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Originally Posted by freebeard
When I was getting my license, coasting in neutral was legal for cars but illegal for trucks. Made it sound like a safety issue.
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It's a case where legislation that was based on old technology has been passed by progress, but the legislation has remained ...
Old cars didn't behave as nicely as modern ones when going around corners without traction.
Brake failure was not unusual, and brakes were $h!t in general (like drum brakes all around ...) so they were wary of runaway cars.
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So I guess you poke the brake once in a while to make sure it's working?
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Why would they not work on an unassisted brake circuit ?
Engine off coasting with power-assisted brakes, you don't want to check the brakes once in a while because it'll reduce your remaining vacuum and thus reduce brake assist.
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The added drag is only engine side the transmission, right? The other side is moving with the differential.
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In gear but with the clutch disengaged, the gears in the gearbox are spinning with the wheels, adding drag.
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I guess my question is, on a hill too steep to coast down is it better to use compression braking, or disengage the engine (however) and retard it with the service brake?
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In that case, you stay in gear and use engine braking and proper gear selection to control your speed.
Ideally, the service brake is then used for emergencies only.
You can of course use it to shift down if the chosen gear proves too high.
Or to slow down a bit more for a blind corner.
The amount of friction braking I've seen in the Cali hills, was worrying to me.
I may be a flatlander, but I hardly touch the brakes going downhill
