Downshifting a regular vehicle (Jeep)

Depends what I'm doing. Normal everyday driving in a car/SUV I'll brake with maybe one downshift. If I'm hauling anything with a pickup truck or SUV or even a car then I will downshift.

 

I've only been driving a big rig for a few months now, and have never drove a 4 wheeler stick shift ever. (yes I'm a female). I drive a 10 speed, and usually down shift to 8th or 7th then coast the rest of the way. If I need to get back into gear I usually just know what gear, and don't have to guess anymore.

That's just what I do, and I am by no means an expert.

 

It's cheaper, quicker and easier to replace brake pads/ shoes than a clutch and pressure plate. Not to mention the added wear and tear on the throw out bearing. The wife's Civic Si doesn't like synchro shifting, but I do that all the time on my 93 YJ Wrangler. As with my 13 speed work truck, I synchro shift and only use the clutch to take off from a dead stop. When down shifting my YJ, I bump the rpm's to match the next lower gear and let the vehicle slow me down, saving me wear on both the clutch parts, and brake parts.

 

My brakes have lasted for 4 years..I down shift and rarely use the brakes. After 4 years of driving my brakes are just beginning to squeal a bit

 

Is that safe... if you're out of gear and just coasting you don't have control...if you need to power and get out of a situation...?

 

Its not like a truck, cars have synchro gears so you can always find a gear.

 

If your " coasting " in an old Chevy 4 x 4 and put it in gear
( for whatever reason ) you better hit the right one or you'll be un bolting the
u -joint that didn't snap , throwing the drive shaft in the back & driving home via front wheel drive.
Trust me on that one ) :

 

Probably not entirely safe, no, but in 7th or 8th I'm only doing 25mph or so, plus the company I worked for had relativly light loads, and after driving for a while you will learn what gear to go into w/o thinking about it. Same as you, in school I was always taught to stay in a gear no matter what, but eventualy I got tired of constantly shifting, and started cheating.

Like I said, that is just what I do....do whatever you feel is safest.

 

Was talking about a semi...