[hoboken]

Is it necessary to rev match when downshifting from, let's say, 5th to 4th? Or can you just let it "drop" into gear?

[Kolyan2k]

just drop into gear. rev matching is nice, but not easy, and 90% of people dont do it.

[Coolieman1220]

depends on your rpm honestly. if u do it quick enough a slight tap never hurts.

then there are ppl who will say DOUBLE CLUTCH IT!

[Ross620]

you dont need to rev match, i do it because its smoother but its up to you, all depends on the way u like to drive really.

[TiAg335i]

lol, i don't think rev matching matters unless you are racing? i downshift because it's fun...

[captainaudio]

Yes you need to rev match on a downshift. You may get away without rev matching when you are well below the limits of the car but it is nevertheless a poor techique. Poor driving techniques will eventually come back to bite you in the ass.

As an experiment downshift very quickly while going in a straight line. Do not feather the clutch (which is also a poor technique). The car will slow down very suddenly and there will be a lot of strain on the drive train and the clutch. This can cause the rear wheels to break loose as the weight of the car suddenly transfers to the front tires and the rear contact patches decrease in size and the front contact patches increase in size,

When the clutch is depressed the engine drops to idle, then when it is re-engaged it has to spin the engine back up to the wheel speed using the clutch disk. This can cause undue wear on the clutch, but can also cause a loss of traction at the drive wheels, and even a loss of control. Racing instructors call it "trailing- clutch oversteer". Body shops call it a gift. "Blipping" the accelerator (i.e. rev matching) will eliminate this.


CA

[335Power]

No you do not need to rev match.

[HaZe_X]

I always 100% of the time rev match my gears.

[jayely1]

If you want your clutch and tranny to go out faster?? Common sense?? And it does depend a lot of the RPM, if your in 6th going 60 and drop it down to 3rd without double clutching, well thats just not good.

[jayely1]

Originally Posted by HaZe_X

I always 100% of the time rev match my gears.

+1

[BoostedE90]

Originally Posted by HaZe_X

I always 100% of the time rev match my gears.

+2... I always double clutch when downshifting.

[captainaudio]

Originally Posted by BoostedE90

+2... I always double clutch when downshifting.

I do too when driving an MT although it is not necessary to do so on a modern fully synchromeshed transmission. There is certainly no harm in double clutching and it is a habit that I got into driving racing transmissions with straight cut gears and no synchros.

CA

[Kolyan2k]

its a must on track, but in daily driving you are not gonna put much wear on the drivetrain

but now that u started this thread I wanna try to get used to this......if I don't forget

[captainaudio]

As I stated previously a poor driving technique is a poor driving technique ane the fact that you may get away with it does not mean it is not a poor driving technique. Track or not if you downshift without rev matching when you are near the linits of the car, which can be at slow speeds on an slippery road, there is a good chance the the rear tires will break loose.

If you are going to drive an MT it is a good idea to learn how to drive one properly.

CA

[bookman2]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Yes you need to rev match on a downshift. You may get away without rev matching when you are well below the limits of the car but it is nevertheless a poor techique. Poor driving techniques will eventually come back to bite you in the ass.

As an experiment downshift very quickly while going in a straight line. Do not feather the clutch (which is also a poor technique). The car will slow down very suddenly and there will be a lot of strain on the drive train and the clutch. This can cause the rear wheels to break loose as the weight of the car suddenly transfers to the front tires and the rear contact patches decrease in size and the front contact patches increase in size,

When the clutch is depressed the engine drops to idle, then when it is re-engaged it has to spin the engine back up to the wheel speed using the clutch disk. This can cause undue wear on the clutch, but can also cause a loss of traction at the drive wheels, and even a loss of control. Racing instructors call it "trailing- clutch oversteer". Body shops call it a gift. "Blipping" the accelerator (i.e. rev matching) will eliminate this.


CA

Exactly. I rev match instinctively and cannot imagine abusing my drive train by just dropping into a lower gear at speed.

[N54B30A]

I rev match for fun now i dont even notice that i do it.

[twofast2s]

Rev matching is not required, but i do it almost all the time during more than normal driving. It gives you smoother transition of slowing down much smoother without jerkyness. I started doing this back when i had MR2, which was notorious for bad syncros.

I dont get why people double clutch because i thought that technique was normally used due to lack of or worn down syncros, especially lower gear shifts.

[redlinedbimmer]

Driving is much more enjoyable when you don't worry about double clutching. I also never rev match but I also never do a massive downshift that would require one such as 5th to 2nd at 50mph for example, I only downshift into the appropriate gear which doesn't really require it.

[GaryS]

When I'm coasting to slow down on the freeway, I don't need to rev match. When I downshift to accelerate, I do rev match. When I downshift 6 to 3 entering an off-ramp, I heel-toe. When I downshift 4 to 2 or 3 to 2 for a turn, I usually double-clutch heel-toe.

[etichi]

I do everytime for 4th, 3rd, and 2nd. 5th is almost an overdrive and unless you are pulling a buck fifty there is no need. Of course don't ever downshift into 1st.

[achien]

you will clutch will need to be replaced more often than if you rev-match.

Originally Posted by hoboken

Is it necessary to rev match when downshifting from, let's say, 5th to 4th? Or can you just let it "drop" into gear?

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by 335Power

No you do not need to rev match.

are u serious? really?

One of the posters in here was right about not rev matching....

it's much more stressed on a motorcycle because you can actually lock up your rear wheel and fall which is VERY easy to do. Of course now they have slipper clutches, but still....

is it that hard to blip your throttle?

this is a BMW forum...I thought people actually knew how to drive....