Clutch vs. brake on down grades. | FerrariChat
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Clutch vs. brake on down grades.

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by fga4, Jul 23, 2018.

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  1. fga4

    fga4 Karting

    Jan 2, 2017
    119
    SF Bay Area
    Full Name:
    Jerry Cellilo
    #1 fga4, Jul 23, 2018
    Some say put a bias on braking going downhill. Others say put the bias on the clutch and downshift. I have for years balanced both on manual tranny cars and motorcycles but I sure like using the F1 paddles on the 430 going downhill. Best practices anyone??
    Thanks


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  2. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
    Full Name:
    Stu R
    #2 StuR, Jul 23, 2018
    I would always be in the right gear for accelerating/control, but work on the basis that pads are far cheaper than clutches.


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  3. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,324
    Tallahassee, FL
    #3 thorn, Jul 23, 2018
    Brakes are designed to slow the car's momentum. The clutch is not.
     
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  4. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,566
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    #4 yelcab, Jul 23, 2018
    All true. Brakes are cheaper than clutches most of the times. But..., when going into a long down hill stretch, I put the car in low gear with rev matching.
     
  5. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,566
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    #5 yelcab, Jul 23, 2018
    On a slightly related note, I was just in Vietnam going from Da Lat to Nha Trang in a car. There is a 100km section of down hill road where the official very large highway signs every few kilometers across the road that say… "Long Down Hill Road, Go Rear"

    They meant to say Low Gear... Don't they even use Google Translate?
     
  6. StuR

    StuR Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2005
    561
    UK Buckinghamshire
    Full Name:
    Stu R
    #6 StuR, Jul 23, 2018
    Sound like they did!!!

    In the UK, engine breaking was a formal technique used by driving instructors. Low gear (signs) and techniques still in force for major inclines.



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  7. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,727
    #7 Mitch Alsup, Jul 23, 2018
    The above is true, but if you can downshift to a gear which will allow the engine to absorb the energy of going downhill, you wear neither the brakes not the clutch.
     
  8. krazykarguy

    krazykarguy Formula Junior

    Apr 17, 2014
    732
    Fort Mill, SC
    Full Name:
    Matt
    #8 krazykarguy, Jul 23, 2018
    Came here to post exactly this, left happy.
     
  9. ago car nut

    ago car nut F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 29, 2008
    5,497
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    David A.
    #9 ago car nut, Jul 23, 2018
    Engine braking lubricates the cylinder walls!
     
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