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Paddle Shifters (slowing down)

11K views 100 replies 26 participants last post by  MDBones 
#1 ·
I'm wondering does anyone use the paddle shifters for slowing down instead of hitting the brakes. Someone I know uses them to slow down when coming to a traffic light etc. Says it saves wear and tear on the brakes???

My thought is, it's a lot cheaper to replace brake pads then causing wear and tear on the engine/transmission.

Any thoughts?
 
#2 · (Edited)
I only use the transmission to slow the vehicle on downgrades where I would have to ride the brakes all the way down. I think it is foolish to slow the vehicle routinely to stoplights, etc unless you need to keep your RPM's up for a fast getaway if the light turns green...

Brake pads are easier to replace than transmission repair! - haha I just noticed this is almost an exact quote from your original post.



Paul
 
#4 ·
My instructor (ex racing driver) said the same thing to me, and I still remember these decades later, pads and rotors are far quicker and cheaper to replace than transmissions, so use them first.
 
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#5 ·
I use them for a quick slowdown when my radar detector goes off with a strong signal, especially at night. If I know a cop is looking in my direction, I don't want the brake lights giving me away. Just careful if someone is driving close behind you.
 
#12 ·
I down shifted all the time in my V8 powered 2005 4Runner. It slowed the vehicle down a lot faster & sounded a hell of a lot better then doing it in my 2015 V8 powered Overland.

:eek:

It never caused a problem in the 4Runner, but because it sounds like crap and doesn't slow as quickly on my Jeep, I don't do it often.
 
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#16 ·
Note that, very roughly speaking, you will need to downshift two gears on your 8-speed Jeep to get approximately the same effect as downshifting one gear on your 5-speed Toyo.
 
#13 ·
I downshift for some sharp corners that are at the bottom of a downhill run. Get it down to 2nd, then give it the boot coming through the corner = big smile. But never for a stop sign or red lights.
 
#14 ·
I don't have "paddle shifters" on my MY12, but I do use the 'manual' shifting on the stick in very bad winter weather for descending hills, etc. Otherwise, I'll use my brakes to slow down if coasting doesn't slow it fast enough. :)
 
#15 ·
...... Says it saves wear and tear on the brakes??? .....
If the only reason to do it is to save wear on the brakes, then it's pointless (as the other's have already said). The little bit of wear that is being saved isn't going to make that big of a difference in pad/rotor life. The added wear on the drive line is minimal, but isn't worth avoiding a brake replacement a few months or a few thousand miles earlier. People engine brake on motorcycles all the time (usually because it sounds cool). Unless you're dropping from 5th to 2nd or something stupid like that, is probably not going to make a noticeable difference in wear. It's not really going to save you any appreciable wear on the brakes either though.

... If I know a cop is looking in my direction, I don't want the brake lights giving me away......
Ha ha. If the detector went off with a strong signal, it's probably already to late.

I don't have "paddle shifters" on my MY12, but I do use the 'manual' shifting on the stick in very bad winter weather for descending hills, etc. Otherwise, I'll use my brakes to slow down if coasting doesn't slow it fast enough. :)
That's pretty much the only time during normal driving conditions that I would use them to slow down. It's a pretty effective winter driving technique if done properly. Meaning that if you drop to many gears to fast you'll slide just like you jacked the brakes, but otherwise it's a great way to gradually reduce speed in inclement weather.

Back in the stone age when I learned to drive, I did it on a manual transmission. I would down shift then to keep it in a usable gear (much like the auto transmission does for you). I rarely dropped gears enough to "engine brake". That was done for the exact reasons that have already been mentioned. To prevent riding the brake down a hill, to slow the car/truck in icy/snowy conditions, or to drive "spiritedly".
 
#26 · (Edited)
People engine brake on motorcycles all the time (usually because it sounds cool).
That's not why motorcycles do it (though some find the sound is a nice side effect).

Motorcycles have a rotary transmission and usually no gear indicator, meaning you have to cycle down through the gears to ensure your in the right one should you need to start off before coming to a full stop.

It prevents potentially downshifting too many gears, then locking the rear wheel when you release the clutch in too low a gear for the speed.

