Question about brakes
November-1st-2006, 11:34 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 46
please elaborate.
not using the brakes is not a good idea, will cause an accident.
also, people tend to worry that engine braking (by downshifting) hurts the engine. if you (or your parents) are those types of people, then use the hell out of those brakes, pads are cheaper to replace then engines
imo, it's one of those things you do because its your style. i enjoy driving and i drive pretty spiritedly. saying that engine braking hurts the engine is like saying sliding into 2nd base can cause an injury, or better yet, you'll get lung cancer by just breathing the air. this car is designed to be driven hard and fast (just be safe about it) and i intend to zoom zoom it up.
i'd be disappointed if someone bought a mazdaspeed car to granny it around town.
as far as brake pad life, i don't remember how long they typically last but you shouldn't be too worried about it in any case, perhaps someone else could let us know how long they'll last
not using the brakes is not a good idea, will cause an accident.
also, people tend to worry that engine braking (by downshifting) hurts the engine. if you (or your parents) are those types of people, then use the hell out of those brakes, pads are cheaper to replace then engines
imo, it's one of those things you do because its your style. i enjoy driving and i drive pretty spiritedly. saying that engine braking hurts the engine is like saying sliding into 2nd base can cause an injury, or better yet, you'll get lung cancer by just breathing the air. this car is designed to be driven hard and fast (just be safe about it) and i intend to zoom zoom it up.
i'd be disappointed if someone bought a mazdaspeed car to granny it around town.
as far as brake pad life, i don't remember how long they typically last but you shouldn't be too worried about it in any case, perhaps someone else could let us know how long they'll last
November-1st-2006, 11:56 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 52
Well my father stressed downshifting. Which is fine but i feel that a little bit of breaking is needed too, I've been doing it I just want someone to say yes it's fine (if they have a good life) so that he won't jump on me whenever he rides with me.
PS: I had my first mini drag in it today :-D
I pulled up to a stoplight on an empty street next to this guy in a red 02 mustang rag top. I'm guessing it was a v6 automatic because it was slow as hell.
PS: I had my first mini drag in it today :-D
I pulled up to a stoplight on an empty street next to this guy in a red 02 mustang rag top. I'm guessing it was a v6 automatic because it was slow as hell.
November-2nd-2006, 12:34 AM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 46
use those brakes! that is what they are there for. also when slowing by downshifting, wouldnt hurt to tap your brakes a little so the person behind you knows you're slowing. think of the guy in front of you whose taillights don't work but all of a sudden they wanna make a turn. kinda sneaks up on ya.
November-2nd-2006, 05:58 AM
#5
The man behind the mask
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 11,572
I never downshift...I always just put the care in nuetral ASAP and just coast to stops and use the brakes at the end. This is also how I achieve the best gas milage out of a car.
Another thing to think about...suppose your engine is designed to last 100,000 miles. Let's just make up a number of 500 million crank revolutions to equal 100K miles. Now if you down shift your rpms spike up thereby shortening your engine life. Keeping it as low as possible is the best way to make it last longer.
I'm being extreme of course but if you figure your bearings and rings and springs and everything only last for SO long then keeping the rpms down whenever possible will lengthen their life. Also, brake pads and rotors are super easy to change.
Another thing to think about...suppose your engine is designed to last 100,000 miles. Let's just make up a number of 500 million crank revolutions to equal 100K miles. Now if you down shift your rpms spike up thereby shortening your engine life. Keeping it as low as possible is the best way to make it last longer.
I'm being extreme of course but if you figure your bearings and rings and springs and everything only last for SO long then keeping the rpms down whenever possible will lengthen their life. Also, brake pads and rotors are super easy to change.
November-2nd-2006, 02:02 PM
#9
Moderator/ Pocket Tuner
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Tampa,Fl
Posts: 4,150
sorry, your dad is full crap man....
just use common sense....which FEELS like it's more rough on the car...
downshifting, or hitting the brakes..
I'm not saying to never downshift, but as previously stated, downshifting puts more wear on your engine AND your transmission...
hitting the brakes wears pads and rotors, thats it....
just use common sense....which FEELS like it's more rough on the car...
downshifting, or hitting the brakes..
I'm not saying to never downshift, but as previously stated, downshifting puts more wear on your engine AND your transmission...
hitting the brakes wears pads and rotors, thats it....
November-13th-2006, 10:07 PM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 116
Hi everyone. Just signed up and this is my first post. =) I got my Mazda 3 2.3 HB GT a month and a half ago and I love it!
Take Roddimus' advice. I never downshift either - coasting and braking slowly when you see a stop ahead is the best way to save your brakes, save on gas and it won't wear out your trans. (No point pinning the gas till the red light and then slamming the brakes, rather than showing how big your ego is, it actually makes you pay for the extra gas)
When your brake pads wear out, you simply put new ones on. Replacing the clutch is much worse. I used to engine brake with my old 93 Escort b/c I thought it was fun and the clutch was gone very quickly.
