Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Tuesday March 19, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Newbies & FAQs

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-12-2018, 11:11 AM   #1
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default How much damage can one bad shift do to the tranny?

So total newb question but I made a bad shift yesterday in my 2017 WRX.

I've made previous post of bad downshifting and potential tranny damage but that was with the 4th and 3rd gear, so this may seem similar. BUT it seems like the shift into the large 1st gear produced a MUCH harsher jerk.

I was coasting in 2nd coming to a red light and shifted into neutral expecting to come to a stop. The light turned green way before I came to a stop and without much thinking I just shifted into 1st BUT my rpms were totally not enough for the speed when I let off the clutch.
When I released the clutch I could feel the tranny slam and the car jerked into first, it was a horrible feeling.
Any idea what kind of damage a singular bad shift can cause? I have no idea how durable the 2017 WRX transmission is but I have read that earlier WRX trannys were super fragile.
The speed was only around 20 mph but the slamming jerk in my car was pretty bad.

Ugh, I feel terrible.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Last edited by Stickyrez; 04-12-2018 at 11:34 AM.
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 04-12-2018, 11:38 AM   #2
sammysubaru
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 484280
Join Date: Apr 2018
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Alabama
Vehicle:
99 ImprezaSportWag
Pearl W over Midnight Bla

Default

I will tell you something, these Subaru transmissions are bulletproof. I do a lot of street racing in my Subies. This one time I was going to church, and racing my brother on the way. I was doing 80 mph and down shifted into 2nd(accident). The entire car halted, the tires squealed (my brother said my car was on two wheels). No joke, I literally felt the transmission hit the bottom of the car. After sitting on the side of the interstate, for a few minutes and calming down. I fired her back up and she went straight into gear. That same five speed has never had problem since then. Don't worry about it, just don't mess up too often and you should be good.
sammysubaru is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 11:54 AM   #3
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sammysubaru View Post
I will tell you something, these Subaru transmissions are bulletproof. I do a lot of street racing in my Subies. This one time I was going to church, and racing my brother on the way. I was doing 80 mph and down shifted into 2nd(accident). The entire car halted, the tires squealed (my brother said my car was on two wheels). No joke, I literally felt the transmission hit the bottom of the car. After sitting on the side of the interstate, for a few minutes and calming down. I fired her back up and she went straight into gear. That same five speed has never had problem since then. Don't worry about it, just don't mess up too often and you should be good.
That's definitely good to hear.
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 12:02 PM   #4
Kaykay
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 409353
Join Date: Dec 2014
Default

Assuming I understand what you did correctly, it sounds like you basically shifted from 2nd to 1st and instead of rev matching it you let the clutch out fast and it jerked because you slipped the clutch really abruptly?

Assuming that's the case, I agree with the previous poster that you likely didn't do any meaningful damage to the transmission. They are quite strong as far as I've seen although I'm certainly not a mechanic. The clutch may have experienced a teeny bit of wear from being slipped like that but again; doing that once is not likely to have cause much if any real damage.
Kaykay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 12:21 PM   #5
rtv900
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 428511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: philadelphia
Vehicle:
2016 STI

Default

For one thing, 20mph is WAY too fast to even think about going into 1st. I'd just stay in 2nd at anything over a few miles per hour.
2nd, bad downshifts are more risky for the engine than the trans.
Launching is hard on the trans.
Your fine, don't worry about it, just don't go into 1st unless you are almost stopped
rtv900 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 12:46 PM   #6
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaykay View Post
Assuming I understand what you did correctly, it sounds like you basically shifted from 2nd to 1st and instead of rev matching it you let the clutch out fast and it jerked because you slipped the clutch really abruptly?

