Please put double clutching out of your mind. You don't need to do it on a street car like ours that has synchros.

 

Granny shifting is shifting normally by pressing in the clutch, selecting either a higher or lower gear and then releasing the clutch for engagement. Rev-matching and double clutching are similar in that they both are methods of matching the speed of all major rotating assemblies in your powertrain for smoother engagement. I personally granny-shift like a mofo because I find it easier. Techniques like rev-matching and double-clutching wear out your clutch twice as fast as granny shifting. Think about it.

 

Go to http://www.howstuffworks.com and do a search for manual transmissions. About six pages of info. The last page has a couple of animations that are pretty good. Do a search for clutch also.

Even better, if you can get to a car museum they will probably have a cutaway transmission. Seeing that will help your understanding.

 

I'll try to put double-clutching out of my mind. its kinda hard right now though.

anyhow, why do you say that these techniques wear out the clutch faster. when i think about it, it appears the double-clutching and rev-matching occur only for down shifts. rev-matching seems to be part of the over all double-clutch process. it seems to me that rev-matching would be better for the transmission.

 

My understanding:

Granny-shifting. Shifting in a relaxed manner. It's pretty much the way we all drive 99.99% of the time. It's what you're taught when you first learn stick. 1) Clutch in and gas out. 2) Shift to new gear. 2) Clutch out and give it some gas.

Heal-toe. Granny shifting is fine when you're accelerating, but you have a problem if you're trying to shift while you're braking. Since your right foot is busy working the brake pedal, you're not able to work the throttle to make sure it's at the right speed for clutch engagement. Therefore, while you're working the brake with the toe of your right foot, you use the heal (or sometimes the side) of your foot to work the gas at the same time. The good thing about heal-toe shifting is if you do it right, there's absolutely zero clutch slip as it engages. So if you're braking as hard as you can for the next corner, you won't upset the car's balance, crash into a wall and burn to death...

Double-clutch. It's a completely different way to shift, from a time when transmissions did not have synchros. It really has no place in today's street cars, so I won't get into it much.

Power shifting. This is a favorite for drag racers. It's extremely hard on the car and not recommended unless you can afford to rebuild your drivetrain after every event. Basically take the granny shift and modify it so that you never let up off the gas. Ever.

 

Thanks Elistan,
i will forget about double-clutching now. Thats kinda what i thought but need some confirmation. kinda like when you look at an English word and for some reason the spelling looks funny so that you look it up in the dictionary to double check your mind isn't going apeshit. English is funny like that.


p.s. im going to continue to practice my heel & toe. i usually brake as much as i need to before the turn, then downshift(rev match), and then take the turn. it would be nice to do it all at once though

 

I find double clutching to be helpful in avoiding *crunch* when I downshift into first.

 

Rev matching is theoretically easier on the transmission. If done properly, you don't even need to use the clutch. However just practicing that technique will grind your synchros into brass dust so your transmission oil looks like gold paint (been there done that )

After you get used to your car, you'll find your self automatically rev matching on upshifts. As you put in the clutch and take your foot off the gas and shift, there is a moment when the next gear goes in as smooth as butter. Thats when the engine speed is matching the rear wheel (transmission) speed.

 

I hate it when I do that.

 

Heel = the thing attached to the underside of your shoe.
Heal = what your body does after you've been injured.