i'm a newb when it comes to driving stickshift, so i have a question for all u 6mt owners out there. whenever i'm shifting from 2-3 and 3-4 the shift is very notchy and it isn't smooth at all. same for going into first from neutral. if i clutch in and go to 1st, and it's really notchy, i clutch, go into neutral and back into first, and its fine and smooth. is there a reason why the shifter is smooth at times and notchy at other times? any info. would be appreciated.

black/black 6mt g35c - fully loaded
jwt pop charger - 350z tube
fujitsubo legalis-r exhaust

 

the reason it is not notchy the second time you do it, is because you have already aligned the two gears that mesh to make first gear. pulling the shifter back into nuetral will only move one gear, so when you then go back into first you are only moving that gear back into position so it is much smoother. You have to remember, when you push in the clutch it doesn't mean that the tranny immediately stops spinning. It is simply taking the load of the engine off it. When you shift gears, the inner workings af the tranny are still spinning and there are synchronizers which assist in aligning the gears before they mesh together to reduce tooth damage. The more RPMs you were spinning when you put the clutch in , the more notchy the transmission will feel. If the down shift into first bothers you - you aren't hurting it - wait until you are completely stopped before shifting and it will be smoother. If you try shifting down to first as you're approaching a stop, the gears are still spinning fast enough that the synchros have to work harder to slow down the gears and get them aligned properly.

In any case, if the clutch is fully depressed and you don't force the shifter into gear, don't worry about the notchy feeling. It isn't doing any damage.

Hope this answers your ?s. Happy driving with your 6mt.

'04 coupe6mt
ivory premium aero

92 plymouth laser AWD
heavily modified for solo II
11.51@118 on 215/55 goodyear eagles

03 dodge ram quadcab 4X4 Hemi

 

Maybe you need the short shifter? its supposed to make the shifts a lot smoother.

Clears | Pedals | 35% TINT | Z-Tube | 4080 Stealthbox - JL 10w3 | Escort 8500 | PIAA's | Xenarc 7" Screen - DVD | Infinity Kappa's

 

I am newb and have questions about shifting as well. It is my first 6MT car and is still under break-in period. I notice that when I clutch in and shift from 1st to 2nd at 3000 RPMs, the car feels slower??? It is actually feeling the spin is deceasing when I clutch in??? Common situation: when the traffic sign turns green and I am ready to go…from neutral to 1st and then to 2nd (still clutch in around 3000 RPMs), the old car next to me even go faster! It is kind of embarrassing. May be I don’t have enough RPMs? Or I am not driving it right? Can you advise me the proper way to drive a stick shift? Much thanks!

04 G35 Coupe 6MT (Caribbean Blue/Willow)
Premium Package
Navigation Package
4-Piece Aerodynamic Body Kit

 

Thanks for the great tips. I will try it today. Thanks.

04 G35 Coupe 6MT (Caribbean Blue/Willow)
Premium Package
Navigation Package
4-Piece Aerodynamic Body Kit

 

or put it to the floor and shift at 6grand. They won't out accelerate you then either

'04 coupe6mt
ivory premium aero

92 plymouth laser AWD
heavily modified for solo II
11.51@118 on 215/55 goodyear eagles

03 dodge ram quadcab 4X4 Hemi

 

make sure you clutch-in all the way and give it a second
before entering the gates so that the syncro's have a moment
to do its job.

The tranny will loosen up after it's broken in. Mine was
super stiff going into 5th and 6th, but lately, it's been
very good (2500miles).


2004 G35C 6MT Brilliant Silver

 

you could always start off at 2nd and then stabb it, or if your in first just pop the clutch, but dont try to do it too often or at a high RPM, question anyone get a wierd smell during their break-in period from their brakes? i know its not clutch because i know what it smells like, well i know its not all clutch at least.