heres a FAQ for Shifting in a AWD car. its going to be a work in progress so.....be patient. and feel free to correct me if i am wrong.

Where can I Find Info on Transmissions? http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

Where Can I Find Info on Differentials?
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

Whats so diffrent shifting in a AWD car than a FWD or RWD car?

in a RWD or FWD car when you shift agressively or launch at high RPM's the excess power is transfered though the drivetrain and spins the tires (power overcomes the grip)

in a AWD car the system is supposed to prevent wheelspin and reduce traction loss. when launching or shifting agressively the excess power usually isnt enough to overcome the tires grip so the energy is transferred back into the drivetrain. causing shock. some drivetrain shock is acceptable but ones at high rpms can damage the transmission and differentials.

Can I Do Donuts in a AWD car?

yes its possible and it may look cool. but its is not reccomended.

by performing a donut on asphalt, snow,dirt etc... you are fighting againsed the differential. if you have a Fixed diff. (60r/40f split) its constantly working to keep that ratio, incresing wear and tear. if you have a Electonically controled diff (STi DCCD) or and open center it is possible not to damage it. some say you can, some say you cant.


Having a difficult time starting on a hill or slope?

Its a cheater move but if youve been driving Manual for a long time and are an advance user this should be no problem for you. But, for beginners having a hard time heres a trick that might help you.

1. pull up your handbrake enough so that you dont roll backwards.
2. attempt to take off as usual finding the grab point of the clutch.
3 at the same time depress on the accelerator pedal enough to get it to slip but not too much so you burn it up, and release the handbrake GRADUALLY when you start to move.
4. resume driving and you sucessfully conqered that hill and you didnt stall, hit the car behind you, burned up you clutch. etc...


What is Heel/toe?

Heel/Toe is generally considered an advance shifting technique that is not really required in Day to Day driving. you use the toe of your foot to depress the brake pedal and you use the ball of your foot fo depress the gas pedal. it is ususally used for Rev-Matching but it can have other uses.

What is Rev-Matching?

Rev-Matching is both a term and a technique. it is matching the engine speed to the transmission input speed before you re-engage the clutch.

How Do I Rev-Match?

there are 2 ways to rev-match, double clutching(will explain later) or using the heel/toe technique. basically in a downshift. IE: 3rd to 2nd, Depress the clutch pedal, and blip the throttle pedal to match the engine speed with the transmission and re-engage the clutch it will take some practice and each car is diffrent in where you want the rpms to be before re-engaging the clutch.

the purpsose of this is to have a smooth downshift, and to prevent upsetting the balance of the suspension entering or exiting a turn on the track or a canyon run.

What is Double Clutching?

Double Clutching is matching the speed of the Transmission's Intermediate shaft to the output gear that is going to be selected.

this can save your syncros because by double clutching you are manually doing the work the syncros have to do.


How Do I Double Clutch?

1.Clutch Pedal Depressed
2 move gear selector to Neutral
3.re-engage clutch
4. blip throttle to match the intermedate shaft with the selected gear. (this will take tons of practice.
5. dis-engage clutch
6. move lever from Neutral to Selected new gear.
7 Re-engage clutch and apply power.

now all of this has to be done very quickly and even quicker with a lighter flywheel. this will take practice and patience to get it down so stay cool and try not to get frustrated. and remember every car is diffrent.

What is Powershifiting?

powershifting is when you never let the throttle up during a shift.

i would personally never do it and if done incorrectly or used often it may lead to the destruction of your tranny.





Please feel free to add or correct me

Very interesting.

I double clutch all the time! It makes driving even more fun! :) Yeah, it's frustrating at first but you'll get it with practice. :)

Heel Toe is cool too when you're trying to exit a corner really quickly. It's hard to literally heel toe on my WRX so I use the left side of my right foot to brake then use the right part of my shoe to reach the gas. It's not perfect but it works! ;)

- JOhn

Sweet article, got a few tips from it :)

Nice job, sound about right to me, now you might want to right something up on the "LAUNCHING OF AN STI" id say its about the hardest thing to do for neone

i dropped the clutch while lauching the STi. that thing took off FAST! I can hear the BANG which each clutch dump. :))))

Heel/Toe is generally considered an advance shifting technique that is not really required in Day to Day driving. you use the toe of your foot to depress the brake pedal and you use the ball of your foot fo depress the gas pedal. it is ususally used for Rev-Matching but it can have other uses.Rev-Matching is both a term and a technique. it is matching the engine speed to the transmission input speed before you re-engage the clutch.there are 2 ways to rev-match, double clutching(will explain later) or using the heel/toe technique. basically in a downshift. IE: 3rd to 2nd, Depress the clutch pedal, and blip the throttle pedal to match the engine speed with the transmission and re-engage the clutch it will take some practice and each car is diffrent in where you want the rpms to be before re-engaging the clutch. the purpsose of this is to have a smooth downshift, and to prevent upsetting the balance of the suspension entering or exiting a turn on the track or a canyon run.