Quick shifting technique that minimizes drive-line lash?
 

Curious how folks shift quickly in 1st-3rd gear while minimizing drive line lash. I try to release the clutch within about 1 sec but I notice the car feels a bit unsettled. I've tied various bushing inserts to reduce some of the driveline play but they come with other issues (NVH etc...).

What is your technique for shifting quickly and smoothly in low gears? how long is your clutch release?

i basically just let off the pedal completely till my bite point then in the time span of about half a second feather it till its fully engaged and then let go of it completely. This isnt as smooth as you know granny shifting slowly but nothings gonna be that smooth chirping into 2nd ;)

Abuse the clutch. From 1>2, get into 2nd as fast as the trans allows, then immediately hit the friction point and start feeding in throttle. Once you feel the weight begin to transition to the rear, just dump the clutch and mash the gas.

Even though the rpms need to fall another 1k (something like that) to match 2nd, when you dump the clutch, the car shouldn't buck too much. But if you are slow with the throttle, you might get some driveline lash.

No chirp and I would call it smooth.

Never had an issue 2>3.

Much easier to have smooth quick shifts going 1>2>3 if you're accelerating hard.

Foot on pedal, 5-6k RPM in 1st gear, clutch in, switch gear, clutch out. foot stays on the gas pedal the whole time, but I lay off it for <1 second as I'm getting on and off the clutch pedal. Kinda like a pulse.

If you're going slowly then just pay attention to RPMs and rev match.

Yeah, I've found that the car is more choppy if you upshift at low RPMs like 3.5-4k.


With my driving style the car is a lot smoother if I consistently shift above or at 5k.

I find it's important to get the release timing of the clutch and gas pedals correct or your rpms shoot up a bit when clutching in which means waiting longer before you clutch out. Make sure you are smooth as you transition from no throttle and full clutch back to throttle and no clutch. I'm mostly smooth now but I still get it wrong once in a while.

1: Clutch in, throttle off.
2: Shift gear
3: Clutch to bite, throttle half(ish)
4: Clutch up out, throttle pinned

Step 1, 2 and 4 as fast as your feet/hands will go. 3 is just a heart beat in length. It's a feel thing. It's more about giving yourself that heart beat to align the timing of the clutch and throttle.

If the clutch comes up too soon before the power comes in you might get a forward lurch. If the clutch comes up to late you might get some tire chirp as you dump it... in the dry. In the wet you might get some lol-steer fishtailing.... just keep it pinned and shout "Yeeehaa!"

What also helped me was removing the helper spring on the clutch pedal, now my shifts are much smoother because the engagement point is more consistent.

Buy an auto??? (flame suit is on lmao)

imho go slower to get it feeling smooth, don't be afraid to let the clutch slip a little, let the movements become natural and speed will come. Manhandling it will get you nowhere, the car wants to shift if you treat it right, you should only need a few fingers and light pressure to move the gear stick.

I still maintain this car is a bit tricky to nail, I didn't feel really confident until I had 30k on the clock.

Everybody is so used to seeing modern racecars and talking about lightening fast shifts when the reality is that a manual gearbox, even a modern one, has a certain speed it's happy at, and rushing it doesn't do you much good. To add to that, the 86 at lower rpm seems to want to shift slower, if you're shifting up at 7,200 rpm it'll slide into gear almost as fast as your hands can move it, down at 2,200 not so much.

While it's fun to watch Senna in the NSX or the Yellowbird at Nurburgring rip out lightening fast shifts, if you pay attention they're being incredibly gentle first and foremost, those cars are designed and operated at the limit, not going over a speed bump at the local strip mall attempting to not give your passenger whiplash.

^ Agreed. Dont slam on the clutch, dont dump the clutch, dont wait until redline, dont slam the gear shifter. All actions should be smooth but firm and deliberate.

BOOO!!!

Boring!

:burnrubber:


(There's a time and a place is all I mean)

Do you want quick OR smooth ...... ??

Pick ONE ....... ;)


humfrz

you are not reving the car high enough, it's sad. so you get drive train lash.,


feel the car



err & use the force