I'm having a hard time rev-matching from 3rd to 2nd. Anyone have good tips on how to downshift smoothly between these 2 gears? I tried revving it pretty high and downshifting but it still has a harsh jerk.

 

it depends on how fast you are going when you downshift. personally, i only downshift to 3rd then go to neutral. if you still want to, sometimes it helps to observe a speed you'd be going (like 20 or 25 or so) in 2nd and where the tach is at, then when you are downshifting you can shoot for that number. that is, unless you want to downshift into VTEC at like 50 or something , but in any case, experiment. it's not a big deal to shift that smooth to me, at least.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thelarkascend1ng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it depends on how fast you are going when you downshift. personally, i only downshift to 3rd then go to neutral. if you still want to, sometimes it helps to observe a speed you'd be going (like 20 or 25 or so) in 2nd and where the tach is at, then when you are downshifting you can shoot for that number. that is, unless you want to downshift into VTEC at like 50 or something , but in any case, experiment. it's not a big deal to shift that smooth to me, at least.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Besides, if you are slowing down, you never completely disengage the clutch in 2nd, you start disengaging at like 3-4k then depress the clutch and come to a complete stop. Rev matching really doesn't apply all that much to slowing down

 

Pratice young one, you have to balance it out. Find the right spot. Prelude's are known for bogging/jerking, so it's going to take a while to perfect.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sticky Tires &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pratice young one, you have to balance it out. Find the right spot. Prelude's are known for bogging/jerking, so it's going to take a while to perfect. </TD></TR></TABLE>

oh old one speaks of wisdom.

 

For me, i don't know exactly how much i increase the engine RPM when i downshift. I should take a look sometime. but i do it completely by feel of the car's gears. when i first drive a car i try to get an idea of how much the engine slows down after each gear increase. I guess all i can say is practice makes better.

for my stock lude (stock everything but intake), all i need is a quick blip on the gas to downshift really smooth, and i experience no bogging/pushing/pulling etc---100% smooth, but only achieved through practice, ofcourse.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shakes &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

oh old one speaks of wisdom.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

*fortune cookie*

 

What RPM range do you all drive in? I rarely ever need to downshift. I can drive my car easily below 2k in the rpm range and it won't bog out at all. When I normally drive I keep it between 2-3k rpm so as not to overwork the engine. My does have 175,000 miles too, so lol. If i need to stop I always use my brakes over downshifting to slow down and stop, as clutches run a lot more money and labor to replace compared to brake pads...then again if you know how to use perception and use your gear you're in to slow you down and coast prior to the stop you save gas, brakes, and or clutching just some tips!

 

BLAH

IMO downshifting should only be used to get to higher RPMs to pass grandma chillin in the left lane at 10 under the limit....for slowing down, just put the clutch in and then apply brakes (a few exceptions exist)

 

Just let your clutch up more smoothly instead of straight up and you will avoid that harsh jerk of your tranny trying to match the engine revs suddenly, it kind of slows the engine revs more gently and gives the engine revs a chance to drop naturally.

 

can anyone here actually heel toe downdshift in there prelude...I cant.. my feet are too big, and my legs are too long, the steering wheel gets in the way when I try to turn my leg...

 

I used to do it...until I hit my knee really hard on the center console.

I barely fit in my prelude anyway...but its possible.

 

do it barefoot or with wrestling shoes... no chance i can do it with my boots on...

 

You might be letting the clutch out too slowly causing the rpms
to drop back down when the clutch actually engages.

 

I guess pedals help to bring them closer together... I need a steering wheel, and a extension to bring it closer to me.. I could turn my foot better then, and could do it, without having to brake....gas to match speeds, brake....i could do it all at once!

 

i never downshift into second. at least on the street anyway. by the time you hit 3rd and comming to a stop you are slow enough to put it in neutral.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kronn 98SH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BLAH

IMO downshifting should only be used to get to higher RPMs to pass grandma chillin in the left lane at 10 under the limit....for slowing down, just put the clutch in and then apply brakes (a few exceptions exist)</TD></TR></TABLE>

agreed

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98TypeSH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i never downshift into second. at least on the street anyway.</TD></TR></TABLE>

he's right ... untill ure street racing initial D style ... and if you are ... kill youre self before u kill anyone innocent.

 

when i slow down i never ease off my clutch....i downshift, but at speeds where i would be at less than 3k rpms..so if i was going like 45..i would go into 4th and at 30-30 i go into 3rd..i only go into second when i need to stop fast...

i only downshift when i drive when my rpms are way too low and there is traffic and i just dont want my car to jerk really hard cause my rpms are too low.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kronn 98SH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BLAH

IMO downshifting should only be used to get to higher RPMs to pass grandma chillin in the left lane at 10 under the limit....for slowing down, just put the clutch in and then apply brakes (a few exceptions exist)</TD></TR></TABLE>

it's good practice because if you are auto-x'ing or on the track, you need to downshift.

that said, a 3-2 shift is (on the street for sure) going to be hard to get smoothly since there's a much bigger difference in ratio (torque) than say a 5-4 downshift. that said, practice makes perfect and you'll have more luck working in lower rpm's.

in any case, if you're looking for smoothness (as in on a date...), just leave it in neutral to slow down. other than that, dont worry about a bit of a jerk.

 

If you're downshifting to assist breaking there really isn't much
point in revmatching.

 

I think you just need to get a feel for your clutch, i always downshift without reving and i don't jerk, you just need to let of your clutch slowly. Just practice

 

what iv found that going into 2nd gear if im going around 60 rev to 6 grand, going 50 rev up to 5 grand, 40 rev to 4 grand, 30 rev to 3 grand and so on. This worked for me using a s tranny and an si tranny. I hope that gets you close enough to were you dont have a jerk problem anymore.

 

Well the thing is I've only been driving stick for a month now. I'd like to autox but I want to be able to shift into 2nd a little more smoothly. I got it down somewhat ok now. Just need more practice. Hopefully autox in 2 weeks near by Thanks for the tips guys.

 

^ quote you never want to do this....it puts way too much stress on your synchros if your going to downshift while under load meaning, you have to match the speeds of the engine to the speed that the tranny is moving... meaning if your in 3rd, and try to go the 2nd....if you dont match the speeds, then the clutch and syncos are doing that job for you.. creating much more wear and tension on these parts...

Also it does take practice, and ludes are hard, compared to other cares, but I have gotten it down to wear you cant even feel a shimmy at all.... although I have had my car for 3 years now...