Question for mechanics and fellow manual drivers on rev matching.

[n_123]

It's been a great almost 12k miles in my car and I've really enjoyed the manual. I kept auto rev match on for the first 4k-ish but then decided to try doing it myself and it just elevates the driving experience to a whole new level in my opinion, especially when you get them perfectly. Obviously, I'm not a robot or expert driver (yet) so I don't nail the "blip" perfectly every time and it obviously slightly unsettles the car. My question is when I either give it too many revs and the rpm's have to drop quickly to account for the speed they should be or I don't give enough, is this hurting the car in any way beyond maybe some excess clutch wear? Any advice for nailing them every time or is it simply a matter of time and practice? Thanks.

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[Zig]

… I don't nail the "blip" perfectly every time and it obviously slightly unsettles the car. My question is when I either give it too many revs and the rpm's have to drop quickly to account for the speed they should be or I don't give enough, is this hurting the car in any way beyond maybe some excess clutch wear?

Any advice for nailing them every time or is it simply a matter of time and practice? Thanks.

Re: question yes possibly really depends upon how violent.

Time and practice although that can still be consistently wrong so with that grain of salt, basic concept rule of 10.

each gear times 10 gives you the relative speed for that gear at approximately 1500 rpm. Slipping, dropping, and peddling all come with time and practice and yes the occasional breakage. If it smells like brakes but ain’t smoky tires it’s clutch.

 

[dusman59]

Its really hard to decribe. Practice is a must. You know you have mastered it when you can hit the throttle to match 2 gears down. Its kind of a natual feeling when you don't have to think about it.

 

[n_123]

Re: question yes possibly really depends upon how violent.

Time and practice although that can still be consistently wrong so with that grain of salt, basic concept rule of 10.

each gear times 10 gives you the relative speed for that gear at approximately 1500 rpm. Slipping, dropping, and peddling all come with time and practice and yes the occasional breakage. If it smells like brakes but ain’t smoky tires it’s clutch.

Really not violent at all, maybe 500rpm if I had to estimate. I've never smelled clutch or grinded a gear or anything like that. I'm very conscious of not being on the clutch unless I have to be. Really just concerned it'll somehow screw up the transmission or other large component.

 

[jimbo67]

Its really hard to decribe. Practice is a must. You know you have mastered it when you can hit the throttle to match 2 gears down. Its kind of a natual feeling when you don't have to think about it.

I have an auto now, but last 20 years were manual in many different performance cars. It becomes second nature. Drive in normal traffic rev match even when don't have too. You won't even think about anymore.

 

[CamustangSS650]

Really not violent at all, maybe 500rpm if I had to estimate. I've never smelled clutch or grinded a gear or anything like that. I'm very conscious of not being on the clutch unless I have to be. Really just concerned it'll somehow screw up the transmission or other large component.

Heel and toe its just practice. Missing the RPM target won't affect the synchros, It will just slip the clutch more and shake the car.
In some cars the pedals don't help so you have to accomodate.

Once you master it you can start practicing shifting w/o clutch.
Might cost you 1 or 2 transmissions, but it's a very valuable skill if you want to impress girls.

 

[Zig]

Really not violent at all, maybe 500rpm if I had to estimate. I've never smelled clutch or grinded a gear or anything like that. I'm very conscious of not being on the clutch unless I have to be. Really just concerned it'll somehow screw up the transmission or other large component.

Being that close and yet that far isn’t likely to cause catastrophic disaster (normal caveats apply). A disruption of comfort yes but a disaster most likely not. You’re either too quick on one and a tad slow on the other or too quick with the other and a a tad slow with the one. Upshifts can be easy to funk up when trying too fast and downshifts can get screwy when they are too slow. As others have indicated, and it sounds like you are aware, manual transmission is more feeling than numbers. It’s a dance while sitting. Possibly try slowing the whole act just a touch? Don’t watch your gauges, feel your speed instead of watching it.

 

[Coosawjack]

I have always "blipped" the throttle with all of my manuals on downshifts and occasionally a broken clutch cable forced a NO CLUTCH DRIVE HOME........a piece of cake with T-5's but I've never reached the "sweet spot" with MT-82's....to even disengage the current gear??

I found the Mustang "Rev Matching" made me a sloppy shifter so for now mine is OFF and "MANUAL" is the way for me.......but only for "street driving" and I'm sure Track Driving requires a WHOLE NEW SKILL SET!!

 

[glenng6]

It's been a great almost 12k miles in my car and I've really enjoyed the manual. I kept auto rev match on for the first 4k-ish but then decided to try doing it myself and it just elevates the driving experience to a whole new level in my opinion, especially when you get them perfectly. Obviously, I'm not a robot or expert driver (yet) so I don't nail the "blip" perfectly every time and it obviously slightly unsettles the car. My question is when I either give it too many revs and the rpm's have to drop quickly to account for the speed they should be or I don't give enough, is this hurting the car in any way beyond maybe some excess clutch wear? Any advice for nailing them every time or is it simply a matter of time and practice? Thanks.

As dusman59 says, it's practice. My last stick was a Z. Once I became accustomed to it I rev matched most of the time. You are never going to get it correct every time. Something, I don't think was mentioned, is the fact you have to listen to the sound of the engine. For me, it was all I needed. But it takes time. In the beginning listen to the sound of the engine and when you feel it sounds right, check the tach. Once you become accustomed to the sound/rpm match you will feel more comfortable. And you will be surprised one day when you notice you are no longer checking the tach. Good luck! ps. the reaction from passengers, when they realize your not using the clutch, is priceless. Glenn

 

[RLE55]

is the fact you have to listen to the sound of the engine. For me, it was all I needed.

Agree wholeheartedly..

 

[coltgus]

Many people do not know the transmission rev matches on upshifts as well as down shifts. If you were going from 2 to 3 for example you push the clutch pedal and shift to 3rd then wait briefly and the revs will drop to the exact rpm for 3rd but no more. When you let the clutch out you feel nothing, a perfect shift.

 

[agreywolfe]

the cars fine if youre within a decent margin of where you need to be provided you arent clutch dumping every shift. taught myself how to drive manual so ive always heel toed and in the 5 years of ownership of my old 2010 GT i can say i never once worried about normal day to day shifting.

now those almost money shifts on the other hand.... im just glad i never got in the habit of clutch dumping on the streets.

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