Recluse

This is going to sound impossibly cynical, but why WOULDN'T Lexus encourage behavior that would result in more money in their pocket? A new clutch is way more expensive than new brake pads.

Recluse

Oh, and to answer the original question, I did rev-match my downshifts when I had my IS, but I haven't mastered heel and toe.

mikes rx

iTrader: (14)

You don't lug the engine. You push in the clutch just BEFORE it starts to lug. One reason to wait until then to push the clutch in: If you put it in neutral too early, you have no engine braking, and I think that it's actually illegal to coast in neutral.

It's puts wear on the the clutch components


In the end, doing pretty much any thing with regard to the clutch puts SOME wear on it. So, the goal is to minimize the wear by not doing needless things. All the things I mentioned not to do are all needless things.

Ultimately, will it really matter: maybe, maybe not. But, the labor on clutches isn't cheap, because they aren't the easiest to replace. So, why do things that just put needless wear on to them.

mikes rx

iTrader: (14)

NO--- do NOT do this. It puts needless wear on the clutch. Just come to a regular stop/slow down.

with regard to emergency stopping: I think it would be harder to downshift for engine braking vs just hitting the brakes, and am wondering if downshifting would actually help you slow down faster


Also, I believe that most vehicle owner's manuals state to use engine braking, but isn't it in regard to KEEPING the car from speeding up (ie- when on a downhill), NOT in regard to coming to a stop.

mikes rx

iTrader: (14)

Also, another thing you can do to minimize wear:

You can try skipping shifts while upshifting (ie- do a 1 to 3 shift, a 2 to 4). I've never driven the IS250 MT (or any 6 speed), but there are lots of 5 spds where 2nd gear is pretty much pointless for "typical" daily use, and you go through the gear so quickly anyway.

Recluse

However, this also means that you are in an improper gear for the speed you are traveling, and if you suddenly needed to accelerate quickly, you would not be able to do so.

However, when you are approaching a stop, if you clutch in and then walk the stick down through the gears as you decelerate and approach the appropriate speed for each given gear, then if traffic suddenly started moving again, or if you needed some throttle for an emergency maneuver, you could just come off the clutch and go.

Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.

arksun

I actually find the brake and gas pedal too close together to do heel/toe properly. Either I end up hitting the brakes too hard or the gas too hard and the brakes too little.

I only single clutch rev-match.

kitsune

iTrader: (1)

Mike rx, thanks for the reply. Another question when you say resting your foot on the clutch do you mean engagin it half way?

Because most clutches has a little free play before there is an initial engagement of the clutch and you can set this up too I believe.

Mike

mikes rx

iTrader: (14)

That's actually the common misperception. Even though the clutch may not actually engage until half way down the pedal travel, you're still putting some strain on the components just by pressing on the pedal.

A good way to think about it is that clutches aren't on/off switches. Like the other person said that related it to the brake system, just because it's not actually engaged doesn't mean that it's not having any "work" being done through it.

mikes rx

iTrader: (14)

If traffic starts moving again, I just downshift as normal into the gear that I need.

Not arguing with you, just stating the alternative.