Clutch Spin Down Time

[ChRZ]

I think this is called clutch spin down time...
Had my BRZ for almost a month now and I was surprised at the level of gear crunch when going into first. What is others' experience with this? Is it normal for this tranny? The car was brand new special order, so I know no one beat on it during test drive.
It's only a slight crunch, but in my experience almost no other cars do this, especially not a brand new one.

Basically if I am in neutral, then push the clutch in and go into 1st within a second (or reverse for that matter) it isn't totally smooth and there is a much more noticeable "notch", maybe crunch is too aggressive of a word.
I have learned to wait a few seconds after pushing in the clutch before goign into gear and then it is fine.
My previous car was a '01 Sentra with 220k miles, and it, amazingly was buttery smooth by comparison, no need to wait at all.
..Side related question....is the reason our cars are "notchy" a price to pay for some more durability as compared to a basic economy car like my 'ole Sentra?

[Teseo]

Try rev match

[churchx]

Given 1st gear mention .. maybe your described noises are from diff preloading?
There are many noises in this car compared to some generic family car. Tranny, gearbox, road noise, high pressure fuel pump chirps, some interior bits rattle. To keep weight & price down it's short on noise insulation. I still love this car even despite some shortcomings.

[Decep]

My first gear is very smooth. I am assuming you are at a dead stop or coming to a dead stop when doing this? How's your third gear? Something I get a notchy third gear shift, but its one of those "it is what it is" things IMO with these cars.

Considering your car is a month old, it still needs quite a bit of time before it breaks in.

[stevesnj]

The tolerances on are tight in this transmission, in time it will loosen but not much.The shifts 1>2>3 can be notchy. Change out the trans fluid to Motul gear fluid and you'll be fine.

[Ultramaroon]

Quit double posting.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Quit double posting.

Yep, @ChRZ ...... we heard you the first time.

It ain't nice to try to confuse us old men .....


humfrz

[Mr.ac]

Ok here the deal, our trannys suck when cold every 1,2 maybe 3 will grind a tad.

Our tranny oil sucks. As many people have done and reported good/better shifting with better tranny fluid. Although cold start up do grind.

That's petty much it. Out trannies just suck.

[Vracer111]

You're talking about the 'clunk' when stopped and shifting into first from neutral... just put clutch in and don't shift into first right away. Like when the light turns yellow put the clutch in then just before green shift into 1st. Problem solved.

Also I don't think smooth is the right word for FWD transaxle shifters, the words 'floppy' and 'jello' comes to mind, way too much play in neutral, even in the Honda's and Acura's I've had. With a proper gearbox transmission in a RWD sportscar you get a very precise and positive shifting feel, which the FR-S has. If you want a buttery 'smooth' RWD shifter that shifts itself and avoids neutral like it has a disease, the ND MX-5 is your ticket...personally can't stand the ND MX-5 shifter at all....very frustrating feeling to me.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by ChRZ

I think this is called clutch spin down time...
Had my BRZ for almost a month now and I was surprised at the level of gear crunch when going into first. What is others' experience with this? Is it normal for this tranny? The car was brand new special order, so I know no one beat on it during test drive.
It's only a slight crunch, but in my experience almost no other cars do this, especially not a brand new one.

Basically if I am in neutral, then push the clutch in and go into 1st within a second (or reverse for that matter) it isn't totally smooth and there is a much more noticeable "notch", maybe crunch is too aggressive of a word.
I have learned to wait a few seconds after pushing in the clutch before goign into gear and then it is fine.
My previous car was a '01 Sentra with 220k miles, and it, amazingly was buttery smooth by comparison, no need to wait at all.
..Side related question....is the reason our cars are "notchy" a price to pay for some more durability as compared to a basic economy car like my 'ole Sentra?

There's just a clunk. The gearbox is very strong, well designed and rugged. It's a light truck transmission modified for passenger car use. First and second have triple cone synchronizers which are high quality.

Shift quality improves steadily over the first 20,000 miles.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by churchx

Given 1st gear mention .. maybe your described noises are from diff preloading?
There are many noises in this car compared to some generic family car. Tranny, gearbox, road noise, high pressure fuel pump chirps, some interior bits rattle. To keep weight & price down it's short on noise insulation. I still love this car even despite some shortcomings.

The diff has no preload.

[Gforce]

Originally Posted by Teseo

Try rev match

He's talking about shifting into first while stationary. This tranny just clunks into first. It's the way it is.

[Poodles]

Normal.

Heavier gear pack + larger clutch = more inertia

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Mr.ac

Ok here the deal, our trannys suck when cold every 1,2 maybe 3 will grind a tad.

Our tranny oil sucks. As many people have done and reported good/better shifting with better tranny fluid. Although cold start up do grind.

That's petty much it. Out trannies just suck.

Maybe the one in your BRZ does, but, the transmission in my 2013 FR-S works just fine .......


humfrz