Smoother Shifts?

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s) 07/21/2016 at 11:57 • Filed to: None

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SoI’ve been practicing driving a manual on the BRZ and I’ve sort of got it down to where I’m okay with getting it going and getting around town. My issue now is I’m having the hardest time getting a smooth shift from first to second gear. I know if I let the RPMs drop to around the 2200rpm level it’ll smoothly engage but I haven’t found a way to consistently get that down.

How does Oppo usually shift from first to second? Do you use no throttle? A little throttle to get the engine to sustain the RPMs at a certain level for your car? Or should I do no throttle and slowly let out the clutch so it has room to slightly slip into the engine speed?

My dream daily for your time.

bob and john > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:02

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in driving that WRX around for a few days, I found that smoothest way was to treat it like your leaving first. find the friction zone, let the clutch grab and then let it out.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:03

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I was wondering that as well, shifting from first to second gear is a bitch.

smobgirl > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:03

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1-2 for me is always a slightly more controlled clutch than higher gear changes. I don't know if that's all I do differently though.

E90M3 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:04

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I like to take it to about 8k, put the clutch in, put it in second, release clutch, foot back to floor.

Mattbob > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:08

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let it rev a bit higher in first before putting the clutch in, then give it a bit more time than you think you should for the revs to drop before letting the clutch back out into second. It depends on the car, but I find some combination of that helps most of the time. Basically catching the right RPM on the way down.

Urambo Tauro > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:08

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I figure that instant shifts just aren’t kind to the synchros. So for daily driving, I have a habit of hesitating half a second or so to give the RPMs a chance to start descending before I engage a higher gear.

But my car’s two decades old. Maybe new transmissions are better at handling synchro abuse?

I dunno. At least rev-matching downshifts is easy.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:13

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Flat out and let the servo do the work.

OPPOsaurus WRX > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:13

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i found the WRX gearbox to be very unforgiving. sometimes just finding s right RPMS makes a difference I found it liked to shift higher to second than the other gears

Party-vi > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:15

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there should be a point at which you can let off the gas in 1st and then ease the shifter into 2nd without using your clutch while the RPM drops.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:17

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It’s like sex: takes a while to get any good at it, takes a while longer to learn to really enjoy it, and longer still to truly appreciate it. Any bloke who tells you differently is a liar.

Elumerere > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/21/2016 at 12:19

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Also, it helps to not overthink it. If I do, I mess up my shifts. If I don’t, muscle memory makes it smooth.

I’ve been driving manuals for 10 years.

Justin Hughes > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:21

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I have a BRZ as well. For a 1-2 shift, I push in the clutch, pull the shifter back until I feel the resistance of 2nd, and keep light pressure on it until it falls into 2nd on its own. I don’t usually force it, just find the right level of pressure so it’ll go into 2nd once the synchros are finished doing their job.

I’m also told the BRZ responds well to fresh, upgraded transmission fluid, especially if you’re still running the original fluid. Motul seems to be the preferred brand from what I’ve read. I’ve had good experience upgrading past Miatas I’ve owned to Redline fluid (the preferred brand for them, at least at the time), so I would expect similar improvement in the BRZ, especially in cold temperatures. I’ll probably do this myself sometime next month.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:42

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When I’m just puttering around town in my Forester I usually keep the clutch in until the revs to around where they need to be then slowly let the clutch out while giving it a little gas until it catches for 1-2. After it engages smoothly, I dip into the gas a bit more.

TeamClearCoat > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:47

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Lots of good suggestions here already, but I also like to keep just a tickle of throttle on during most of my shifts. Like just enough so that if you were to let the rpms fall, you’d be just over idle.

Textured Soy Protein > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:49

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Generally with upshifts the faster you can press the clutch in and out the smoother the shift. Don’t worry about matching revs to the next gear, the revs will drop when you engage the next gear. You only need to rev match downshifts.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 12:56

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I've had success with short shifting into 2nd, so when I get the car moving I shift to 2nd at relatively low rpm. Or the alternative is to rev it to near redline and do a quick shift into 2nd with no delay through the neutral gate. That way the driveline doesn't have a chance to unload before I'm in 2nd.

LOREM IPSUM > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 13:10

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Practice your rev matching and clutch control.

Err, I mean, Granny shiftin’ not double clutchin’ like you should....

