Aggressive fast shifting

[dostoyevsky]

So I have a question, this cars my first manual and how do you shift quickly and fast when racing or gunning it and be smooth? I understand the ratios between 1st and 2nd are big but is there anyway to make it smooth or to not damage your clutch? It jerks very violently of I don't let the Rpms drop and shift fast

[swarb]

Originally Posted by dostoyevsky

So I have a question, this cars my first manual and how do you shift quickly and fast when racing or gunning it and be smooth? I understand the ratios between 1st and 2nd are big but is there anyway to make it smooth or to not damage your clutch?

Practice.
Clutch is a wear item.

[dostoyevsky]

Originally Posted by swarb

Practice.
Clutch is a wear item.

Yes but how do I minimize wear? Because it jerks if I try to shift quickly very hard.

[TheRoops]

Originally Posted by dostoyevsky

Yes but how do I minimize wear? Because it jerks if I try to shift quickly very hard.

Shift comfortably at regular pace and incrementally speed up your style.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by dostoyevsky

Yes but how do I minimize wear? Because it jerks if I try to shift quickly very hard.

You need to learn exactly when to move the clutch and accelerator pedals.

Like if you pop off the clutch pedal too quickly, or give too much gas then it won't be a smooth shift.

Once you get more used to the timing, clutch bite point, and accelerator then you'll be able to smooth out the shifts and then get faster with it.

[dostoyevsky]

Originally Posted by spike021

You need to learn exactly when to move the clutch and accelerator pedals.

Like if you pop off the clutch pedal too quickly, or give too much gas then it won't be a smooth shift.

Once you get more used to the timing, clutch bite point, and accelerator then you'll be able to smooth out the shifts and then get faster with it.

See the problem is shifting fast from 1st to 2nd. The RPM drop is very large compared to other gears and thats the problem. I have no problem shifting AT ALL if im shifting normally.. its just when trying to gun it from 1st to 2nd.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by dostoyevsky

See the problem is shifting fast from 1st to 2nd. The RPM drop is very large compared to other gears and thats the problem. I have no problem shifting AT ALL if im shifting normally.. its just when trying to gun it from 1st to 2nd.

Rev matching.

[StraightOuttaCanadaEh]

I've been driving manual for 2 years and still have no idea how to shift smoothly in this car from 1st to 2nd

[JD001]

In the UK if a driver learns to drive in an AT and takes the driving test in an AT then that is all they are allowed to drive. To drive a MT the driver must first pass their driving test in a MT.


I trust this is different in the States as I'm reading loads of posts about drivers struggling to drive a MT when transitioning from an AT to MT. Some of the stuff discussed is basics that a driver in the UK would learn if they started in a MT as their instructor would take them through the basics otherwise the driver just would not get their license.

[VTEC]

If you're really gunning it or racing you're not supposed to be smooth. You take it up to the redline in 1st gear and pop the clutch hard with traction control off and let the tires squeal into 2nd gear. That will give you the best acceleration.

If you just want to drive around spiritedly and still be somewhat smooth with the shifts, rev it up to the redline but don't release the clutch all the way. Let it bite just enough to bring the RPM down, once the RPM is where it should be for 2nd, release the clutch the rest of the way and floor the gas pedal again.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JD001

Rev matching.

This. Or at least don't let the revs drop to far. If you are jerking that bad then the revs are way too low.


I hate trying to tell people how to shift in print but here we go.


The biggest problem I have seen over decades of teaching people how to drive MT is that they do each step as a separate operation. This takes time and allows revs to drop. When shifting things occur in fractions of a second so you need to be fast yet smooth.


The steps are:
Relax foot on accelerator
Depress clutch
Move shift lever
Let out clutch
Give gas


If you do each of these separately and take even a 10th of a second for each step you have now reached 1/2 a second in which the revs have gone way down.


It should be ONE step with each action taking place at the same time as the one or even two before it.


To have a smooth shift the step really should be:
Relaxfootonacceleratordepressclutchmoveshiftleverl etoutclutchgivegas


As you are letting up on the gas you should be already pushing the clutch and moving the shift lever all at once. This way your revs are not dropping and you should be fast enough that by the time the clutch actually hits the floor you are already in gear, letting it back up again and pushing the gas.


The second biggest issue I observe is people grabbing the shift knob and trying to manhandle it into gear. By grabbing the knob you are making your wrist, elbow and shoulder joints part of the linkage. Since those joints are not always in the same position they you are actually fighting the lever and this again can cause a brief delay that throws all the other steps out of sync. Don't grab the shift knob just pull it or push it with an open hand or a couple of fingers. It will slide into place much faster that trying to direct it using half your body.


Don't know if any of this makes sense and although I could show what I mean in about 15 seconds if sitting in the car with a live body I have a hard time putting it in words.


Final note. The most fearful part of learning MT is the fear of learning MT. Don't overthink things and worry about hurting the tranny or clutch. They are far more durable than people give them credit for and although if you screw up really, really bad you could cause catastrophic failure the odds are anything you do to them while learning will just reduce the life span from 5 years to 4 years and 360 days.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JD001

In the UK if a driver learns to drive in an AT and takes the driving test in an AT then that is all they are allowed to drive. To drive a MT the driver must first pass their driving test in a MT.


I trust this is different in the States as I'm reading loads of posts about drivers struggling to drive a MT when transitioning from an AT to MT. Some of the stuff discussed is basics that a driver in the UK would learn if they started in a MT as their instructor would take them through the basics otherwise the driver just would not get their license.

2% of the passenger cars in North America are MTs now and it has been well under 10% since the mid 80s so many have never even seen a MT before much less driven one. It doesn't help that so many people make it sound like some special skill that only a select few can master instead of what everybody's mothers (if old enough), grandmothers, and great grandmother drove everyday without even thinking twice about it. Many of the young guy's only exposure to MT is through movies (looking at you F&F) where what they do for dramatic effect are the very last things you want to do when actually driving MT.

[TommyW]

Slamming your car into second from first is not a good idea, Slamming into any gear is not a good idea and causes no increase in performance. Learn to shift smoothly and efficiently.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by TommyW

Slamming your car into second from first is not a good idea, Slamming into any gear is not a good idea and causes no increase in performance. Learn to shift smoothly and efficiently.

But I saw this documentary about street racing and they all hammered it into gear! Oh and the knob grip of persuasion is obviously required as well.