's to match speed before you let the clutch out. If you leave the rpm at idle and just drop the clutch then you will wear the clutch
     
  17. May 15, 2015 at 6:52 PM
    #37
    SoCalSteve

    SoCalSteve Sunshine Tax

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    I use 3 and 4 in rush hour traffic all the time to keep the engine in the right power band. Or in anticipation of climbing hills. Keep the revs 2500-3500. Been doing this for years on several vehicles and never had an issue.
     
  18. May 15, 2015 at 10:42 PM
    #38
    WheelInTheSky

    WheelInTheSky Ramblin' Man

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    Yes!! X2 on the double declutch. When the transmission pulls the shifter into gear on its own I feel like a part of something beautiful. Machines are great things, feels so cool to know how to rev match and just give little bumps of gas to drop pull yourself into lower gears!



    lol @ engage the engine brake.. I'm sure you didn't mean that the way that it sounded though haha:)


    No, you just sent between 200 and 350 on a new clutch. Cost of labour has gone up drastically as well, it was paying more than $1000 for a 5-6 hour job that really cost ya!:oops:
    But yes, transmissions are more expensive than in the past as are brake pads vehicles in general and of course prostitutes:rolleyes:
     
  19. Jun 23, 2016 at 12:11 AM
    #39
    Xzyk

    Xzyk (bochok)

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    If I down shift to slow down 70% of the time and 25% with brakes, will my Tacoma live to see at least 300,000 miles?
     
  20. Jun 23, 2016 at 1:07 AM
    #40
    robssol

    robssol If it ain't broke, leave it the eff alone!

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    Not if you don't brake at all the other 5%
     

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