Hopefully this has not been covered, if it has, point me to a link. I search but am not sure what to search for.

Anyway, lately I have found that when I'm shifting the GSR, I frequently shift without using the clutch, just pull it out of gear, let the RPM drop a little and shove it into the next gear. I don't grind the gears or anything, It's just I don't use the clutch. Is this a bad thing and why?

Thanks for the help!!!

probably not a good idea, there's a clutch for a reason...lol...although i do it sometimes by accident

It is bad because it relies on the syncro alone to slow down the gear and make it mesh. With the clutch you disconnect the engine from the drive train in between gears, slowing down the gears a bit before the syncro has to do its work. Shifting without the clutch will wear out your syncros quicker.

That would be what they call "powershifting."

Much easier to do in a car that actually has torque, generally the fastest way to shift anyway.

Definately not good for your clutch, but as long as thats not what you do all the time it should be fine. I do it accidently in my civ now and then.

Its not real good. It is hard on the syncros and bearings. When you use the clutch you release the load off of the gear cluster but when you do not use the clutch you have higher loads on the syc's and will wear them out faster. This should only be used if you have clutch problems. My question is are you having problems or just wondering? In about 3months i am going to attempt my first manual tranny over haul(in my datsun). I hope i do not fail......its a little rare of a tranny and was hard to find.


Edit: powershifting is when you do not let off the gas but still use the clutch. Clutchless shiting would be like......I hate to say it but granny shifting.

Eh, thats just what ive been told. LOL i hate it when people give out incorrect information assuming theyre correct.... I suck...

LOl the only way to find out is to be wrong. Its worked out for me so far!

Yeah, I know it's granny shifting. I bought the GSR to save gas, so I normally drive it like a granny. I only do that if I shift under 3k. Basically I'm rev matching the tranny and engine. That's why I was asking, I was under the impression that if everything is matched at the same speed, you're not hurting the syncros.

Now power shifting will kill the syncros, that's when you don't rev match, but rather just SLAM it in to gear and ignore the grind, like I said, there is no grinding going on here.

Also, how can this be bad on the clutch? The worst thing for a clutch is slippage, since it is never being engage or disengaged, it's barely slipping right?

w0w, it's actually do-able?

interesting....................

lol, yeah it's possible, takes practice. I found it hard to do on my 7thgen though, my GSR has no problem doing it. I did it all the time in my camaro too.

I am not sure that any body said it would be hard on your clutch. It will cause the tranny to have a load on it...like the engine and the car appling different forces. And there is just too many chances for excessive shock load which kills about every thing in a tranny. I think the worst thing for your clutch is dropping it from a dead stop and shifting it hard. But thats just imo.

Okay, thanks

If you can do it correctly clutchless shifting is no worse for your tranny than any normal shifts, it's just worse when you mess it up. With our cars the synchros prevent us from shifting really fast like with a dog engagement gearbox especially on the upshifts because our drivetrain is not terribly light and the revs don't fall too fast.

I race my 7th gen and on track I prefer to upshift with just a dab of clutch, especially that 2-3 shift, and to downshift clutchlessly because it's smother and slamming the gear home quickly isn't important plus it makes it easier on our notoriously touchy gearboxes.

Yeah, the B18C1 drive train is lighter than the D17, revs fall much quicker. I find it very hard to hit the 2-3rd gear without the clutch and it does take a second to do it, but like I said I can only do it when I'm taking it easy and in a gas save mind set.