People with auto trans don't engine brake, so with manual there's no reason to do it either. You don't gain any advantage by using the clutch over the brake.
One other note - when I first got my car, I took my parents for a spin. I drove really carefully and making sure not to hard accelerate and braking early. That might sound wussy to people who like to drive the 3 spiritedly but it gives your parents the impression that you can responsibly handle a nice new car like that. If you want to drive it hard - make sure you have 1000 kms break-in period first before you do.
Take Roddimus' advice. I never downshift either - coasting and braking slowly when you see a stop ahead is the best way to save your brakes, save on gas and it won't wear out your trans. (No point pinning the gas till the red light and then slamming the brakes, rather than showing how big your ego is, it actually makes you pay for the extra gas)
When your brake pads wear out, you simply put new ones on. Replacing the clutch is much worse. I used to engine brake with my old 93 Escort b/c I thought it was fun and the clutch was gone very quickly.
People with auto trans don't engine brake, so with manual there's no reason to do it either. You don't gain any advantage by using the clutch over the brake.
One other note - when I first got my car, I took my parents for a spin. I drove really carefully and making sure not to hard accelerate and braking early. That might sound wussy to people who like to drive the 3 spiritedly but it gives your parents the impression that you can responsibly handle a nice new car like that. If you want to drive it hard - make sure you have 1000 kms break-in period first before you do.
December-19th-2006, 03:10 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: burlington, ON....it's west of Toronto
Posts: 535
i only downshift when im cornering....most of the time
and i do the same thing roddimus prime....i put my car in neutral then coast to the stop light....then i keep it in neutral (so i only have to push on the brake) then once the light goes green, i shift back into 1st and away i go....
but standard cars slow down on their own....unlike automatic cars where they just keep coasting forever.....
and whenever i do downshift, or when im braking in general, i constantly look at my rearview mirror to make so the guy behind me isnt tailgatin me.....
and i can guarantee you, that if you had 2 M3's. one auto, one standard, and they were both driven respsectivly, the brakes on the automatic would wear out first.....
and just about anyone can change their own brake pads and shoes....it's surpisingly easy....i've done it countless times in auto class.....and from now on, because im going to school to become a mechanic....
and i do the same thing roddimus prime....i put my car in neutral then coast to the stop light....then i keep it in neutral (so i only have to push on the brake) then once the light goes green, i shift back into 1st and away i go....
but standard cars slow down on their own....unlike automatic cars where they just keep coasting forever.....
and whenever i do downshift, or when im braking in general, i constantly look at my rearview mirror to make so the guy behind me isnt tailgatin me.....
and i can guarantee you, that if you had 2 M3's. one auto, one standard, and they were both driven respsectivly, the brakes on the automatic would wear out first.....
and just about anyone can change their own brake pads and shoes....it's surpisingly easy....i've done it countless times in auto class.....and from now on, because im going to school to become a mechanic....
December-27th-2006, 06:49 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 5
Actually your parents are right. When you are going down hill is better to down shift gradually. If you use only brakes they my heat up and will not stop.
Regarding comments of being rough on the engine is not true. When you down shift the tires are the ones taking the car not the engine. When you down shift coming down hills and mountains you can actually see that the temperature of the engine will go down.
I don't think your parents are to concern about pads consuption, I will say they are more concern about safety.
Regarding comments of being rough on the engine is not true. When you down shift the tires are the ones taking the car not the engine. When you down shift coming down hills and mountains you can actually see that the temperature of the engine will go down.
I don't think your parents are to concern about pads consuption, I will say they are more concern about safety.
December-27th-2006, 09:52 PM
#13
The man behind the mask
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 11,572
Originally Posted by arc960
If you use only brakes they my heat up and will not stop.
You are wrong. Brakes DO heat up. Guess what? They're DESIGNED TO. Rapid stops with no time to cool will create an effect called "fading" which is a REDUCED braking ability but not a complete loss of stopping power.
Unless you're hauling your car down from 85mph at every stop light you'll be fine.
December-28th-2006, 01:06 AM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: burlington, ON....it's west of Toronto
Posts: 535
the heat your brakes make could heat your house for a month....no problem...
and as my auto teacher always says, you'd be rich if you could find a way to reuse (or harness) the heat from your brakes (or something similar)
he also says you'd be the next bill gates if you could find a way to make the engine 20% more efficient.....
(btw ARC960, the next time you get out of your car, put your hand NEAR your front brake, it will most likely be very, very warm.....its called friction, yo!)
and as my auto teacher always says, you'd be rich if you could find a way to reuse (or harness) the heat from your brakes (or something similar)
he also says you'd be the next bill gates if you could find a way to make the engine 20% more efficient.....
(btw ARC960, the next time you get out of your car, put your hand NEAR your front brake, it will most likely be very, very warm.....its called friction, yo!)
