Any problem skipping gears on downshift?

[isquat]

Do you see the problem with the folowing downshift procedure
1. I'm in 5th
2. While braking keep the gas pressed and disengage the clutch
3. As the revs go up shift into the 3rd
4. engage the clutch
?

I think I saw an advisory against skipping gears on downshifts
somewhere.
Not sure how credible the source was.

 

[AS]

Just be careful when releasing the clutch.

You should not have any problems in using this procedure, and as a
matter of fact, you can even shift gears without using the clutch... of
course, you need to know how to do it.

 

[bgd]

That is very safe, you even rev up to synch it like a truck, or pro driver
Sometimes I go from first to 4wd lo then 3rd then 4wd hi then 2nd, 4wd lo
back to 4th, then... by the time I'm done I went through 10 gears for no
reason!

 

[David]

Do you see the problem with the folowing downshift procedure
1. I'm in 5th
2. While braking keep the gas pressed and disengage the clutch
3. As the revs go up shift into the 3rd
4. engage the clutch
?

I think I saw an advisory against skipping gears on downshifts
somewhere.
Not sure how credible the source was.

Put the lever in 4th briefly without letting up the clutch if you're
worried about the synchronizers.

 

[nobody >]

Put the lever in 4th briefly without letting up the clutch if you're
worried about the synchronizers.

Shouldn't matter on the syncros . Dropping into 4th on the way down to
3rd is just wasted time if you need/want to get the engine connected
back to the wheels.

Skipping a gear(s) on downshifting is sorta like walking around on a
sprained ankle.

If 'it' looks like it it's going to hurt, don't do 'it'.
If 'it' hurts, quit 'it'.

Rephrase as

If the shifter doesn't want to go into that gear, don't force it.
If it sounds bad, quit it.

Disclaimer:
I don't own a manual transmission Subaru and have only driven one once,
for a 10 mile test drive. No fancy shifting tricks done then. I did own
a Toyota pickup with a manual transmission for 10+ years that could
usually be shifted (except for first) up or down 3 gears if conditions
warranted. If it didn't want to shift , I didn't do it.

 

[Dano58]

Do you see the problem with the folowing downshift procedure
1. I'm in 5th
2. While braking keep the gas pressed and disengage the clutch
3. As the revs go up shift into the 3rd
4. engage the clutch
?

I think I saw an advisory against skipping gears on downshifts
somewhere.
Not sure how credible the source was.

Nothing wrong with it, as long as you're matching the revs. OTOH,
don't do that just to slwo down. Brakes are cheaper than a
transmission!

Dan D
'99 Subaru Legacy 30th (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[Dano58]

Do you see the problem with the folowing downshift procedure
1. I'm in 5th
2. While braking keep the gas pressed and disengage the clutch
3. As the revs go up shift into the 3rd
4. engage the clutch
?

I think I saw an advisory against skipping gears on downshifts
somewhere.
Not sure how credible the source was.

Nothing wrong with it, as long as you're matching the revs. OTOH,
don't do that just to slow down. Brakes are cheaper than a
transmission!

Dan D
'99 Subaru Legacy 30th (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[Ed]

Just be careful when releasing the clutch.

You should not have any problems in using this procedure, and as a
matter of fact, you can even shift gears without using the clutch... of
course, you need to know how to do it.

Asked a reliable mechanic about this once. He said go ahead and don't
use the clutch, I've got a nice rebuilt tranny in the back all ready to
go

 

[AS]

I first heard about this practice of not using the clutch a long time
ago, when cars had 1st gears without synchs, and when the synchs for
other gears went bad.

When you do it correctly you are matching the speeds of both gears to
the point that you will not even use the synchs. When you downshift
normally, the synchs are working their tail off, trying to make the
input shaft speed the right one for the gear you are shifting into.

Once again, you need to know how to do it and... you would not normally
have the patience to do it correctly under normal driving conditions.

 

[Ed]

I first heard about this practice of not using the clutch a long time
ago, when cars had 1st gears without synchs, and when the synchs for
other gears went bad.

When you do it correctly you are matching the speeds of both gears to
the point that you will not even use the synchs. When you downshift
normally, the synchs are working their tail off, trying to make the
input shaft speed the right one for the gear you are shifting into.

Once again, you need to know how to do it and... you would not normally
have the patience to do it correctly under normal driving conditions.

Oh I understand double clutching, as I have had to relearn this skill
with my '03 WRX in the sub-zero F weather we had a few weeks ago. Even
with syncros I match engine speed when down shifting. I just don't do
clutchless shifting anymore. I just don't want to foot the bill because
I ground off a few teeth...

 

[David Buchner]

Nothing wrong with it, as long as you're matching the revs. OTOH,
don't do that just to slwo down. Brakes are cheaper than a
transmission!

Not to mention that it seems you're putting all that load on the engine
for no particular reason.

 

[isquat]

Not to mention that it seems you're putting all that load on the engine
for no particular reason.

I'm downshifting as I'm breaking from 65 to 30. The load
seem constant.
Is your suggestion for me to break while the engine is in neutral
or I should I be in 4th for a second or so?
I thought the whole point in having a stick so that you are in proper
gear at all times.

 

[David]

I'm downshifting as I'm breaking from 65 to 30. The load
seem constant.
Is your suggestion for me to break while the engine is in neutral
or I should I be in 4th for a second or so?
I thought the whole point in having a stick so that you are in proper
gear at all times.

You must become one with the driveshaft.

 

[David Buchner]

I'm downshifting as I'm breaking from 65 to 30. The load
seem constant.
Is your suggestion for me to break while the engine is in neutral
or I should I be in 4th for a second or so?

I don't know, and I'm no expert, but when I was a teenager I
downshift-braked like mad. It was quite a while before somebody pointed
out that that was putting unnecessary extra wear on the clutch and
engine. The clutch is a lot harder to get at than the brake pads...

So what *I* do nowadays, is just use the brake and slow down in whatever
gear I'm in, and then shift it into whatever gear is appropriate for the
speed, when I need to put on power again.
Like going 55 in 5th, coming into a town, I coast and brake down to 30,
then shift into 3rd to cruise.
Or going into a corner, on a dirt road, brake down to 20, switch to 2nd
and accelerate through.

Am I wrong? Anybody?

I thought the whole point in having a stick so that you are in proper
gear at all times.

I thought it was because it was more fun.