TonyPNS

Modern standard transmissions have synchromeshes that synchronize the speed of the desired gear with the input shaft. Double clutching is an old way of doing this. Unless you have a bad synchro in one of your gears, double clutching is not needed.<ul><li><a href="http://www.vtr.org/maintain/synchromesh.html">http://www.vtr.org/maintain/synchromesh.html</a></li></ul>

AlbA4

Read forums on standardshift.com... some good info

GDawgA4

yup, i'm there. One thing I question is their "start from a standstill" method without gas.

Just by standing on the clutch and letting it out slowly to get the car to go, isn't that bad for the clutch? Is that a lot of stress on it?

GDawgA4

ok...i'll try and not blip it when upshifting and see what it feels like.

Guess I just gotta work on blipping while downshifting

Nammo

I let the clutch out a bit to engage prior to applying any gas.

Nammo

and that is to rev match when you can't engage the gear (yet) or engagement feels forced and thus you're wearing the synchros. There are various other reasons, refer to url link below.

Imagine you're cruising in 5th gear, and you want to hit 3rd (to beat that Honda because your A4 is too damn weak to build any power beyond 3rd gear). Depending on how fast you were going, trying to engage the shifter in 3rd will feel forced. Thus, put it to neutral and blip with the clutch out. It'll bring everything in line and allow you to engage the gear smoothly without relying everything on your synchros. You did buy a manual right?

PS - that comment about the Honda is a joke<ul><li><a href="http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/6137/6137.html">http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/6137/6137.html</a</li></ul>

AlbA4

adding gas prior to that point simply:

1. does not result in car movement
2. results in higher difference in transmission RPM (0) and whatever you rev to (say, 1200)... which results in unnecessary clutch wear... not a lot, but not something you want to do for a long time.

GDawgA4

so that's what i've been doing wrong...i'm just afraid of stalling right when i get to engagement point and let go of it too quick. that's why i'm on the gas right before it starts to grab then i let out the clutch slowly.

i'll have to keep practicing this technique tomorrow, hehe.