Skipping gears on downshifts

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

I drive a 3800 lb RWD car with a 400HP/400TQ V8 and rather universal manual transmission. I drive spiritedly, and not always legally. I never, ever have to "slow down" my shifts for the synchronizers. If you have a poor transmission, as you described, that is one thing. But your boy-racer shift techniques are entirely another.

What blessed vehicle is so lucky to have you as its owner exactly?

kudos and 5 cookies for you. cruise in your tallest gear, and go into 2nd at 40mph. tell me, does it shift in as smoothly OR as quickly as it does into 4th? can you pound it straight into 2nd? if you can, i feel sorry for YOUR car.

what i drive is not germane to the discussion, but i once owned a 93 sentra and it (along with other b13 se-r) would absolutely refuse to go into 1st unless virtually at a stop. also, its i4 motor is not as happy running at 1300rpm as a v8 would be.

Oh, you mean if I drive like a MORON, could that cause problems with my transmission? It absolutely could. I already mentioned above that shifting into lower gears at higher speed is more difficult for obvious reasons, and for obvious reasons I don't do it.

Not to mention I generally don't IDLE down the road at 40mph in 6th gear. If I'm in the city, I'm in 5th gear and will go to 3rd if I need extra power. 2nd is stupid as it attracts more attention with the high revs and it runs out quickly at 69mph. If I'm on the highway, 6th to 3rd is no problem.

So, yes, you are right - if you drive like a bloody moron and shift from top gear to 2nd at low speed, you should double-clutch to avoid synchro wear.

But then again, you're not driving the car right and are probably lugging the shit out of it in top gear @ 40mph. While my car can pull from 40mph @ 1000rpm in 6th, most can't and I damn sure don't do it.

Are you happy now?

P.S. There was something wrong with your car's transmission, that you once upon a time had. Sure you can work around it by double-clutching, but that doesn't mean it was supposed to be that way. kthxbye

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
I already mentioned above that shifting into lower gears at higher speed is more difficult for obvious reasons, and for obvious reasons I don't do it.

So, yes, you are right - if you drive like a bloody moron and shift from top gear to 2nd at low speed, you should double-clutch to avoid synchro wear.

wow, sounds like the point went over your head and did 5 fly-bys.

the point is, when someone makes a large jump in gearing (ie 5 to 2 for power), there is a big differential between output shaft and the intended gear, and it is more difficult for dog collar to engage ("for obvious reasons"), and so when someone (ie exdeath and amdhunter) wants to do this double-clutch is applicable.

do you actually think about what you read, or just glaze over the words?

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I say AGAIN! You need to learn how to drive a manual if you having these difficulties. You should NOT be downshifting into first unless your creeping or starting from a dead stop.

I don't mean to be offensive, but go practice some.

Dude, you're not just just off-base, but you're way in the outfield. What difficulties are you referring to. Do you understand the proposed situation? ie... you're slowing to a stop and traffic moves again... speed is too low that you'll lug in 2nd gear, you have a wrx and it has difficulties going into first just by hand... i think youre really lost in the discussion

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

I drive a 3800 lb RWD car with a 400HP/400TQ V8 and rather universal manual transmission. I drive spiritedly, and not always legally. I never, ever have to "slow down" my shifts for the synchronizers. If you have a poor transmission, as you described, that is one thing. But your boy-racer shift techniques are entirely another.

What blessed vehicle is so lucky to have you as its owner exactly?

kudos and 5 cookies for you. cruise in your tallest gear, and go into 2nd at 40mph. tell me, does it shift in as smoothly OR as quickly as it does into 4th? can you pound it straight into 2nd? if you can, i feel sorry for YOUR car.

I do it all the time. It's followed by lots of noise and g-force and sometimes a lot of smoke.

There is also a thing commonly referred to as a close ratio transmission.

No manual I have ever driven has ever had any problems shifting from 4th or 5th out of a light cruise and going into 2nd to pass. The car will buck or bog, depending on power band, due to the upsetting of the drive train, but there isn't a problem with the shift lever moving smoothly from 5th to 2nd with the clutch depressed. Just once and not twice even.

Heh 40 mph? Hell I go from 4th to 2nd at anything under 60 mph.

THAT is exactly what I feel like doing sometimes. I know that the engine can take it, and that I can shift it somewhat smoothly if I really tried. (It might buck a bit, but I know it won't overrev.)

There are times that I want to get more power than 4th or 3rd, and I'll be in 5th doing 50. Sometimes I just wanna bring the car into 2nd, and work my way back up. I just wasn't sure if I had to go 5th-4th-3rd, then 2nd.

I tend to get up to 5th and 6th gear rather quickly to save gas on longer trips, and I just want that extra punch sometimes. (Like when that kid we all know with the Honda pulls up next to me...lol)

It's different for each car and you have to get used to the gearing and what speeds will produce what revs in each gear.

For me if I'm under 60 in 5th or 6th gear and I see, for example a ricer riding my ass makes a sudden move to gun it around me at a merge, I just grab the shifter and slam it down and to the left and instant 5500 RPM and full boost and lots of rubber.