Using auto trans as brake assist?

I was recently driving with a relative in their Mustang (6) with an
automatic transmission.

They were "shifting down" to decelerate for stop signs, curves, normal
traffic etc. (Someone told them it saves the brakes)

Is this wise?

Is it necessary?

"Bill & Gail" > wrote in message
...
>I was recently driving with a relative in their Mustang (6) with an
>automatic transmission.
>
> They were "shifting down" to decelerate for stop signs, curves, normal
> traffic etc. (Someone told them it saves the brakes)
>
> Is this wise?
>
> Is it necessary?
>

Save the brakes at the expense of the transmission? Sounds like a bad idea
to me Of course if you have a 100K mile powertrain warranty, and you plan
to sell the car at 90K.....

Al

right, brake pads are a lot cheaper than transmission bands, clutches,
etc. Have also heard that engine braking is hard on piston rings and
even valves.

If the manufacturer thought it was a good idea, they could easily
program the transmission to downshift - and they don't.

"Itsfrom Click" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> right, brake pads are a lot cheaper than transmission bands, clutches,
> etc. Have also heard that engine braking is hard on piston rings and
> even valves.
>
> If the manufacturer thought it was a good idea, they could easily
> program the transmission to downshift - and they don't.
>

MOPAR's downshift when going down hill with the cruise on if the car speeds
up. Rented a Neon and I thought something was wrong with it

Al

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:32:39 -0400, "Bill & Gail" >
wrote:

>I was recently driving with a relative in their Mustang (6) with an
>automatic transmission.
>
>They were "shifting down" to decelerate for stop signs, curves, normal
>traffic etc. (Someone told them it saves the brakes)
>
>Is this wise?
>
>Is it necessary?
>
Depends on the transmission. Mine is custom built and it will take a
heck of a lot of abuse.

Let's say you're cruising down a lonnnng grade (anyone familiar with
the trip from Truckee to Sacramento or the Grapevine down LA way?)...
are you going to ride your brakes all the way? Or use your
transmission to help control your speed? And if you'd use your tranny
for that, how hard is it gonna be to slow for a stop sign? And what
about winter for you drivers in the frozen north?

Spike > wrote in
:

> On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:32:39 -0400, "Bill & Gail" >
> wrote:
>
>>I was recently driving with a relative in their Mustang (6) with an
>>automatic transmission.
>>
>>They were "shifting down" to decelerate for stop signs, curves, normal
>>traffic etc. (Someone told them it saves the brakes)
>>
>>Is this wise?
>>
>>Is it necessary?
>>
> Depends on the transmission. Mine is custom built and it will take a
> heck of a lot of abuse.
>
> Let's say you're cruising down a lonnnng grade (anyone familiar with
> the trip from Truckee to Sacramento or the Grapevine down LA way?)...
> are you going to ride your brakes all the way? Or use your
> transmission to help control your speed? And if you'd use your tranny
> for that, how hard is it gonna be to slow for a stop sign? And what
> about winter for you drivers in the frozen north?

Those problems don't exist for an old Powerglide.

"Joe" > wrote in message
...
> Spike > wrote in
> :
>
>> On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:32:39 -0400, "Bill & Gail" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>I was recently driving with a relative in their Mustang (6) with an
>>>automatic transmission.
>>>
>>>They were "shifting down" to decelerate for stop signs, curves, normal
>>>traffic etc. (Someone told them it saves the brakes)
>>>
>>>Is this wise?
>>>
>>>Is it necessary?
>>>
>> Depends on the transmission. Mine is custom built and it will take a
>> heck of a lot of abuse.
>>
>> Let's say you're cruising down a lonnnng grade (anyone familiar with
>> the trip from Truckee to Sacramento or the Grapevine down LA way?)...
>> are you going to ride your brakes all the way? Or use your
>> transmission to help control your speed? And if you'd use your tranny
>> for that, how hard is it gonna be to slow for a stop sign? And what
>> about winter for you drivers in the frozen north?
>
> Those problems don't exist for an old Powerglide.

Man them is strong transmissions! My OT car has a Powerglide. I let a freind
make a few passes, he accidently hit the trans brake at about 30' from the
line. And the car just locked up! Imagine any transmission with almost 1000
HP going in the input and the car on the output, just locking up. Didn't
hurt anything that showed up yet!

Al

9.02 @ 153 in a OT door car

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:32:39 -0400, "Bill & Gail"
>
> wrote:
>
>> I was recently driving with a relative in their
>> Mustang (6) with an
>> automatic transmission.
>>
>> They were "shifting down" to decelerate for
>> stop signs, curves,
>> normal traffic etc. (Someone told them it saves
>> the brakes)
>>
>> Is this wise?
>>
>> Is it necessary?


No, it's not necessary. And no, it's not wise.
Brakes are cheap and easy to replace. With normal
use they'll last a long time.

The only time you should use engine braking is on
a long down grade to control speed. On a long
hill like that, brakes can overheat and fade.

--------
..boB
2006 FXDI hot rod
2008 Mustang Coupe
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1965 FFR Cobra - 427W EFI, Damn Fast.

"Big Al" > wrote in
:

>
> "Joe" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Spike > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:32:39 -0400, "Bill & Gail" >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I was recently driving with a relative in their Mustang (6) with an
>>>>automatic transmission.
>>>>
>>>>They were "shifting down" to decelerate for stop signs, curves,
>>>>normal traffic etc. (Someone told them it saves the brakes)
>>>>
>>>>Is this wise?
>>>>
>>>>Is it necessary?
>>>>
>>> Depends on the transmission. Mine is custom built and it will take a
>>> heck of a lot of abuse.
>>>
>>> Let's say you're cruising down a lonnnng grade (anyone familiar with
>>> the trip from Truckee to Sacramento or the Grapevine down LA
>>> way?)... are you going to ride your brakes all the way? Or use your
>>> transmission to help control your speed? And if you'd use your
>>> tranny for that, how hard is it gonna be to slow for a stop sign?
>>> And what about winter for you drivers in the frozen north?
>>
>> Those problems don't exist for an old Powerglide.
>
> Man them is strong transmissions! My OT car has a Powerglide. I let a
> freind make a few passes, he accidently hit the trans brake at about
> 30' from the line. And the car just locked up! Imagine any
> transmission with almost 1000 HP going in the input and the car on the
> output, just locking up. Didn't hurt anything that showed up yet!
>
> Al
>
> 9.02 @ 153 in a OT door car

Yup, and they're nice and simple, too. Lo and Hi. Bada-Bing, Bada-
Boom.

guess we should have differentiated between occasional downshifts due to
driving conditions vs downshifting at every stop.........and between
different kinds of automatics. sure, I lock out overdrive on my GT
'Stang on twisties & downhill.......but don't use it regularly instead
of brakes.

Al: interesting on the Neon. Last Chrysler I had was a '96 LHS and it
didn't do that (but that was the "electronic" tranny they had so many
problems with in '94 & '95, so maybe they didn't want to push their
luck). I once had a '90 Chevette that downshifted frequently: like
trying to get up a 1% grade. Then it stopped shifting at all (damn
German tranny - cost a fortune to fix).

Powerglide? Never owned one, but assumed they were strong considering
some of the applications over the years. Packard Ultramatic was often
compared to Powerglide, i.e. 2 speed w/torque converter........don't
think you'd want to downshift one of those too often!