Oh, and fwiw I find my footwear to have a profound effect on driving most manual transmission cars. Anything with a squared off heel that digs into the carpet is a no go for me, so dress shoes and boots are a nope. (Especially boots, too wide. Nothing like clutching in while rolling up to a light and accidentally slamming on the brake pedal too with your left foot). I never got around to testing the theory, but most racing shoes look a lot like wrestling shoes with the uber thin soles. Always wanted to try a pair just for driving, but I digress.

Practice and proper footwear should be the key to success imho.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Textured Soy Protein 07/21/2016 at 14:01

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This, but I think I do actually time the clutch pedal to shift knob movement. But I am pretty sure I do it without thinking about it so its hard to put it into words. Its kinda wild to me that I had absolutely no idea how to drive a manual like 18 months ago but now its just second nature!

DynamicWeight > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 15:19

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For smoother shifts, take more time for each step, except putting the clutch in. So take a longer time to switch the gear using very little pressure, then slowly let the clutch out. Not super slow of course, just a little slower than you’re doing now, you’ll find your sweet spot.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Justin Hughes 07/21/2016 at 18:10

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Interesting. So does it just fall into second by itself when I let the clutch catch? I’ll have to give that a try tonight

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > E90M3 07/21/2016 at 18:11

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But my BRZ doesn’t go to 8k ):

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 07/21/2016 at 18:14

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Seriously. It’s so frustrating when you think you’ve got it and then the car lurches a bit because you didn’t time it correctly

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > DynamicWeight 07/21/2016 at 18:16

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Thanks! I’ll give that a try. You’re probably right since I get worried I’m not moving quick enough from a stop

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/21/2016 at 18:17

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Yeah. I’ve read that as well. I’ll try and find the sweet spot by trying different RPMs. Kind of scary when it jerks forward though since it doesn’t feel like it’s good for the car at all

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > bob and john 07/21/2016 at 18:17

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Very interesting. I’ll give that a try tonight. Thanks!

E90M3 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 18:20

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But my BRZ doesn’t go to 8k ):

Solution

On a serious note, I was paying attention to how I shift between 1st and 2nd, I pretty much just switch from 1st to 2nd without more throttle input. If I think about it too much, I mess it up.

Nauraushaun > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 18:26

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If the revs are falling too fast for you to shift and clutch-up by 2200RPM, try a little blip of the throttle.

I try to match all my shifts, but in sedate driving with lower revs sometimes that would mean shifting too fast. So I blip the throttle to give me more time. No biggie.

But I’m also double-clutching (which probably isn’t necessary) and heel-and-toeing (which definitely isn’t necessary), so my foot is usually hovering over the accelerator at least a little, ready for a quick blip.

blipshift bro

smobgirl > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 18:47

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I’ve heard others on here mention that, as a beginning manual user, they felt the clutch had to be treated as more of an on-off switch than it really does. That resonated with me. That, and letting a very experienced driver drive me around in my own car. I’m not rough on it by any means but I’m far less paranoid about clutch wear now.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > E90M3 07/21/2016 at 19:08

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Oh god. That is a dangerously close distance from me especially considering its the same price as a BRZ and in the color combination I want.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > smobgirl 07/21/2016 at 19:10

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Very interesting. Yeah I definitely had that issue or using the clutch as an on and off switch. I’ve been trying to get better at it though.

E90M3 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 19:28

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I thought you were near there so that's why I showed it to you

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > E90M3 07/21/2016 at 19:34

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Yeah, I’m in the Bay Area so it’s definitely possible to make a quick day trip down to pick it up. If I had the funds I would definitely be flying down there to pick it up

E90M3 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/21/2016 at 19:42

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Find the money!

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/22/2016 at 05:21

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If I give it too much attention my shifts usually get shittier. I just recently got the hang of it somehow.

Justin Hughes > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/22/2016 at 09:01

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Nothing to do with the clutch. As engine revs drop and the synchros match everything up, there will be a point where everything’s going the same speed, and it’ll just pop into gear with light pressure on the shifter. Then you let the clutch out.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 07/22/2016 at 11:53

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You know what’s funny is yesterday I tried to drive it through sound and not look at my tachometer as much and you’re right. If I just slow it down and go by feel and sound the shifting is quite smooth. I’ll have to see if I can replicate it again today. I was even able to smoothly shift into second midway through a turn which I struggled with up until yesterday.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 07/22/2016 at 12:05

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That’s how I’ve been doing it for some months now and it feels much better (still awkward compared to shifting from higher gears). My driving instructor always told me to shift at 3k rpm in gasoline powered cars which I did at first but that turned out to be too much.

You should definitely try shifting after sound and feeling some more.