Gear changing advice

[james_gt3rs]

3 months after passing my test, my car control is improving, finally learnt heel and toe for those special occasions

Now i have got reasonably smooth gear changes going up the 'box, but i was just wondering how to change gear really fast AND smoothly (when i change really fast i usually get quite a lurch, but no crunching gears on the rare occasions i change up fast)

any tips?

[1950trevorP]

james_gt3rs said:

any tips?

Yup.

rev matching.

Start here:-
http://artofgearchanging.blogspot.com/

What is this "test" you have passed?

Edited by 1950trevorP on Monday 15th September 14:23

[Dr Jekyll]

Start by changing gear more slowly, pause briefly in neutral. When you can make these changes smoothly you can try to speed up a bit, but there is no advantage in changing gear particularly quickly. A good gearchange is one which your passenger could not detect without looking.

[Don]

If you are getting lurches when gear changing you are not matching revs closely enough.

Slow your gear changes down and concentrate on setting the engine revs with the throttle exactly right prior to raising the clutch. Whether you are doing this on the gas only on the way up the box or, using Heel and Toe, under braking on the way down doesn't matter - it's the closeness of the rev match that gives you smooth change.

To be honest you might find it better to use the system of car control i.e. Brake first. Then put foot on accelerator. Then dip clutch, change gear and raise clutch whilst depressing the gas only enough to match engine revs to road speed.

Doing H&T just complicates the process of learning exactly how much throttle to use. Once you've got it sorted out you can build it back into H&T for fast changes on track.

[1950trevorP]

Here is an example by a competent driver:-

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fTScu7jOJd0&feat...

(try to ignore the hairy legs)

[Sam_68]

james_gt3rs said:

...finally learnt heel and toe for those special occasions

Now i have got reasonably smooth gear changes going up the 'box

At risk of asking a really dumb-ass question, you're not heeling-and-toeing as you change up are you?

[Mark H 1984]

I wondered if i could tag a question on this as it relates to it.

I've just really started to rev match - however I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly. If I heal toe for changing down or just matching on the way up - should I be just bliping the throtle to get the revs to where I think I need them, coming completely off the throtle before bringing the clutch up? Or should I be holding the throtle in at Xrpm and bringing up the clutch while still on the throtle.

I've been bliping and coming completely off the the trottle prior to bring up the clutch - but just wanted to ensure I'm doing it correctly.

[Don]

Mark H 1984 said:

Or should I be holding the throtle in at Xrpm and bringing up the clutch while still on the throtle.

This method "sustained revs" is easier to get perfect IMO.

[Mark H 1984]

Don said:

Mark H 1984 said:

Or should I be holding the throtle in at Xrpm and bringing up the clutch while still on the throtle.

This method "sustained revs" is easier to get perfect IMO.

Brilliant - thanks for that Don, I'll be trying this on my way round to the folks tonight!

[_Neal_]

The way I practice sustained rev changes (and I'm sure I've read others posting on here similarly) is to drive at a constant speed (say 40mph) in say 4th gear, then change down a gear and back up whilst matching the revs.

If you're doing it right you shouldn't be able to feel any engine braking or lurching as the gears engage - just the revs changing. Feels and sounds like a "slushbox" auto tranmission IMO

Have fun

[Don]

_Neal_ said:

The way I practice sustained rev changes (and I'm sure I've read others posting on here similarly) is to drive at a constant speed (say 40mph) in say 4th gear, then change down a gear and back up whilst matching the revs.

If you're doing it right you shouldn't be able to feel any engine braking or lurching as the gears engage - just the revs changing. Feels and sounds like a "slushbox" auto tranmission IMO

Have fun

That's the exercise I give my Associates. I am an IAM Observer...

[Mark H 1984]

So to practice this method - I should be on the gas at 40 in 4th.

Off the load peddle - clutch in, back on the gas to about 4000rpm or what ever - into 3rd and release clutch.

Sounds straight forward.

[_Neal_]

Yep that's the way

[jaf01uk]

If your driving at 40 in 4th and just holding your speed steady when you stick the clutch in DO NOT come off the gas at all and you will notice the revs rise about 5 to 700 depending on vehicle due to not having to drag the car along, the revs generally rise to what they are going to be in the next gear down hence sustained revs. It is incredibly difficult for a start to stay on the gas while changing as it's hammered into new drivers to come off to change. The other method is "blipping" the gas as you change gear but that is down to judgement as opposed to a skill which can be taught.
Gary

[300bhp/ton]

Dr Jekyll said:

Start by changing gear more slowly, pause briefly in neutral. When you can make these changes smoothly you can try to speed up a bit, but there is no advantage in changing gear particularly quickly. A good gearchange is one which your passenger could not detect without looking.

Depends what you are doing.

If racing a quick shift or powershifting can count for quite a bit, it can also wreck gearboxes and other parts when it goes wrong too.

Smoothness is key to good driving IMO. No matter what it is, but some cars are just no smooth.

[Martin A]

jaf01uk said:

...It is incredibly difficult for a start to stay on the gas while changing as it's hammered into new drivers to come off to change.
Gary

Depends on whether you go for cheap driving lessons or good ones.

HTH

Regards

Martin A

[GreenV8S]

Martin A said:

jaf01uk said:

...It is incredibly difficult for a start to stay on the gas while changing as it's hammered into new drivers to come off to change.
Gary

Depends on whether you go for cheap driving lessons or good ones.

How often do you do a full throttle down shift? It's not often appropriate, and even when it would be appropriate I usually don't do it because it is so hard to get right and causes so many problems when it goes wrong. But when you *do* get it right, it's extremely satisfying.

[jaf01uk]

GreenV8S said:

Martin A said:

jaf01uk said:

...It is incredibly difficult for a start to stay on the gas while changing as it's hammered into new drivers to come off to change.
Gary

Depends on whether you go for cheap driving lessons or good ones.

How often do you do a full throttle down shift? It's not often appropriate, and even when it would be appropriate I usually don't do it because it is so hard to get right and causes so many problems when it goes wrong. But when you *do* get it right, it's extremely satisfying.

Full throttle downshift? Not sure where that was mentioned? All I'm talking about is raising the revs by the difference between the gear your in and the one your going into, sustaining the revs rather than coming off the gas and going back on while trying to get the bite on the clutch, the right revs all at the same time, set your gas first and then all you have to do is get the clutch up nice and smooth, and when going up the box leaving a fast idle on rather than coming off completely,
Gary

[GreenV8S]

jaf01uk said:

Full throttle downshift? Not sure where that was mentioned?

It wasn't, until I mentioned it. The discussions were exploring some of the variations in gear change techniques including throttle control during downshifts, which brought it to mind.

[jaf01uk]

Cool, not a technique I'm familiar with but good to explore new possibilities