Assuming that's the case, I agree with the previous poster that you likely didn't do any meaningful damage to the transmission. They are quite strong as far as I've seen although I'm certainly not a mechanic. The clutch may have experienced a teeny bit of wear from being slipped like that but again; doing that once is not likely to have cause much if any real damage.
Yeah, it seems like a bad downshift. I'm definitely not going to make a habit of it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rtv900 View Post
For one thing, 20mph is WAY too fast to even think about going into 1st. I'd just stay in 2nd at anything over a few miles per hour.
2nd, bad downshifts are more risky for the engine than the trans.
Launching is hard on the trans.
Your fine, don't worry about it, just don't go into 1st unless you are almost stopped
Yeah 20 mph was way too high, I wasn't aware at the moment I was going that fast until I jerked into gear.
What kind of wear does that introduce into the engine if not the tranny?
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 01:53 PM   #7
rtv900
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 428511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: philadelphia
Vehicle:
2016 STI

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyrez View Post
What kind of wear does that introduce into the engine if not the tranny?
I should have clarified more. I didn't mean in your case it does anything to the motor. I just meant that is the potential of a bad downshift if it is so severe you over rev, but in your case there's no way that happened.
People blow engines when they are driving like maniacs on the highway doing 120, hitting redline in 5th and shifting for 6th, but screw up and accidentally throw it in 4th. And since they were at redline in 5th that means they will instantly shoot 1000 rpm's past redline.
So bad downshifts don't introduce wear, it just makes it possible to blow right past a rev limiter that can't stop a downshift rev.
rtv900 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 05:57 PM   #8
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rtv900 View Post
I should have clarified more. I didn't mean in your case it does anything to the motor. I just meant that is the potential of a bad downshift if it is so severe you over rev, but in your case there's no way that happened.
People blow engines when they are driving like maniacs on the highway doing 120, hitting redline in 5th and shifting for 6th, but screw up and accidentally throw it in 4th. And since they were at redline in 5th that means they will instantly shoot 1000 rpm's past redline.
So bad downshifts don't introduce wear, it just makes it possible to blow right past a rev limiter that can't stop a downshift rev.
gotcha, the "money shift".
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 06:29 PM   #9
Vancouver98STi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:
1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyrez View Post

When I released the clutch I could feel the tranny slam and the car jerked into first, it was a horrible feeling.
It's a clutch pedal, not a light switch. Why are you releasing it like it's radioactive?
Vancouver98STi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 06:34 PM   #10
mishapopa
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 393629
Join Date: Jun 2014
Chapter/Region: W. Canada
Location: Calgary
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post
It's a clutch pedal, not a light switch. Why are you releasing it like it's radioactive?
I don't think he meant to?
mishapopa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 07:14 PM   #11
Vancouver98STi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:
1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by mishapopa View Post

I don't think he meant to?
How are you coming to that conclusion? The OP isn't bemoaning how quickly he released the clutch. His concern has been focused solely on the fact that he was already going 20 mph when he downshifted into 1st gear. If he instead had some control of the clutch pedal (instead of just dropping it), he would've started to have felt the car slowing down far too quickly. It would've then been a simple matter of stepping the clutch back in before any violent lurch.
Vancouver98STi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 07:33 PM   #12
Stanley
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 7374
Join Date: Jun 2001
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Gold Country
Vehicle:
2023 MAGA Hat Model3
grey, or is it gray?

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sammysubaru View Post
I will tell you something, these Subaru transmissions are bulletproof. I do a lot of street racing in my Subies. This one time I was going to church, and racing my brother on the way. I was doing 80 mph and down shifted into 2nd(accident). The entire car halted, the tires squealed (my brother said my car was on two wheels). No joke, I literally felt the transmission hit the bottom of the car. After sitting on the side of the interstate, for a few minutes and calming down. I fired her back up and she went straight into gear. That same five speed has never had problem since then. Don't worry about it, just don't mess up too often and you should be good.
Wow dude.
Stanley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 07:45 PM   #13
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post
How are you coming to that conclusion? The OP isn't bemoaning how quickly he released the clutch. His concern has been focused solely on the fact that he was already going 20 mph when he downshifted into 1st gear. If he instead had some control of the clutch pedal (instead of just dropping it), he would've started to have felt the car slowing down far too quickly. It would've then been a simple matter of stepping the clutch back in before any violent lurch.
didn't mean to release it quite that quickly but I also erroneously thought I was in the proper rpm range
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 07:52 PM   #14
Vancouver98STi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:
1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyrez View Post

shrug, didn't mean to
"Didn't mean to" what?

Are you saying you normally release the clutch pedal gently (more so while downshifting), hesitating for a millisecond (to see how the car is responding) before full release? Sorry, I don't believe you... not one little bit.

[EDIT] You edited your post while I was responding, but my comments still stand.
.

