Rev Matching - Mechanical Sympathy.

[KardioKate]

Been trying a bit of clutchless gear changing this morning - suprised at how easy it actually is to get the revs right.

With my car being an elderly Laguna am I going to bork my gearbox if I continue this style of driving? I've not yet crunched it, but I feel it will inevitably happen at some point!

[davepoth]

It wears the synchro rings out rather than the clutch; the clutch is cheaper to change than the synchro rings. I wouldn't drive like it all the time, but getting a bit of practice in is certainly an idea; it's handy to know how to do it in case your clutch stops working for some reason.

[7db]

It needn't wear the synchro rings, but I'd use the clutch and develop your sense of feel to see whether you have it right rather than waiting for a crunch.

[1point7bar]

As you release the brakes before turning in, the driving wheels grip better if the transmission is not being loaded by or unloading onto the tarmac.

[MC Bodge]

KardioKate said:

Been trying a bit of clutchless gear changing this morning - suprised at how easy it actually is to get the revs right.

With my car being an elderly Laguna am I going to bork my gearbox if I continue this style of driving? I've not yet crunched it, but I feel it will inevitably happen at some point!

Just a thought:

A mate of mine had an Mk1(?) Laguna. Amongst many other things, the gearbox failed which led to its final journey ...to the scrapyard.

My advice: when you've got the hang of doing it clutchless, just use the clutch for normal driving and rev-match, heel-toe etc. as-and-when-required for smooth, sympathetic progress.

[KardioKate]

MC Bodge said:

Just a thought:

A mate of mine had an Mk1(?) Laguna. Amongst many other things, the gearbox failed which led to its final journey ...to the scrapyard.

My advice: when you've got the hang of doing it clutchless, just use the clutch for normal driving and rev-match, heel-toe etc. as-and-when-required for smooth, sympathetic progress.

Yes - I know that gearboxes are known to be weak on the Laguna 1s.

I've really got to the point where heel/toe & rev matching comes second nature (although it has taken a little longer to adapt to this car!) and am looking for other things to progress my driving.

[_Neal_]

Sounds like if you're doing it right you're not going to cause much damage, but it would seem more "risky" for the gearbox than using the clutch. Carry on, I say.

As for other things, how about limit handling/skidpan work, or trackdays? HPC? Have you done IAM/ROSPA?