Motorcycles are also particularly vulnerable to traffic approaching from behind, so being in the right gear for the speed allows the best chance to maneuver out of the way if a vehicle is approaching too quickly to stop safely.

Downshifting to match the speed is actually taught in most riding safety course.


As far as the Jeep paddle shifters, I engine brake only in slippery conditions because I can carefully slow the Jeep down by ticking down through the gears and not even touch the brake except at the last moment. If you do it right, you can easily stop on ice that would otherwise upset even the lightest application of brakes due to the far difference in stopping power.

As someone who lives on a steep hill, the paddles are invaluable. In fact, I like them better for that use than my previous manual transmission since there's no need to remove power by depressing a clutch, which can cause torque to be over applied at each gear change.

For lights, I let the automatic tranny do its thing and gently slow down when I know a change is imminent and I can potentially keep rolling. No need to manually downshift.

The only other thing I use the paddles for is to lock the tranny into a particular gear to prevent unwanted excessive downshifts when at cruising speed.
 
#20 ·
Thanks for all the feedback.....No hills here in South Florida and I'm not using them to slow down. Come to think of it I've never used them except when I accidentally hit the down paddle shifter when making a turn. That happened when I first got the Jeep.
 
#21 ·
So by your logic...
Allowing your transmission to upshift causes wear/tear and we should only drive in first gear? :D

Sorry, I don't buy it.
I've been downshifting auto transmissions for over 10 years. Just traded in a 2007 Toyota RAV4 V6 and we used to downshift to slow down on inclines all the time. It had just over 100K and still functioned just fine.
 
#24 ·
I'm surprised to hear there are people that even take the time and effort to use the paddle shifters to downshift when there is something made specifically to slow the vehicle and it's conveniently located right where your foot goes...it's called the brakes lol.

Like one guy said above I also like to anticipate red lights. Sometimes you see a red light up ahead and the typical oblivious person flies right to the light or continues to accelerate to it. I like to coast a bit then use the brakes.
 
#27 ·
Recently did some driving through Colorado (e.g. Hwy 550 from Durango to Silverton, etc). The paddle shifters were invaluable; I kept my EcoDiesel in 3rd for most of the downhill stretches in order to avoid having to ride the brakes.

My transmission never got too hot, per EVIC. I chuckled when I saw my EGT/CAT temp drop below 100 °C. Also, I thought a bit of high RPM might do the diesel engine some good given the nasty things the EPA forces the engine to breathe. It's probably confirmation bias, but I think the engine may be achieving better fuel economy afterward. Despite all the repeated mountain traversals I still made it over 1100 km before refueling.
 
#30 ·
Now that's amusing ! We all have our preferences, and initially when buying my 75th Laredo (Recon) I didn't necessarily see the need for "overkill" - 2 places where you could do the same thing - am I wrong in that ? There is the shifter to also up or down shift ! After my recent 1st-roadtrip of about 500 miles over 3.5 days of varied roads and speeds + 2 days in-town driving, getting overall 26.7 mpg I was HAPPY ! But, :( , I "accidentally" brushed the left paddle and also the right paddle - one at highway speed the other in town during turning !
They were both one of those "Oops moments," but the one at 60mph felt uncomfortably weird, or should I say a bit worrisome, as to, "what if" !? SO, I've turned the paddle shifters OFF via the "radio". IF I want or need to downshift, IF the Tranny isn't doing its uphill or downhill functions properly, then I would go to the More Natural Place (being an old skool manual guy), the center console Shifter !
Please no snide remarks about Implying (my) driving technique - we ALL have "our way" of that and we ALL know how useless it is to teach "old dogs" new tricks . . . ! ? :lol: :D
 
#31 ·
I know what you mean. I've inadvertently slapped a paddle before, and also wondered about "what if". Though when I did it, I was going slow and bumped the + paddle so it didn't matter, but still made me think. I'm not going to test it on my Jeep, but I wonder if they have any sort of rev limiter or override type system to keep you from slapping it into a gear that is to low for the current speed.
I didn't bother turning mine off though, since I only did it the one time right after buying it. I learned pretty quick where they were and keep my paws away unless I'm trying to use them. Good idea though so you don't have to worry about it.
 
