Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
#1
Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
Hey all,
Let's say i'm in 4th gear and need to downshift to 3rd.
As i ease off the throttle, i slam the clutch and it revs up in RPMs. (Let's say from 2k - 3k) I shift to 3rd, let go of the clutch and hit the throttle.
I know some other people downshift by hitting the clutch, blip the throttle then releasing the clutch.
Am i killing my clutch by doing it this way?
| 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT | Diamond Graphite/Graphite | Premium Pkg | Navigation | SKYLINE+GT350 emblems | Clear Corners | 35% & 50% Tints
Let's say i'm in 4th gear and need to downshift to 3rd.
As i ease off the throttle, i slam the clutch and it revs up in RPMs. (Let's say from 2k - 3k) I shift to 3rd, let go of the clutch and hit the throttle.
I know some other people downshift by hitting the clutch, blip the throttle then releasing the clutch.
Am i killing my clutch by doing it this way?
| 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT | Diamond Graphite/Graphite | Premium Pkg | Navigation | SKYLINE+GT350 emblems | Clear Corners | 35% & 50% Tints
#2
Re: Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
From my inquiries about this subject, I'd have to answer NO. Apparently the syncros are saving your butt in the downshift case you described. Just make sure you don't miss-shift into first gear by accident.
If you want some good reading on this subject do a search for "rev matching" or "double clutching".
<font color=blue>The above statements are only my take on the issue. If you disagree with anything I typed then you are 100% right!</font color=blue>
If you want some good reading on this subject do a search for "rev matching" or "double clutching".
<font color=blue>The above statements are only my take on the issue. If you disagree with anything I typed then you are 100% right!</font color=blue>
#3
Re: Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
It sounds like you're doing the same thing as others: blip the throttle before releasing the clutch...
As to Neffster's comment about accidentally putting it into 1st instead of 3rd... won't happen. as the car won't let you put it into first unless you're below certain speed OR if you FORCE it to go into 1st.
My G-enie
As to Neffster's comment about accidentally putting it into 1st instead of 3rd... won't happen. as the car won't let you put it into first unless you're below certain speed OR if you FORCE it to go into 1st.
My G-enie
![](https://g35driver.com/rides/spec/pix/speedoholic_1087756841.jpg)
#4
Re: Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
WHEW - I'm doing that too..."first 6-speed" and still learning and adjusting to driving on hills in SF etc...I've accidentally shifted from 4th gear into 2nd and missed 3rd and the car jolted big time..WHOOOPS - and on a few occassions going into 3rd gear was really stiff...YIKES...7,500 miles almost got the hang of it...I can do 180's now and peel out..and take off the line..but still need lots of practice downshifting in traffic and on hills...
Also I notice though is that our E-Brake isnt' that good...Meaning it doesn't hold all the time! When I'm on the hill I have to pull up really hard on the E-Brake and then put it into first before I release the clutch and the car rolls back still...Has that happened to you guys?
BoBs - SF 94122 -
Also I notice though is that our E-Brake isnt' that good...Meaning it doesn't hold all the time! When I'm on the hill I have to pull up really hard on the E-Brake and then put it into first before I release the clutch and the car rolls back still...Has that happened to you guys?
BoBs - SF 94122 -
#5
Re: Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
Glad to hear that i'm not destroying my clutch.
This is my first 6MT, can you tell? :P
As for the hills, i watch the cross traffic's light to turn yellow then stick it into first and let the clutch hold the car for half a second and then ease in the throttle behind it. (Clutch is holding car under 1k RPM) It might not hold it completely but it slows the roll-down speed. I do use the e-brake method if the incline is SUPER steep or the car behind me is just too close.
| 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT | Diamond Graphite/Graphite | Premium Pkg | Aero Pkg | Navigation | SKYLINE+GT350 emblems | Clear Corners | 35% & 50% Tints |
This is my first 6MT, can you tell? :P
As for the hills, i watch the cross traffic's light to turn yellow then stick it into first and let the clutch hold the car for half a second and then ease in the throttle behind it. (Clutch is holding car under 1k RPM) It might not hold it completely but it slows the roll-down speed. I do use the e-brake method if the incline is SUPER steep or the car behind me is just too close.
| 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT | Diamond Graphite/Graphite | Premium Pkg | Aero Pkg | Navigation | SKYLINE+GT350 emblems | Clear Corners | 35% & 50% Tints |
#6
Re: Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
Speedoholic is probably right but...
