Rev matching downshifts... good or bad?

[breadbox]

I don't like coasting in neutral.

Really I love cruising in Neutral.

[numbnuts240]

i rev match. well, more like blip the throttle before letting the clutch out. getting jerked around is not my idea of fun while i'm driving around.

[breadbox]

getting jerked around is not my idea of fun while i'm driving around.

That's not Right. I thought you loved getting jerked around while driving.

[numbnuts240]

nah, too much mess that way.

[breadbox]

Ahhh don't want NPH love stains on the seats.

[Alfador]

I generally rev match when I can.

The whole point of synchros and helical cut gears is so you don't have to, but why not.

Rev matching will never be "bad," ever. At worst it will not make a difference, more likely, it will be better for your transmission and extend its life, albeit marginally. But of course, no, you don't have to. Heel-toeing while coming up to a stopsign probably will make you look like a jackass though.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I guess pickup truck-derived transmissions are going to be pretty cheap...

I heard you know people who race mazdas... Willing to bet you could find a transmission for your car fairly cheap too.

Mazda people can get me Subaru transmissions? Why don't I just talk to Subaru people?

[Koshin]

I dont care who you talk to as long as its not to me

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I dont care who you talk to as long as its not to me

You're the first person in my Rolodex for "hella flush and hella retarded," now that Yokota180 or whomever isn't around much anymore.

[Mr1der]

lol...

I sometimes rev match unintentionally as a 14 4E New Balance is a pretty big shoe in the footwell of a Civic.

intentionally? nah...mainly because I never practice. I'd probably fly off the road and make friends with some trees if I thought about pushing my car on the back roads right now.

[RCA]

I rev match in most situations. I am with Tito, I don't like the tossing a car can do with un-rev matched shifts.

When coming to a stop I usually just neutral and brake when I get to 2nd gear or so.

[Koshin]

I dont care who you talk to as long as its not to me

You're the first person in my Rolodex for "hella flush and hella retarded," now that Yokota180 or whomever isn't around much anymore.

very creative.

Grant has done some good stuff. I actually know him from living on the Eastcoast.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Must be something in the water, then...

[Koshin]

original

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I only wish I could be as original as you! It keeps me up at night, thinking up terrible things to do to cars to be as original as you!

[Chaotic_Warlord]

I rev match in most situations. I am with Tito, I don't like the tossing a car can do with un-rev matched shifts.

When coming to a stop I usually just neutral and brake when I get to 2nd gear or so.

:Werd

I do the same thing, performance brake pads aren't cheap, and non oem rotors can be as expensive as a new clutch. I always downshift when coming to a stop at least until I get to 2nd gear, it provides for a smoother and shorter stop and being that my car has no ABS I don't have some stupid computer to prevent my brakes from locking up.

[RobPaulson]

wow . . . AWESOME thread, i've been wondering this too, always was too scurred to ask and sound like a complete newbie... felt like i was the only one who questioned this!!

i rev match when casually shifting on the highway between 4/5/6. When I downshift to engine break... i just drop the clutch out with a touch of fanese (slow down letting up just a bit as the gear grabs)

[Koshin]

I only wish I could be as original as you! It keeps me up at night, thinking up terrible things to do to cars to be as original as you!

youre not the only one buddy

youre a clown man you should change your user name to Bozo.

My cars are fly, way more fly than your s***

[Koshin]

I rev match even when I dont have to. Because Im a fanboi and I think its cool

[Urabus GodofTraction]

My cars are fly, way more fly than your s***

Oh, they're totally, totally fly. What could be fly'er than last years VW trends?

[Koshin]

My cars are fly, way more fly than your s***

What could be fly'er than last years VW trends?

your car. totally

[skydragoness]

I rev-match when I'm downshifting for turns/twisties, it definitely causes less drivetrain "shock" or upset I've noticed. Plus, your rpm's are still high when you're exiting the corner--faster exit speed ftw.
I also have a lightweight flywheel so that makes a very noticeable drop in rpms when downshifting unless I keep the rev's up (for corners that is).
Other-wise, for regular day-to-day driving, I just drop the trans in neutral and slow down. Brake pads are cheaper than clutches/trans and people who downshift thru all the gears all the while rev-matching for a red light are annoying. My car is not quiet so I try to be respectful of that..

also: I noticed Subarus.. at least older ones don't like being downshifted without rev-matching. Makes for an unpleasant sound/thud (I've driven three GC-era Imprezas and they all made a "thud" if you just dropped a gear without giving a smooth blip; then again, differential bushings on those cars go to s*** really quick. With that said, that's quite an impact on the chassis that you can hear)

[numbnuts240]

oh, you can match my revs anytime

[skydragoness]

oh, you can match my revs anytime

[Mr1der]

put him in a dryer!

[Bubba1]

put him in a dryer!

After a cold shower...

[Dire91]

I always rev match, heel toe as well when I go around a tight corner. It's more entertaining driving this way and it reduces wear I believe. I have a habit of down shifting to 4th on the highway to pass others, so I definitely rev match when I do that.

[liquid_cool]

With a modern manual transmission car on a race track, the rev matching/heel-toe downshifts will make you quicker, with smoother transitions (if done right), and it is less stressful on the clutch and synchronizers, but we're not talking major differences in longevity here.

Also (and correct me if I'm wrong...I'm not track guru, but I understand the physics of cars) part of the reason for rev-matching on a track is to maintain traction. You don't want an abrupt gear engagement as it'll "shock" the tires, potentially breaking loose. Any time the tires aren't moving at the same speed as the surface they're supposed to be sticking to, you lose traction. And much of the time you're going to be downshifting, at least if you're driving well, will be in traction-critical situations, like setting up for an apex.

this is correct..not only do you blip to keep the shockload from happening..you allso blip to maintain the engine in its powerband..ie rpm range...i blip for this reason as i run a fully lightend flywheel and driveline..with a lighten'd "gutted car" aswell...if i were to take my foot off of the gas and do a regular down shift..the car would lunge forwards breaking the rear loose "when i dont intentonally do want to"

[MinisterofDOOM]

put him in a dryer!

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