When I manually downshift from second to first gear I get a little shudder. It feels just like the clutches are slipping. The trans does'nt slip at all when taking off hard or anything. Is this normal? Thanks!

 

ttt

 

i don't understand why you are shifting if it is automatic trasmission??????????

 

The transmission doesn't engage the same when manually shifting; it uses "bands" which are much weaker. If you manually put it into gear, be very nice, or else the band can break- which just loses your ability to manually shift (a good thing?) LOL
Let your tranny do the shifting.

 

Are you manually down shifting because you are trying to stop in a hurry? What I mean is are you downshifting to use the "engine breaking" method. What the shudder may be is the rear tires. As your tranny is forced to go from second to first, the sudden change of rpm's that the tranny is seeing is transferred to the rear, thus making the tires suddenly jerk to the new speed everything else has to travel. I know this may sound weird, but my Impala SS does this if I am in need to stop in a hurry and I just downshift to get her to slow down quick. My tires actually chirp when going from second to first, depending on the speed. I hope this makes some sort of sense...

 

Not to be a smart *** but try using the brakes. By down shifting all you are doing is making the rear wheels do what the brakes would do. In addition you cannot brake as hard because the rears will overcome the limits of adhesion there by causing you to press the brake pedal even less. Which will then cause an even longer stopping distance.

Your method would be good if your car had a poor brake distribution valve and was front wheel drive.

 

I know not to always downshift, I never do. But I was just playing around the other night and fund this out.

 

I was using this example because this is the way you stop a car that has a manual transmission. If you downshift a manual tranny that is going too fast, you too will get a shudder out of the drive wheels. It has nothing to do with it being front or rear wheel drive.

 

Well, my thoughts, in no special order


It ain't hurting anything.....

but

It ain't helping anything either...

and

Prolly wouldn't do it myself.....


G

 

If it doesn't help anything, why do it?

 

I don't even like down shifting a 5 speed to slow down...regardless of the effects on the car, I don't like how it feels physically. With the L IMO, it puts you in a tuff spot if you need to punch the pedal quickly to avoid something.

 

Brake are much cheaper than a transmission ... manual or automatic.