There is a school of thought that believes the only time you really need to downshift is when you are preparing to accelerate. This can be debated, but generally use your brakes for slowing to a stop. Brakes are much cheaper to replace than synchronizers or clutches.

Let’s say you are in 3rd gear, and you want to go into 2nd. For a given road speed, the engine needs to spin faster in 2nd gear than it spins in 3rd gear. The object is to accelerate the engine so that in the new, lower gear the engine speed will match the road speed. Or put another way, you want the engine revved up so that when you let out the clutch the rear tires won’t have to do the work of accelerating the engine.

1. Depress the clutch pedal.
2. Move the shift lever into neutral.
3. Release the clutch pedal.
4. Depress the accelerator pedal fully until the engine revs up, which also accelerates the transmission. Then release the accelerator pedal.
5. Depress the clutch pedal.
6. As the engine speed decreases, shift into 2nd. Since you have “matched the revs,” it will fall right into gear, even with completely worn-out synchronizers.
7. Release the clutch pedal.

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