i just hav a quick question...lately i've been wondering if it is ok to switch to neutral without putting the clutch in first???? i tried it for a while but it seems as if i hav to force it out and it makes a popping noise which i'm not too sure of. Is this normal to do?

 

You talking when parked or when moving? When moving it is quite easy to smoothly go from anywhere 2-5 into neutral.

 

when moving of course...do i hav to put the clutch in first? it is easy but just doesn't sound or feel too convincing

 

i always hit the clutch when going to neutral
i'm not sure if its safe to do it without the clutch
i do mines out of habit

 

It's easy when moving. Just slightly tap the gas (on deceleration) and the lever moves right into neutral. You'll know where the smooth point is--you can feel it.

Heck, I can do clutchless downshifts on deceleration. Doesn't hurt anything as long as you do it correctly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's easy when moving. Just slightly tap the gas (on deceleration) and the lever moves right into neutral. You'll know where the smooth point is--you can feel it.

Heck, I can do clutchless downshifts on deceleration. Doesn't hurt anything as long as you do it correctly.</TD></TR></TABLE>
i dunno bout downshifting without the clutch, you'll tear that up!

 

i use the pedal out of habit also.. but i also heal toe a lot so when im droping gears im pushin all kinds of pedals at the same time .. so whats why i have that habbit .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's easy when moving. Just slightly tap the gas (on deceleration) and the lever moves right into neutral. You'll know where the smooth point is--you can feel it.

Heck, I can do clutchless downshifts on deceleration. Doesn't hurt anything as long as you do it correctly.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah i remember my dad telling me something about this..like at a certain speed or RPM you can just move it out of gear into neutral or even downshift also..but anywho to the OP..my thing is if your pulling it out of gear..and it won't let you..or you hear a thud or some sound...just press on the clutch haha..

 

im no mechanic...but im pretty sure its prolly not the best thing in the world for the tranny

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMTheory_Autosport_DC5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yeah i remember my dad telling me something about this..like at a certain speed or RPM you can just move it out of gear into neutral or even downshift also..but anywho to the OP..my thing is if your pulling it out of gear..and it won't let you..or you hear a thud or some sound...just press on the clutch haha..</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is correct. You can 'feel' when you can slip it into another gear without the clutch. Like I said, as long as you don't grind, there is nothing wrong with shifting this way.

 

with my beater crx i would go from 1st to 5th and back to 1st with no problem at all, no grind either. just have to find that rpm range. but i never really tried it with my rsx-s.

a buddy once tried to in his focus and when he went to second all you heard was

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDD DDD



lol

 

It's easy if you're not stressing the driveline at all.

If you're adding enough throttle to accelerate, you're putting tension on the drivetrain; if you're still in gear but off the gas -- and using engine braking -- you're also putting tension on the drivetrain.

Right in between, there's that "sweet spot" where there isn't much pressure being put on the transmission at all. That's when you can flick it nicely out of gear without using the clutch pedal.

I do it just as I'm coming off the gas. If I'm already engine braking, I'll add just a touch of throttle to balance the drivetrain and make it easier.

It's entirely possible to go from neutral into gear, but to do it reasonably well, you MUST be very good at matching engine revs to vehicle speed and choice of gear.

 

when my buddy takes his moms stratus out he never uses the clutch. shifts through all the gears no problem just sold the car with 200k i think original clutch and tranny. also i drove a dump truck at work and the guy who taught me told me to just floor it and it will go right into the next gear. took a few tries but i got it.

 

hey if ur not comfortable doing it just stick with putting the clutch in. not like it makes u faster if u can go to neutral without a clutch

 

it puts unecesary strain on the shift forks. But there's a small threshold where you can do it and be "okay" with it.

I got into the habit when I had a "beater" trans on my car with grinding gears. I had to double clutch all gears to get them to engage in high rpms. It's best to not get into the habit.

 

I did that couple times too, going neutral without having to hit the clutch. Once in a while is ok, but I heard new cars have a synchro or something and you'll mess it up if you do that often. Just follow the protocol will ya !