Sometimes the shifting in my 6mt is a little notchy. On occasion I have noticed that I've had to "force it" a little bit to get it to downshift. This is usually going from 5th to 3rd at around 65 mph (when I really want the car to get up and go [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]). 3rd gear can handle ~80 mph pretty easily, so the car will allow you to "force it" into 3rd gear at ~65 mph. It is much more difficult to downshift when the car is about to go into the 5000+ rpm range than it is to downshift when the car is about to go into 3000 rpm range (at least it is on my car). Does any one else notice this phenomenon?
FYI, my car is at the dealership today getting the tranny and diffy fluids flushed and the oil changed at 7600 miles. I'm hoping the slightly notchy shifting will be completely reduced after today.
<font color=blue>The above statements are only my take on the issue. If you disagree with anything I typed then you are 100% right!</font color=blue>
Sometimes the shifting in my 6mt is a little notchy. On occasion I have noticed that I've had to "force it" a little bit to get it to downshift. This is usually going from 5th to 3rd at around 65 mph (when I really want the car to get up and go [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]). 3rd gear can handle ~80 mph pretty easily, so the car will allow you to "force it" into 3rd gear at ~65 mph. It is much more difficult to downshift when the car is about to go into the 5000+ rpm range than it is to downshift when the car is about to go into 3000 rpm range (at least it is on my car). Does any one else notice this phenomenon?
FYI, my car is at the dealership today getting the tranny and diffy fluids flushed and the oil changed at 7600 miles. I'm hoping the slightly notchy shifting will be completely reduced after today.
<font color=blue>The above statements are only my take on the issue. If you disagree with anything I typed then you are 100% right!</font color=blue>
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
You can downshift two ways:
1.) Push the clutch in, downshift and blip the throttle (rev-match), and then let the clutch out.
or
2.) Push the clutch in, downshift and apply little or no gas, let the clutch out slowly. The clutch will bring the revs up as you are letting the clutch out slowly. This method does cause some wear on the clutch, but I don't think it's too bad. I don't use this method and wouldn't recommend it, but I've seen some "good" stick shift drivers do this.
And the answer is YES, this car's hand-brake does suck monkey *****. I even had mine tightened at the dealership and it still sucks. Way better than before, but it still should be much stronger than it is now. It makes the E-brake start technique on hills very difficult....you shouldn't have to pull the hand-brake up so damn high/hard just to get it to hold the car on a hill.
But at the same time, the car as a whole, requires a lot of work/effort/attention to drive it properly and smoothly so it's not really a surprise that the E-brake is a b*tch.
____________
MrElussive
03 G35C 6MT
1.) Push the clutch in, downshift and blip the throttle (rev-match), and then let the clutch out.
or
2.) Push the clutch in, downshift and apply little or no gas, let the clutch out slowly. The clutch will bring the revs up as you are letting the clutch out slowly. This method does cause some wear on the clutch, but I don't think it's too bad. I don't use this method and wouldn't recommend it, but I've seen some "good" stick shift drivers do this.
And the answer is YES, this car's hand-brake does suck monkey *****. I even had mine tightened at the dealership and it still sucks. Way better than before, but it still should be much stronger than it is now. It makes the E-brake start technique on hills very difficult....you shouldn't have to pull the hand-brake up so damn high/hard just to get it to hold the car on a hill.
But at the same time, the car as a whole, requires a lot of work/effort/attention to drive it properly and smoothly so it's not really a surprise that the E-brake is a b*tch.
____________
MrElussive
03 G35C 6MT
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#8
Re: Am I killing my clutch by doing this?
i agree with mr elussive... if you get better at rev-matching, you can downshift much quicker and still have a nice smooth ride. If you have to rely on slowly letting the clutch out, it WILL hurt the life of the clutch.. maybe not much, but over time... Also if you have to let the clutch out slowly, that's just it, it's slow. When you want to downshift quickly to catch up to that fart can that just passed you, you want to catch up quickly.
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2004 TB/W 6mt Coupe. Sunroof only.
Bel Vector 985 Hardwired.
Grounding Kit.
Splash Guards.
Custom Carputer.
Custom FG Sub Enclosure.
---
2004 TB/W 6mt Coupe. Sunroof only.
Bel Vector 985 Hardwired.
Grounding Kit.
Splash Guards.
Custom Carputer.
Custom FG Sub Enclosure.
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jbmw002
G35 Sedan V35 2003-06
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09-10-2015 12:54 AM