Worth downshifting with a damaged synchro?

[Kramerica]

My winter beater has a damaged synchro in first gear, not a real problem but its annoying that I can't downshift into first without being at a snails pace. I'm curious if its worth learning to shift without synchro or am I going to damage first gear in the process, I can sort of do it but the process basically involves me determining whether the rpms are too high or low from the grinding then adjusting so it'll go in, I'm assuming I just need to learn how to rev match for it to go in properly. The transmission basically just has to last winter, I already have another one so I'm not concerned too much about long term effects

[ExtraSlow]

Two options:
1) stop downshifting while the car is moving.
2) learn to rev match.

Probably won't fuck it up much worse than it already is.

[benz_890]

Maybe i don't know how to drive standard but I only shift into first if I am at a complete stop and going to take off. Why do you downshift into first?

[M.alex]

Why would you even downshift into first?

[Kramerica]

Originally posted by M.alex
Why would you even downshift into first?

Engine braking

[Grogador]

At speeds over "crawling to a stop", you need to rev match for a downshift into first, or at least double-clutch to let the drivetrain catch up.

[Hallowed_point]

Originally posted by M.alex
Why would you even downshift into first?

x2

That's crazy to even attempt that man, and I can't see why you would. 1st gear is much to steep to downshift into , at least on any car I've owned

Lowest gear that I would recommend a downshift into would be 2nd.

[btimbit]

Originally posted by Kramerica


Engine braking

Not gonna hurt your brakes any braking from speeds slow enough to warrant down shifting into first. But like extraslow said, probably won't fuck it up much worse than it already is

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by Kramerica


Engine braking

Brake pads and rotors are cheap compared to clutches and gearbox components.

[JAARemedy]

There's no need to downshift into first whatsoever. Engine braking? Your just putting useless stress on your engine if you're using 1st gear, and at speed at less than 20km/h?

You really dont have any need to downshift or rev match into first. It's exactly as you said it yourself. For complete stop and go, or if you're going ridiculously slow.

In most vehicles, you cant even shift into first if you're already moving. The synchros just don't allow for it.

[benyl]

Originally posted by Kramerica


Engine braking

[benz_890]

Originally posted by JAARemedy
[B
In most vehicles, you cant even shift into first if you're already moving. The synchros just don't allow for it. [/B]

Thats probably why his synchros are shot.

[Kramerica]

Synchros were shot before I bought the vehicle, the engine is being replaced along with the transmission in spring. car is perfectly drivable but its more of a "can I do it?" type thing

[SJW]

Double clutching. I had a car like this once.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_clutch

[JordanAndrew]

Originally posted by Kramerica
Synchros were shot before I bought the vehicle, the engine is being replaced along with the transmission in spring. car is perfectly drivable but its more of a "can I do it?" type thing

NO you can't. Why risk it if you want the damn thing to last you over the winter?




Thread/

[Redlined_8000]

No reason to downshift to first unless your stopped or going <5kmh.

[ga16i]

I always downshift into first gear by double clutching and rev matching (clutch, neutral, rev, clutch, shift). I do this on a daily basis pulling a 90 degree turn onto an inclined driveway.

For those who don't use first gear, how do you park your car? I use first gear to into garage and most mall parking. Yes, I can start the car in 2nd, but ~5kph is too low to tap the gas if I need to inch forward into a spot (car will shake).

[slinkie]

In my corolla I downshift from 2nd to 1st a lot. Yall irked? Mainly I just like the sound of the car winding down in first. I can't match it properly unless i stomp the gas twice rapidly though, must be a muscle memory sort of thing, because it's perfect every time.

As mentioned before, I don't think it's ever a good idea to move your shifter into place before the revs are matched....how do you think your synchros got worn in the first place?

[Zhariak]

Well, no matter what, whenever downshifting you should always be rev matching... This applies for all gears.


First of all, only time you should ever be going in to first is if you're going extremely slow (slow enough that you can feel 2nd bogging).

If your synchro's are pooched, try double clutching, it's easy enough just as someone else mentioning...

From second, press clutch, put shifter in neutral, release clutch, give it gas and rev match, press clutch, put in first, and release clutch... This should seriously minimize the use of synchros (enough that the damaged synchro's should be able to make up for the revs you can't perfectly match).


Keep in mind though, that you're playing with first... If you give it too much RPM, or not enough, if you're on snow or ice, you could either lock the tires, or cause them to spin, which would result in loss of traction...

The only time I ever have to put my vehicle in first is if I'm in rush hour that's going EXTREMELY slow that it causes 2nd to bog, if I'm on a crazy crazy incline, or if I'm preparing for crazy crazy fast drift king acceleration.

[Boosted131]

My cars have always went into first easy whenever I want, how are you supposed to race someone from a 20 roll?