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Cars are designed so that you stop the car by pressing the brake pedal, so that is generally the better way to do it. * 4-wheel braking, even if it is a 2wd ca

by crznp 10y ago

Cars are designed so that you stop the car by pressing the brake pedal, so that is generally the better way to do it. * 4-wheel braking, even if it is a 2wd car. * ABS/Traction control systems are designed around brakes, not engine braking. * Regenerative braking (if equipped) uses the brake pedal * There is a smooth application of braking power from 80mph to 0mph. Engine braking is indexed (I can only choose which gear), and cannot bring the car to a complete stop. * The limiting factor with brakes is traction, which isn't improved by using engine braking. * Using the brake pedal is a single action. Engine braking involves at least 3 (clutch in, shift, clutch out). * Brakes are cheaper to replace than clutch/transmission. * Engine braking alone does not activate brake lights. The only exception is when there is a danger that the brakes will overheat: descending a large hill or hauling a heavy load. The default instinct should be the brake pedal alone.

morganvachon 10y ago
> Cars are designed so that you stop the car by pressing the brake pedal, so that is generally the better way to do it. I wasn't speaking of coming to a complete stop, only of slowing down with the flow of traffic. I should have worded it better, I'm sorry. > Using the brake pedal is a single action. Engine braking involves at least 3 (clutch in, shift, clutch out). But if you're already downshifting while slowing down, which you should be, it's actually not extra effort. It's completely natural. > Brakes are cheaper to replace than clutch/transmission. That entirely depends on the vehicle and the type of clutch. In my extensive experience (I repair cars on the side, and have done so my entire adult life) the parts themselves often cost about the same. For example, when restoring my Bronco II I bought a clutch kit for $150 and a full set of front brake rotors, pads, and new calipers for about $200. On my Crown Victoria, which was formerly a police vehicle and therefore has the upgraded heavy duty disc brakes on all four wheels, a shop quoted me $700 for a brake job. The parts alone were $350 through them. Of course I saved a ton by doing it myself, but most people can't or won't do that. The labor for a clutch swap versus a brake job is, again, dependent on the complexity of the vehicle. Most manuals still in use in the US are older model cars, with relatively easy to replace clutch parts. > The only exception is when...hauling a heavy load. Which I specifically spoke of. :-) > The default instinct should be the brake pedal alone. In an automatic, yes. In a manual, only when needing to stop suddenly or when you've downshifted to 2nd or 1st and you're stopping altogether.
Too 10y ago
Engine braking does activate brake lights on modern cars. So does throwing an anchor behind your car. Deceleration is included in the algorithm.

by crznp 10y ago

morganvachon 10y ago

> Cars are designed so that you stop the car by pressing the brake pedal, so that is generally the better way to do it. I wasn't speaking of coming to a complete stop, only of slowing down with the flow of traffic. I should have worded it better, I'm sorry. > Using the brake pedal is a single action. Engine braking involves at least 3 (clutch in, shift, clutch out). But if you're already downshifting while slowing down, which you should be, it's actually not extra effort. It's completely natural. > Brakes are cheaper to replace than clutch/transmission. That entirely depends on the vehicle and the type of clutch. In my extensive experience (I repair cars on the side, and have done so my entire adult life) the parts themselves often cost about the same. For example, when restoring my Bronco II I bought a clutch kit for $150 and a full set of front brake rotors, pads, and new calipers for about $200. On my Crown Victoria, which was formerly a police vehicle and therefore has the upgraded heavy duty disc brakes on all four wheels, a shop quoted me $700 for a brake job. The parts alone were $350 through them. Of course I saved a ton by doing it myself, but most people can't or won't do that. The labor for a clutch swap versus a brake job is, again, dependent on the complexity of the vehicle. Most manuals still in use in the US are older model cars, with relatively easy to replace clutch parts. > The only exception is when...hauling a heavy load. Which I specifically spoke of. :-) > The default instinct should be the brake pedal alone. In an automatic, yes. In a manual, only when needing to stop suddenly or when you've downshifted to 2nd or 1st and you're stopping altogether.

Too 10y ago

Engine braking does activate brake lights on modern cars. So does throwing an anchor behind your car. Deceleration is included in the algorithm.