#33 · (Edited)
I wonder if they have any sort of rev limiter or override type system to keep you from slapping it into a gear that is to low for the current speed.
Don't fear the paddles. Trying to shift to a lower gear than current speed allows will result in an EVIC message to that effect, and no shift happens.

There is even hysteresis: e.g. you can't shift into 8th below 68 km/h, but once in 8th it can hold that down to 60 km/h before it automatically shifts to 7th. If you were to slow to a stop it would automatically sequentially downshift to 1st as appropriate.

Hell, as of the most recent flash that I had applied to my 2014 last year, there is no escaping the "Shift Not Allowed" message to exit manual shift mode. Simply hold down the + paddle while the message is displayed and it will eventually go back to regular automatic transmission.

I really like my paddle shifters. The unreliable, recalcitrant, recalled, recentering shifter of doom on the console is another story.
 
#32 ·
I'm glad my 2011 doesn't have them. I think I would take a hacksaw to them if I did. There's too many gadgets already. First vehicle that ever talked to me when I accidentally hit the wrong button. I was reaching for some iron before I realized what it was. I keep expecting the jeep to creep into my bathroom one night and try to wipe my ass for me. It tries to do everything else except steer and that's in the pipeline. What happened to vinyl seats and rubber floor mats? I remember when I could hose out the interior of my truck with a water hose. Ahhh...those were the days when men were men and women were proud of it!
 
#34 ·
..... What happened to vinyl seats and rubber floor mats? I remember when I could hose out the interior of my truck with a water hose......
Um, yeah that's on a Wrangler and you can still hose them out. My sister-in-law got a new one not too long ago, and while her seats are cloth, the floors are rubber. There's no power function on the seats or windows and I don't recall seeing anything electronic below the radio. I'm pretty sure the floor still has a drain plug too. I don't know if she could have gotten vinyl seats or not, but you can still get a Wrangler that is pretty basic/simple. The Grand Cherokee is SUPPOSED TO BE the luxury model, with a bunch of gadgets and creature comforts. If you don't want all the "stuff" you should be buying base model Wranglers, or base model Cherokees, not a Grand Cherokee.

I happen to like all the "stuff", that's why I bought what I did. I don't use the paddles often, but I like them. Just like the ventilated seats and many other gadgets. I don't use them all the time, but I still like having them.
 
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#38 ·
Some folks LIKE many of the Bells and Whistles.

I have fairly large hands but have never accidentally hit my paddle shifters. But then, I learned how to properly operate my vehicle. And I did extensive research on all features and options Before I purchased it.

But there are some folks that think dropping $30,000+ for a vehicle is small change & not worth their time or effort to do any homework.

:slapfight:
 
#41 · (Edited)
Back in the day when I was able to golf, I had to buy a Medium-large CADET (style) golf glove. About the ONLY thing, dare I say it, I had in common (ugh) with "the Trumpster" ! ha ha ! CADET style means wide at the palm and shorter in the finger than a "normal" glove size ! Oh Trump, look what you've gone and done now ! ! ! Hee hee ! Ooooops, gone and broke my own rule - no politics ! But heck this one's all a jester !



Snippety Snipe ? :lol:
 
#47 ·
Hi Echo7Tango. Your last vehicle, did it have paddle shifters or, being a MT, did you do your Shifting at the CC Shifter ? No right or wrong answer here; preferences are preferences, after all ! You've adapted well apparently; me not so much, but then my MT's were gee, the last was the Nissan Sentra ('87-'91), and the 1st was a 1971 FIAT 850 Sport Coupe (my chick magnet). :lol: :)
 
#55 · (Edited)
No, that's definitely a WK2. ;)

I have a place up a moderately steep road on a small mountain. I always shift down when I come down it — and I almost always smell somebody else's burned brake linings when I do.
 
#56 ·
No, that's definitely a WK2. ;)

I have a place up a moderately steep road on a small mountain. I always shift down when I come down it — and I almost always smell somebody else's burned brake linings when I do.
I love using the paddle shifters to slow down during a steep descent.

And if these vehicles are so poorly designed that intermittent use of engine braking and/or transmission shifts would damage the transmission, then we should ALL be worried about the quality (or lack thereof) of these Jeeps.
 
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