Downshifting for a dummy?

Hi Sphene, the reason for that, is your car transmission has synchronizers on each gear ( except reverse, of course), and it's kind of complicated, ( someone may correct me, but it's close) but the synchronizer rotates with the main gear shaft ( that goes out the back to the rear axle) allowing you to engage any gear as they're all spinning at the same time. The synchronizer matches the road speed to the gear.Trucks, generally, don't have those, and the gear and road speed and engine rpm must be done manually ( speeding up or down the motor to match the gear/road speed) Reason I heard they have that in trucks, is it saves the clutch. With the heavy loads that are hauled, if trucks had synchronizers, you'd fry the clutch in a day. I think I got that right.
BTW, even in a car, I'm not sure I'd go from highway speeds to 1st gear on an exit ramp ( if I got that part of your post right) That too can lead to undue wear on the clutch, as while it will go into gear, you are basically using the clutch to slow down.

 

If you hear a grind noise apply more pressure. Eventually it will slip right in

 

<<<<Proud steering wheel holder
In all seriousness.....first two to three years of my career I had 10s but the last 9 or so it has been mostly all autos.

 

Another way is. When you drop it out of gear point the stick in the next gears directions start slowly climbing the rpms and eventually it'll get sucked into gear.

What I've noticed over time from teaching my friends etc. is that everyone is always rushing the up shift down shift. Just take your time with it.

 

I had to drive a rental Penske to return it to its original point the other week. It was a 13spd auto shift... talk about a POS.

It had capabilities of manual paddle shift but I just left it alone and let it do its thing.

This industry is full of panty waste sissy boys any more.

Sickening. Grow a set and SHIFT EM

Not directed at you , Patriot... the industry as a whole. We all may as well start wearing feather boas and drinking sparkling water ,too.

 

Thank you for the response without being one of the crusties on here who just bash new people. I've never had an issue with burning a clutch in a car doing that, I dont always skip gears it depends on if people cut me off and I dont have time to shift each gear to slow properly. Plus its a foxbody so drive fast drive hard and enjoy life.

 

Once you have a feel for what gear you need for what speed, which is going to depend 100% on your truck. Even the 10 speeds that are in theory the easiest to figure that out will still commonly be off... Getting into gear is just, again, getting the feel for your truck. It gets to a point where you know exactly how much to rev to get back in gear. Some trucks you have to rev high, some trucks you barely hit the gas and it goes right in.

Just make sure you rev before going back into gear on a downshift.

And as for using the clutch or not. Not using it doesn't make you any more more of a man. Do whatever you're most comfortable with. I'd rather be behind someone who uses the clutch and keeps the truck moving than someone trying to not use it and got stuck out of gear and can't get back in. You have nothing to prove to other drivers, just focus on keeping control of your truck.

 

lol, our CDL school instructor hated that.. he'd yell "EASY, EASSSYY"

 

I agree with you. My post above about using the clutch is not against those who don't use the clutch and can shift. It is against those who think it is the only way, and as long as vehicle is rolling will never touch it, even if it means they have to come to a stop in order to get it in gear.