Downshifting into first=grind
#1
The anti-ricer
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hillsdale, NJ
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Downshifting into first=grind
Hey guys,
I've had many problems with the clutch on my car...some my fault and some the person who owned it before me.
Recently I've noticed that I cannot downshift into first gear above 10MPH, but anything 10 or under it's fine.
When I do try to shift above 10, it grinds big time.
Does this happen to anyone else? Or do I have another problem with my car![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
Thanks guys,
Sean
I've had many problems with the clutch on my car...some my fault and some the person who owned it before me.
Recently I've noticed that I cannot downshift into first gear above 10MPH, but anything 10 or under it's fine.
When I do try to shift above 10, it grinds big time.
Does this happen to anyone else? Or do I have another problem with my car
![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
Thanks guys,
Sean
#2
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: los angeles, ca
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't get into first above 10 mph either. I don't bother trying to force it. I replaced the transmission fluid with Royal Purple hoping to fix it but it hasn't changed. The shifter moves more freely now, but has all the same clunks in the same places it had before. I've never beat on it, my car only has 4k miles right now.
#3
whenever i'm rolling to a stop, i'm able to put it back into 1st gear but u have to feather the clutch on its way up or else the car will jerk hard.. However, i never got any sort of grind but there is some resistence though.. I dont think the grind is normal..
#9
Do you guys find 2nd gear bogs down pretty easily? I sometimes find myself in the position where I can't get into 1st, yet I feel like I have to slip the clutch forever to get moving again in 2nd. It makes parking lots interesting sometimes. When I had my 2.0L Mazda3 I could almost drag 2nd down to a stop without lugging. Yet the RX-8 bucks and jerks at the same speeds. If this is par for the course I think I'll be teaching myself to double-clutch into 1st.
#10
Laid back in the pocket
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If 8mph or higher just use 2nd. It seems like ~8mph is the slowest the car wants to go in 2nd, and it doesn't seem to lug it much.
When I downshift into 1st (1) I try to go as slow as possible, never above 7-8mph, and (2) I always blip the throttle before engaging 1st (double-clutching helps a little but I have not found it to be necessary always), oh and (3) be very gentle when engaging the gears. Using these techniques I've never grinded, although when going say 5-7mph there is definitely a little resistance.
Try to adjust your timing/approach so that either you don't need 1st at all, or that you can come to a near stop before going into 1st.
When I downshift into 1st (1) I try to go as slow as possible, never above 7-8mph, and (2) I always blip the throttle before engaging 1st (double-clutching helps a little but I have not found it to be necessary always), oh and (3) be very gentle when engaging the gears. Using these techniques I've never grinded, although when going say 5-7mph there is definitely a little resistance.
Try to adjust your timing/approach so that either you don't need 1st at all, or that you can come to a near stop before going into 1st.
#11
Registered
iTrader: (25)
there's no lockout, I downshift into 1st around 30+ mph all the time braking into slow autox turns that exit around 20mph or so ![Dunno](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/dunno.gif)
downshift into 1st gear 4 or 5 times on this (crappy) course:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IJHcj4kpueA
![Dunno](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/dunno.gif)
downshift into 1st gear 4 or 5 times on this (crappy) course:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IJHcj4kpueA
Last edited by TeamRX8; 06-28-2007 at 02:17 PM.
#13
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i'm having this same problem, and glad i found this thread. it just started this weekend, right after my 30K mile check, which was fine.
i'm real dumb, so can someone explain "double clutching"???
i'm real dumb, so can someone explain "double clutching"???
![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#14
The Professor
Never try and muscle the shifter into gear unless you want to bend your shift forks and grind your synchros. If it has trouble going into gear, let the car roll a little bit in neutral, rev up a bit and shift gently.
#15
Utopia Taco Bell
I rarely dip into a first gear downshift on the street. But I often do during autocrossing, ex; heel-toe into a hair pin.
