Psy-q
08-18-2011, 01:32 AM
Hey guys. Just wanted to ask a few manual transmission gurus around here if what I am doing is bad.
Im 21 now I've been driving manual since 16. Im pretty good at downshifting, whether heel-toe or just to overtake.
I know to properly downshift from say 4th to 3rd one must release gas, depress clutch, give it a little gas to rev-match while holding in clutch and shifting into 3rd, then release clutch and back on gas. I can do that no problem but I've always found myself doing it with a little short-cut.
If Im cruising at, say, 1/5 throttle in 4th gear at 60 KPH and suddenly I need to be in 3rd gear (yellow light, overtaking, etc) all the proper procedures take too long, especially if I am not anticipating a downshift.
So what I do to really quickly downshift is this:
- NOT realease gas
- QUICKLY depress clutch, shift into 3rd and release clutch, All that while still 1/5, 1/4 throttle.
That split second while clutch is disengaged the motor revs up a little and 99% of the time it is just perfectly enough revs to downshift. At any speed above 50 KPH this technique worked flawlessly for me in both of my cars.
I was wondering if there is any additional wear on clutch, synchros, tranny, etc. if I downshift my "shortcut" way.
Looking forward to opinions!
Im 21 now I've been driving manual since 16. Im pretty good at downshifting, whether heel-toe or just to overtake.
I know to properly downshift from say 4th to 3rd one must release gas, depress clutch, give it a little gas to rev-match while holding in clutch and shifting into 3rd, then release clutch and back on gas. I can do that no problem but I've always found myself doing it with a little short-cut.
If Im cruising at, say, 1/5 throttle in 4th gear at 60 KPH and suddenly I need to be in 3rd gear (yellow light, overtaking, etc) all the proper procedures take too long, especially if I am not anticipating a downshift.
So what I do to really quickly downshift is this:
- NOT realease gas
- QUICKLY depress clutch, shift into 3rd and release clutch, All that while still 1/5, 1/4 throttle.
That split second while clutch is disengaged the motor revs up a little and 99% of the time it is just perfectly enough revs to downshift. At any speed above 50 KPH this technique worked flawlessly for me in both of my cars.
I was wondering if there is any additional wear on clutch, synchros, tranny, etc. if I downshift my "shortcut" way.
Looking forward to opinions!