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  #1  
Old 03-22-2013, 12:29 PM
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Brakes, a wearing question

I have an interesting question. might be covered or beaten to death and flogged for a few weeks past expiration.... but.. When I'm out and about driving I tend to slow down way before a stoplight gently in hopes that it turns green (usually does) before I get right up to the stop line (no I'm not stopping a mile back) in terms of break wear, is it better to lightly stop as I am doing or are other peoples Idea better of just a sharp stop?

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Old 03-22-2013, 12:34 PM
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Let off the gas and let friction/air resistance slow you down -- it will be doing most of the work of the brakes, plus it's more efficient to do so.
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Old 03-22-2013, 01:23 PM
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Your way is much more economical with the possible negative of getting rear ended under certain traffic conditions.
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Old 03-22-2013, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by t walgamuth View Post
Your way is much more economical with the possible negative of getting rear ended under certain traffic conditions.
I'd think that getting rear ended when slowing gently is less likely than getting nailed when braking hard for a light. Though with idiots yapping/texting on their phones, nothing would surprise me right now.
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Old 03-22-2013, 01:35 PM
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That's how I drive in down here and I'm pretty sure everyone wants to kill me, even though my lane makes it across the intersection faster than the guys who rushed and jammed the brakes.
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Old 03-22-2013, 01:50 PM
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I hear wearing brakes is all the rage with kids these days. Quite fashionable in the hipster crowd.
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Old 03-22-2013, 01:55 PM
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I also drive a 36hp VW, and gotta keep that momentum working for me, so I stop at lights like the OP. Issue with the bug is no syncro in first, so you have to be at a dead stop to get in gear again- its so much smoother to coast up and start off from a roll in 2nd.
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Old 03-22-2013, 02:07 PM
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If you have no synchro on first, you can still downshift into first while moving. Double-clutch, baby, look it up.
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Old 03-22-2013, 03:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquaticedge View Post
When I'm out and about driving I tend to slow down way before a stoplight gently in hopes that it turns green (usually does) before I get right up to the stop line (no I'm not stopping a mile back) in terms of break wear, is it better to lightly stop as I am doing or are other peoples Idea better of just a sharp stop?
This saves on both brake wear and gas. It's what I do, so it is right by definition
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Originally Posted by spdrun View Post
I'd think that getting rear ended when slowing gently is less likely than getting nailed when braking hard for a light. Though with idiots yapping/texting on their phones, nothing would surprise me right now.
I use the brake very little when stopping (I drive a standard), and I'm shocked by the number of drivers riding right up to my bumper before realizing that -- wow! -- I'm stopping for a red light/stop sign/turn that I'm signalling for.
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Originally Posted by spdrun View Post
If you have no synchro on first, you can still downshift into first while moving. Double-clutch, baby, look it up.
I'm doing this in the Corolla (worn 1st-gear synchronizer). It's fun!
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Old 03-22-2013, 03:14 PM
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You could always just wire a little switch in parallel with the stop light switch, attach it to the shift lever stalk, and hold it down when you're changing gears to slow down.
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Old 03-22-2013, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by spdrun View Post
You could always just wire a little switch in parallel with the stop light switch, attach it to the shift lever stalk, and hold it down when you're changing gears to slow down.
I like this idea. I'll see if I can do it when I wire in the fogs...
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  #12  
Old 03-22-2013, 04:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquaticedge View Post
I have an interesting question. might be covered or beaten to death and flogged for a few weeks past expiration.... but.. When I'm out and about driving I tend to slow down way before a stoplight gently in hopes that it turns green (usually does) before I get right up to the stop line (no I'm not stopping a mile back) in terms of break wear, is it better to lightly stop as I am doing or are other peoples Idea better of just a sharp stop?
Concerning the Brakes Pads and Rotors what you describe is best.

Heavy braking equals a lot of heat build up in a short time and that is bad for the Pads and the Rotors.
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  #13  
Old 03-22-2013, 07:47 PM
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Heavy braking is a waste of energy as well.
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Old 03-23-2013, 01:52 AM
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***"BRAKES"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquaticedge View Post
I have an interesting question. might be covered or beaten to death and flogged for a few weeks past expiration.... but.. When I'm out and about driving I tend to slow down way before a stoplight gently in hopes that it turns green (usually does) before I get right up to the stop line (no I'm not stopping a mile back) in terms of ***"break" wear, is it better to lightly stop as I am doing or are other peoples Idea better of just a sharp stop?
Since you do not know when the light will turn green, it's all a crap shoot. That said, I do the coasting-gently braking routine. One guy I know, starts coasting waay back from the light, and hits his emergency flashers to keep the aggressive jassacks from harrassing him for very slow driving, and to keep those behind him from crawling up his keister. I suppose heavy braking will let you know if your ***"brakes are working. Them's the ***BREAKS.
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Old 03-23-2013, 02:00 AM
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i generally do the same thing. my personal truck is a standard and i ride a motorcycle. i do the same thing in the work truck with an auto.
drives the owners dip**** son in law nuts. im always telling him hes in a hurry to go no where. that guy will race to a red light ,smash the brakes, and as soon as it turns green floor it.

he wonders why i never let him drive when hes working with me

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Last edited by kmaysob; 03-23-2013 at 02:29 AM.
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