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rolling launch - downshifting

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Old May 5, 2006 | 03:24 PM
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Default rolling launch - downshifting

how hard is it on your transmission to down shift when racing from a roll? Slamming it down a gear and immediately punching the gas seems like it probably wouldn't be too good. Thats what I always do but i was wondering if anyone rev matches the lower gear first and then drop it down? And would this method have an effect on the effeciency of the rolling launch? I know that when you just slam it down a gear the car seems to take off a hell of a lot faster than if you rev match the lower gear first...but maybe there's no difference. Might just be the physics that your feeling.
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Old May 5, 2006 | 04:47 PM
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Always better to rev match the motor to the gear. Less stress on the tranny.
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Old May 5, 2006 | 11:24 PM
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Originally Posted by MEAN LT1
Always better to rev match the motor to the gear. Less stress on the tranny.
-and on the rear end. blipping the throttle is key in the twisties, its all about balance, you drop it down a gear on a corner and dont match the gas you might not make it around the corner.
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Old May 6, 2006 | 05:44 PM
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yeah.. thats the best part about downshifting, the blip or burp of the throttle to match the r's, love the sound. its all driving by the seat of your pants.
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Old May 6, 2006 | 08:46 PM
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if you're good at double clutching, then there is no problem at all.
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Old May 7, 2006 | 02:01 AM
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Originally Posted by sdm1234
if you're good at double clutching, then there is no problem at all.


The synchros are not what hes going to be saving here.

FWIW, it's best to start off in the lower gear at higher RPM. If you want to do it your way.... You're going to beat up the clutch, and the rest of the drivetrain due to the shock you're putting on it.

Blip the throttle (rev match approx. 1K RPMs) downshift and go at it.

This saves you from the shock you're putting on the drivetrain. That faster BS you're trying to feed by leaving at a higher gear is just that. BS

It's not any faster, and is actually slower than leaving in the lower gear. It takes a second to downshift, it doesn't to just go WOT.
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Old May 8, 2006 | 01:02 PM
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So let make sure I got this right, downshifting from 6th to 3rd at 70 mph on the highway, to full throttle, puts extra wear on your clutch?
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Old May 8, 2006 | 03:07 PM
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Any time you shift it put wear on your clutch. If you properly rev match its just much better for your clutch is all.


Did that other guy really say something about double clutching? He is watching too much fast and the furious, be careful not to blow the welds on your intake with naws man!
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Old May 8, 2006 | 03:59 PM
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"Double clutch" last time I heard that it was from a group of kids at the "performance" section of Autozone, buying Neon yellow Intake boots!!!

Ill drop mine in 3rd up to 80MPH. Yes it is horrible on the tranny, but going fast is what I bought it for.
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Old May 8, 2006 | 04:23 PM
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so basically, if your racing someone from 60mph and you drop it down to third, you should rev match it first? or just cruise with it in 3rd at 65 and not downshift at all? seems funny...i'm just used to slamming it down and going.
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Old May 8, 2006 | 05:32 PM
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I try to rev match, but at 75 when you drop into 3rd, its pretty much to the floor anyway!!
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Old May 9, 2006 | 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by royalcrown
so basically, if your racing someone from 60mph and you drop it down to third, you should rev match it first? or just cruise with it in 3rd at 65 and not downshift at all? seems funny...i'm just used to slamming it down and going.
You could really mess up your transmission (synchros) by "downshifting" that way. You really should rev match when you're going to downshift if you want to do it right. Sure, you'll put more wear on your clutch, but I'd rather pay for a new clutch than to replace the synchros in my tranny.
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Old May 9, 2006 | 10:45 PM
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I can't believe you guys are uncomfortable with the term "double-clutching."

Originally Posted by BAD *** TA WS6
Blip the throttle (rev match approx. 1K RPMs) downshift and go at it.
I'd rather say "double-clutch" than "blip the throttle approximately 1000 RPM higher than you're already running to match the flywheel speed with the proper reducted transmission gear, during the downshift to save wear and tear on the clutch plates."

Why don't any of you like the term, when you're all just using different phrases of it? You're all giving the correct information, and you're also all giving the definition of "double-clutching."
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Old May 9, 2006 | 11:02 PM
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I always try to blip the throttle on downshifts whenever possible. No point in putting unnecessary wear and tear on the transmission and clutch.

The closer the RPM's are to the next gear you are selecting, the better
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Old May 10, 2006 | 03:17 PM
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i was always told double clutching was basically hitting the clutch twice as you shift so that your you are essentially hitting the clutch while the car is in neutral which used to help sync up the gears before synchros were around

rev matching is what everyone else here is talking about
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Old May 11, 2006 | 06:45 PM
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I always double clutch into lower gears. I think it is kinda fun when you get good at it.

double clutching goes like this....

1. Push in the clutch

2. Shift to neutral

3. Release the clutch to engage it

4. Rev to the proper engine speed of the gear you will be entering

5. push in the clutch

6. shift into gear

7. Release clutch

This saves wear and tear on your tranny, though these days with syncros it is not totally nessisary. At the very least rev match when you down shift
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Old May 11, 2006 | 07:25 PM
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It's alright to be a redneck

My old man talks about how he used to double clutch it back in the day. When he had some ford 3 spd That is how all the hot-rods did it Had to have fast feet man fast feet and I had the fastest!! )

Whew will I ever stop laughing..
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Old May 11, 2006 | 10:12 PM
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old school....i love it
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Old May 11, 2006 | 10:28 PM
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How do you rev match when downshifting?
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Old May 11, 2006 | 10:30 PM
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double clutching is for big trucks without syncros.
anyone saying it towards anything otherwise either doesnt know what it is, or is using the term incorrectly..



anyhoo, dumping from say 6th to 2nd on the hwy is hard on the clutch, but the stress on the trans itself isnt that bad compared to hard upshifts like slamming it in 1->2 or 2->3...
you can minimize the stress by having the revs closer... so instead of the clutch spinning at 5k and the engine still at 1500, just floor it before you dump the clutch, and the RPMs are alot closer... so its less stressful to the clutch.


so in a nutshell.. floor it just before you dump the clutch...



btw, i do double clutch...... when im driving the old 1970s fire truck in a parade, or when i goto 1st gear on my dads triumph spitfire with the modded trans thats in it (no syncros in 1st..)
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