Downshifting into 2nd from 40mph
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Downshifting into 2nd from 40mph
I was next to a grand prix last night going at around 40 mph. He stepped on the gas, and i dropped it into 2nd gear and kinda peeled out and went to 7000rpm and went into 3rd. I ended up launching way ahead of him after the downshift. Is it really bad on the transmission? Cos i heard honda's were designed to handle the high rpm's and downshifts. Let me know if you guys do it or have any information on it. thanks
Autocross Junky
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Downshifting isnt a bad thing... You just have to do it right. (Double clutch or a simple Revmatch) if you simply down shift then let go of the clutch, then ya.. you can cause some damage. Other wise, a proper downshift will add little to no extra wear on either the clutch or transmission (Econo box or not)
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Rep Power: 0 What consitutes a proper downshift? Its hard for me to downshift in my car, I'm new to driving stick and downshifting is something I try to avoid. I find it really hard to have the foot on the brake and blimp the gas all the way up to the proper rpm. So right now when I know i'm going to slow down I step in on the clutch rev the engine to the right rpm then let the clutch out and the car starts to slow. Problem with that is I kinda start costing to the turn, or sometimes I even gas it to get there faster then let it slow down so I can hit the turn.
How do you guys recommend praticing the downshift? And Tricks?
How do you guys recommend praticing the downshift? And Tricks?
Autocross Junky
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Rep Power: 380 The way I praticed heel toe was with acombination of using it EVERY WHERE on the street (braking for corners or just for redlights). and Being forced to use it when I autocross.
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/how...2/article.html
what part of heel toe is giving you problems? the Revmatch? keeping constant preasure on the brake? Ect...
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/how...2/article.html
what part of heel toe is giving you problems? the Revmatch? keeping constant preasure on the brake? Ect...
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Rep Power: 0 Definitely keeping the pressure on the brake. I got big feet soo its easy for me to reach both the brake with my toe and gas pedal with my heel. But when I'm applying pressure on the brake and trying to hit the gas, the recesses of the gas pedal in comparison to the brake pedal causes me to apply more brake pressure than needed. So when I go for the gas my car suddnely slows down a lot more...
Autocross Junky
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Rep Power: 380 I know of some people who have added "extentions" to the brake or Gas to make the two pedals even when under threashold braking... to make heel toe easier. (I dont mean making the pedals closer together, but rather making one of the pedals "Thicker")
another Good article From NASA
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/heelandtoe.html
To quote the article
Heel Toe cannot be done smoothly unless two things are done:
1) The pedals must be matched. Normally this is done by adjusting until the brake and throttle are even in height, when the brakes are pressed on. The pedals must also be properly spaced. In my car it required adjusting and bending the gas pedal until I got the match I needed. In many cars, the pedals have some range of adjustment, making the process easier. One thing to remember, as you adjust the gas pedal, make sure that there is a mechanical stop for the pedal. If you rely on the stops in the carburetor or injection system to stop the motion, you will probably bend or break something as you try to squeeze a couple more horsepower out of the pedal. Also, make sure the linkage allows the butterflies in the carburetor to be fully open when the pedal hits your mechanical stop.
2) The technique must be practiced. Do not come to the track, with the intention of learning to Heel Toe. Learn the technique on the street, and practice it until it is second nature, before trying it at the track. If your street car is different from your track car, and your street car has a manual transmission, set its pedals for Heel Toe, and learn the technique. Try to get the pedal arrangement similar for both cars. If you must learn the technique in your track car, make it low on your priority list. When driving the line is second nature, you are comfortable in traffic, you’ve got all of the corner stations figured out, start working on it.
another Good article From NASA
http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/heelandtoe.html
To quote the article
Heel Toe cannot be done smoothly unless two things are done:
1) The pedals must be matched. Normally this is done by adjusting until the brake and throttle are even in height, when the brakes are pressed on. The pedals must also be properly spaced. In my car it required adjusting and bending the gas pedal until I got the match I needed. In many cars, the pedals have some range of adjustment, making the process easier. One thing to remember, as you adjust the gas pedal, make sure that there is a mechanical stop for the pedal. If you rely on the stops in the carburetor or injection system to stop the motion, you will probably bend or break something as you try to squeeze a couple more horsepower out of the pedal. Also, make sure the linkage allows the butterflies in the carburetor to be fully open when the pedal hits your mechanical stop.
2) The technique must be practiced. Do not come to the track, with the intention of learning to Heel Toe. Learn the technique on the street, and practice it until it is second nature, before trying it at the track. If your street car is different from your track car, and your street car has a manual transmission, set its pedals for Heel Toe, and learn the technique. Try to get the pedal arrangement similar for both cars. If you must learn the technique in your track car, make it low on your priority list. When driving the line is second nature, you are comfortable in traffic, you’ve got all of the corner stations figured out, start working on it.
Last edited by Zzyzx; Mar 4, 2005 at 11:50 AM.
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Originally Posted by Boggie1688
btw...I haven't learned the rpm differences between gears...can anyone post them for me? Is it usually 1500rpm between gears? or more or less?
(Comes with 2 years worth of autocross I guess) 
I like ruining your threads.
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Rep Power: 0 I learned how to Heel-Toe just from driving on the street as Zzyzx stated. The best place to learn is freeway offramps, going from 4th to 3rd as the gear ratios are very close and you dont have to blip the gas that much. The only thing you really have to remember is that the lower the gear you are trying to get into, the more you will have to blip it. Going from 3rd to 2nd, is going to take a lot more gas to match revs compared to a 5th to 4th shift.
There isnt really much trick to it, just takes a lot of practice to get it down smoothly. It will be jerky at first, but eventually it will become smooth and sound sweet as hell.
Somebody once said on these boards;
"A good downshift is heard, not felt."
There isnt really much trick to it, just takes a lot of practice to get it down smoothly. It will be jerky at first, but eventually it will become smooth and sound sweet as hell.
Somebody once said on these boards;
"A good downshift is heard, not felt."
my civic has no boost
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Originally Posted by Philip
CivicRider01: That was me you passed! I had a 4 year old in my car crying. You are such a jerk for tailgating me for that minute with my pregnet wife and our 4 year old baby in the car!
Autocross Junky
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Originally Posted by NoFriends
Somebody once said on these boards;
"A good downshift is heard, not felt."
"A good downshift is heard, not felt."
Autocross Junky
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Originally Posted by silver04
how the hell did it go up to 7k rpm doing 40 in 2nd in the first place??
I think he ment that After he downshifted, he then accelerated to 7000 RPM's. Not that when he down shifted the car jumped to 7000 RPM's.
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Originally Posted by Zzyzx
I think he ment that After he downshifted, he then accelerated to 7000 RPM's. Not that when he down shifted the car jumped to 7000 RPM's.
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