# 2018 Toyota Camry - Transmission braking

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-toyota-camry-transmission-braking/144566>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** toyota\
**Created:** [July 17, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-toyota-camry-transmission-braking/144566 "2019-07-17T13:58:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ray28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Ray28](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ray28)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-toyota-camry-transmission-braking/144566/1 "2019-07-17T13:58:30Z")

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I use my automatic transmission to manualy shift sometimes when I need a higher RPM or to slow down before braking. Can I use the transmission to help me not damage my brakes coming down Mt. WASHINGTON. N.H. It is a long distance.and very steep.

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-toyota-camry-transmission-braking/144566/2 "2019-07-17T14:01:55Z")

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My opinion and mine alone . Using the transmission to slow the vehicle when descending a steep mountain grade is a good idea . The rest of the times just use the brakes as you can buy a lot of brake pads for the price of a transmission.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-toyota-camry-transmission-braking/144566/3 "2019-07-17T14:31:48Z")

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Yes, you can use the transmission to help keep the speed from building too much running down a big hill. It will help keep your brakes from overheating.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-toyota-camry-transmission-braking/144566/4 "2019-07-17T16:10:53Z")

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Absolutely use the transmission to descend hills. It is much safer because if you overheat the brakes to the point of boiling the fluid, you will not be able to slow the car.

For normal stopping, not on a downgrade, Just use your brakes. As others have said, brake pads are cheap.