Is this a bad thing?

[954camaro]

Usually when I am at a red light I usually shift my automatic into neutral while waiting at a red light. Should I stop doing this? The only reason why I am even putting it into neutral at a red light is because I thought it decreases my wear and tear on my brakes.

Thanks guys

[E.T.]

I doubt it's gonna do much to extend your brake life. The only reason I can think of to be in neutral at a red light is to rev your engine and scare everyone

[WiSSDiver]

I'm certainly not a mechanic, but if you're doing that at every light, wouldn't it cause added wear to the tranny? Seems like the breaks would be a much cheaper wear and tear fix than the tranny.

If wear and tear is the only reason, than I go with the cheaper fix. (just my opinion)

[Cruuzin LV]

I don't see this hurting anything at all. If you want to reduce wear and tear on your breaks downshift with the paddles to help slow you down so you don't have to use your breaks as much.

[954camaro]

That's is a very good point lol WissDiver haha but it's not every light lol it's just every other light.

E.T it's like you already know me

[midnighter]

You should stop putting it in N and put it the in R, the reverse lights leave the car behind you startled.

[vroomapunk]

brakes dont wear at a red light. Brakes wear away because you have to pieces of material rubbing against one another, and one has to give. The pads wear away from friction. Sitting at a light with your foot on the pedal just pushes the pads against the rotor.

Maybe itll help extend the life of the master cylinder or rubber parts of the brake lines for some silly reason, but probabaly not.

[Trentin24]

Can it hurt your tranny?

[Cobra Kai]

Originally Posted by WiSSDiver

I'm certainly not a mechanic, but if you're doing that at every light, wouldn't it cause added wear to the tranny? Seems like the breaks would be a much cheaper wear and tear fix than the tranny.

If wear and tear is the only reason, than I go with the cheaper fix. (just my opinion)

agreed, also if you are revving and shifting into gear before it has completely returned to idle, that probably isn't good for the tranny. not suggesting you are but sometimes it's possible to do this

[DagoCountyGee]

Originally Posted by Cruuzin LV

I don't see this hurting anything at all. If you want to reduce wear and tear on your breaks downshift with the paddles to help slow you down so you don't have to use your breaks as much.

But then wouldn't he be wearing down his paddles?

[Goober]

[90503]

Originally Posted by 954camaro

Usually when I am at a red light I usually shift my automatic into neutral while waiting at a red light. Should I stop doing this? The only reason why I am even putting it into neutral at a red light is because I thought it decreases my wear and tear on my brakes.

Thanks guys

I wouldn't do it for a couple of reasons...first, you may forget to put it back in gear when you want to go...You might get lazy and start taking your foot off the brake and roll forward or backward unknowingly...If you rev in neutral out of boredom or whatever, you might end up doing it with your foot off the brake, in gear and get a surprise...

...In gear and under power is the way to drive...even at a stop...

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

I do it to.. not to decrease wear on my brakes, but because of having a leg injury and I can't sit there holding the brake for long periods of time without discomfort. I also pull the parking brake up to avoid rolling. short lights don't phase me, but the long 8 way with left turn lights that take 3-5 minutes, yeah I put it in neutral and pull the brake. But I also watch the signals on the cross street and when it goes yellow I press the brake, but the car in gear and take the parking brake off.. I've also been known to kill the motor at certain lights because I know they are long and only trip when there is a car on the sensor. 2 of those by my work, and I have timed them up to 7 minutes to trip after I have arrived at the signal.. so I kill the motor and save the gas.

I've done it on my last 4 vehicles, and never had and issue, what will hurt the trans is if you do a neutral drop that is put the vehicle in gear while the engine is revving above idle, barring that you will be fine.

It is also advisable to tap the brake as you shift from Neutral to Drive, just on the off chance that the idiot in front of you can't figure out which pedal makes his car move forward and stops short, you don't want to roll into them. It truly amazes me how often I see people goose it then slam the brake when a light changes as if they can't figure out which pedal does what.

[911medic]

Originally Posted by vroomapunk

brakes dont wear at a red light. Brakes wear away because you have to pieces of material rubbing against one another, and one has to give. The pads wear away from friction. Sitting at a light with your foot on the pedal just pushes the pads against the rotor.

Maybe itll help extend the life of the master cylinder or rubber parts of the brake lines for some silly reason, but probabaly not.

^^^ This. There is no brake wear occurring while stopped. And you may be adding tranny wear with the extra, unnecessary shifting.