Downshifting

[Greatwhite]

Is this the correct order when Heel and Toe Downshifting?

Clutch in

Brake

Blip

Cluth out

Also, could you use this technique (minus the brake) when driving down the highway in top gear (say around 2500rpm) and than downshifting two gears to pass?

Also, would someone care to explain double clutching to me?

Sorry Im so green.

thanks, Justin

[Corganx33]

all heel toe shifting is is working the brake and gas with your right foot while slowing down. You pretty much got it... your braking, you push the clutch in shift, and then roll your foot onto the gas to rev match to where the engine would normally be running at when the clutch is let out. You then let out the clutch. Makes for a smoother transition.

and yes you can use this without the brake.....

I believe it wears out your clutch more though... so might want to keep that in mind

Double clutching... not needed normally. Its only needed really for cars without syncros in the tranny. Push clutch in, shift to neutral, release clutch and press clutch in again, shift to desired gear.

[MikeW]

It's not so much an order as just doing everything at once. The idea is that you're, for instance, having to slow down to go around a curve. You have to brake for the curve but would like to downshift at the same time, either for additional braking, or, more likely, to be able to accelerate better after the curve. Since a proper downshift in this situation requires increasing the RPMs you really need 3 feet: one for each pedal. Since you probably don't have three feet you'll need to somehow use one foot for two pedals and it's easiest to use your right foot for both the brake and the gas while your left handles the clutch. It's not such much your heel and toe as it is two sides of the same foot.

Here's a much more thorough explanation with pictures and everything.

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/45792/article.html

Instead of bothering to write an explanation of double-clutching and then searching for a link I've just skipped straight to a link:

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/1996/December/11.html

[Greatwhite]

Thanks, Mike W

[Alfadog]

I've always heel and toed while double-clutching. From these descriptions it seems that you're just meant to keep the clutch in the whole way?

[gnosez]

Heel-Toe is not used to slow a car down it is used to downshift to get to the right gear to exit a corner. You do so to avoid unsettling the car. The sequence is as follows:

1) full throttle

2) off the throttle

3) on the brakes

4) clutch in

5) shift to neutral

6) clutch out

7) blip the throttle

8) clutch back in

9) shift to the right gear

10) let clutch out, turn in, and relax brake pressure (you've been on the brakes since number 3)

11) back on the throttle, hit the apex, and exit the corner

Simple if you have soft bottomed shoes, a gas-brake pedal set-up that keeps them level (must car don't) and you practiced before the big race. Practicing on someone's clutch is always a good idea.