The grinding you're getting is the protest from the synchros. Be sure to blip the throttle more agressively during the downshift.
Oh and you can forget about double clutching. The synchros in modern day cars kinda eliminates the need for double clutching. The idea of double clutching is to always select netural before a downshift, blip the throttle, then clutch in, then select the lower gear. This is meant to either save your synchros or to be used on trannys that don't have synchros. When upshifting you clutch in to select neutral, this slows the countershaft which then allows the upshift to pop in smoother when you clutch in for the next higher gear.
The grinding you're getting is the protest from the synchros. Be sure to blip the throttle more agressively during the downshift.
Oh and you can forget about double clutching. The synchros in modern day cars kinda eliminates the need for double clutching. The idea of double clutching is to always select netural before a downshift, blip the throttle, then clutch in, then select the lower gear. This is meant to either save your synchros or to be used on trannys that don't have synchros. When upshifting you clutch in to select neutral, this slows the countershaft which then allows the upshift to pop in smoother when you clutch in for the next higher gear.
#16
![Talking](https://www.rx8club.com/images/icons/icon10.gif)
there's no lockout, I downshift into 1st around 30+ mph all the time braking into slow autox turns that exit around 20mph or so ![Dunno](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/dunno.gif)
downshift into 1st gear 4 or 5 times on this (crappy) course:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IJHcj4kpueA
![Dunno](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/dunno.gif)
downshift into 1st gear 4 or 5 times on this (crappy) course:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IJHcj4kpueA
+1... it's all synchro reliant. Blip the throttle while braking.. or if stuck in traffic between 1st & 2nd... just blip the throttle while applying light pressure.. it will speed up the synchro's.
You now have a good reason to practice the 'heel-toe' downshift.
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#18
lol... whats so silly is you can now double clutch on the evo-10
... and FF4 is starting production this month..... I wonder if Mazda will be smart enough to drop whatever rx-7/8/9 design 16x into the movie.... i would if 'i were a Market Manager for the MNAO'.
Hint hint...
![Big Grin](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Hint hint...
#19
ಠ_ಠ
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Under the Dumbarton Bridge
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
5 Posts
Sounds like your syncros are going out, or you're forcing it into gear.
I don't shift into first above 10 mph without double clutching (heck, I hardly do it ever) because otherwise the syncros just won't engage, and I don't like the idea of grinding the syncros to dust to get into first.
I don't shift into first above 10 mph without double clutching (heck, I hardly do it ever) because otherwise the syncros just won't engage, and I don't like the idea of grinding the syncros to dust to get into first.
#20
Registered
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
there's no lockout, I downshift into 1st around 30+ mph all the time braking into slow autox turns that exit around 20mph or so ![Dunno](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/dunno.gif)
downshift into 1st gear 4 or 5 times on this (crappy) course:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IJHcj4kpueA
![Dunno](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/dunno.gif)
downshift into 1st gear 4 or 5 times on this (crappy) course:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IJHcj4kpueA
#23
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
+1... it's all synchro reliant. Blip the throttle while braking.. or if stuck in traffic between 1st & 2nd... just blip the throttle while applying light pressure.. it will speed up the synchro's.
You now have a good reason to practice the 'heel-toe' downshift.
there's a pretty funny episode in initial D's 1st Stage... can't find the clip on youtube. ![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
You now have a good reason to practice the 'heel-toe' downshift.
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Frown](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/frown.gif)
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#24
Registered
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Double clutch: From whatever gear you're in, push in clutch and shift into neutral, take foot off clutch, then press clutch in again and shift to desired gear. Essentially shifting to neutral, and then your desired gear.
#25
just rev match it and shift down smoothly no rush... or maybe ur clutch is wearing out for sure, normal wear and tear or maybe from abusive~ but remember you can exceed 10mph no problem but just rev match it.. no need for a double clutch thats just for trucks LOL.. these trannys arent even made for those abuse- good luck.