Changing Down The Gears When Slowing Down.

[Tilly2]

At the risk of being ridiculed, I need to know how to stop my car, or slow down my car without changing down the gears 4,3,2,1.
I was taught to do this when I learned to drive many moons ago.

I do a lot of town driving and I am finding that constantly depressing the clutch is actually taking its toll on my left knee. (as well as the Badminton!)

I really don't know what to do with the gears, if I just put my foot on the brake. Obviously, I don't mean an emergency stop. I mean approaching a junction and stopping without going down the gears.

What do you do with the clutch and the gears?

(Try not to take the mikey, please!)

[Peaspeculiars]

Exactly that Tilly, just before you close your eyes and find fifth gear ;-) x

[tonyav]

Double de clutching was usually how you changed gear before cars had synchromesh gears, Yilly.

[Peaspeculiars]

Bathsheba - Rust In Peace?

[ladybirder]

No need to worry your pretty little head about it Tilly LOL.

[woofgang]

Tilly, double declutching is what you had to do before synchromesh gears. You depressed the clutch, took the car out of gear, let the clutch back up again, depressed the clutch again, selected the new gear and let the clutch back up again. I learned to drive about 30 years ago and was taught to do a 4 to 2 or 5 to 2 gear change then.

[Bathsheba]

Lol Peas,..you're not wrong ;)

x x

[Tilly2]

My pretty little head is all of a whirl, LB. I need to do some bird watching and chill out.

Woof, I must be a bit older than you. I wasn't taught to do that, forty years ago.

[Tilly2]

That double declutching sound like very hard work.

[tonyav]

Thank gawd for synchromesh gearboxes, Yilly.

[melv16]

Some heavy lorries & army vehicles still have a 'crash box', tilly.

[tonyav]

I remember buses having crash boxes, melv.

[Tilly2]

I don't know what you mean, Yont but I'm going to agree with you. Yes, thank gawd!

Another unfamiliar term there, Melv.......crash boxes?

[ubasses]

Fortunately I only had to use it for 1st, for some reason, the rest were synchromeshed.
It was the floor of mine as well, Peas. For several days the dealer I bought my new car from had it sitting on the forecourt and I had to walk past it every day for work, it looked so sad waiting to go for scrap.

[woofgang]

I was a late learner Tilly, I was in my early 30's when I learned, never needed it before that

[tonyav]

Another unfamiliar term there, Melv.......crash boxes?


Non synchromesh gear box, Yilly.

[Tilly2]

Well, the good news for me, Woof, is that we are probably about the same age. :-)

[Tilly2]

I understand syncronicity, Yont.

Syncromeshed is a new term for me.

[Tilly2]

Damn! Synchronicity, synchromeshed.

The shame!

[melv16]

I've driven a crash box lorry. Great fun when you're coming down hill, braking & having to change gear at the same time. Your right foot is used to brake and blip the accelerator at the same time, otherwise called 'toe & heel'.

[EcclesCake]

I think it might be worth considering a refresher session with a driving instructor Tilly.

For your reassurance and increased confidence and for the benefit of other road users.