Last edited by Vancouver98STi; 04-12-2018 at 07:59 PM.
Vancouver98STi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 07:57 PM   #15
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post
"Didn't mean to" what?

Are you saying you normally release the clutch pedal gently, hesitating for a millisecond (to see how the car is responding) before full release? Sorry, I don't believe you... not one little bit.

[EDIT] You edited your post while I was responding, but my comments still stand.
huh? not sure what you're getting all focused on. I am actually usually a bit more cautious with shifting in the lower gears. I think I was just slightly out of it. shrug, live and learn.
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 08:06 PM   #16
Vancouver98STi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:
1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyrez View Post

huh? not sure what you're getting all focused on.
Excuse me? Why'd you bother posting about this crappy downshift if you didn't want some feedback?
Vancouver98STi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 08:07 PM   #17
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post
Excuse me? Why'd you bother posting about this crappy downshift if you didn't want some feedback?
lol did someone ruin your day or something? I got the feedback I wanted.
you seem bothered though, is everything okay?
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 08:11 PM   #18
Vancouver98STi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:
1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Lightbulb

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyrez View Post

I got the feedback I wanted.
Oh?

Learn how to drive a standard properly and you won't have to worry about blowing up the tranny.
Vancouver98STi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 08:11 PM   #19
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post
Oh?

Learn how to drive a standard properly and you won't have to worry about blowing up the tranny.
lol you're a strange, sensitive weirdo
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 08:17 PM   #20
Vancouver98STi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:
1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Cool

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyrez View Post

lol you're a strange, sensitive weirdo
You could very well be right... but I do know how to shift!
Vancouver98STi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2018, 08:18 PM   #21
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post
You could very well be right... but I do know how to shift!
shrug fair enough lol, but you definitely are abnormally sensitive.
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2018, 12:58 AM   #22
Kaykay
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 409353
Join Date: Dec 2014
Default

@Stickyrez don't let the grumpy types get to you. Everyone makes mistakes just like you did and some people just feel the need to be mean and there's a lot of them on this forum sadly. -shrug-
Kaykay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2018, 01:21 AM   #23
Vancouver98STi
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 459287
Join Date: Dec 2016
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Vehicle:
1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Lightbulb

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaykay View Post

Everyone makes mistakes just like you did...
What, you think this is the first time that Mario Andretti here has had issues shifting... and posting about it? We all went for a ride down this same bumpy road back in December. Here's the advice I offered him back then...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post

If you feel the car starting to decelerate too quickly as you're releasing the clutch pedal during a downshift, then don't release it all the way! Press it back in a bit as you also give 'er some gas, and then release the clutch pedal all the way. This all takes place in less than a couple of seconds.

It would do inexperienced drivers a lot of good to go autocross for a day and experiment upshifting and downshifting.
Four months later, nothing's changed!

Here, have a look at the whole thread... Bad downshift into 3rd from 4th

I'm not being "grumpy". Think of it more as an application of tough love.
Vancouver98STi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2018, 04:21 AM   #24
Stickyrez
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 472849
Join Date: Aug 2017
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vancouver98STi View Post
What, you think this is the first time that Mario Andretti here has had issues shifting... and posting about it? We all went for a ride down this same bumpy road back in December. Here's the advice I offered him back then...



Four months later, nothing's changed!

Here, have a look at the whole thread... Bad downshift into 3rd from 4th

I'm not being "grumpy". Think of it more as an application of tough love.
LOL you literally have no life dude. You do realize I wasn't asking about shifting right?
I learned manual a little over 8 months ago. I had one bad shift recently that I explained in the OP and you jump all over it like it's the most exciting thing you've got going in your life, lol jesus. I got the answer I wanted and then you needed to jump in and make this thread about yourself. I continued to be cordial even though you were making an ass of yourself and you keep on going. And now you're digging up four month old threads to try to prove you're not acting like a total db. Seriously you need to examine your own behavior here, you're literally a forum nazi with nothing better to do it seems.

I'm glad you've become a perfect master of shifting (lol) over twenty years on your old car, but relax. You need a life beyond this forum.

Last edited by Stickyrez; 04-13-2018 at 04:50 AM.
Stickyrez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2018, 06:43 AM   #25
rtv900
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 428511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: philadelphia
Vehicle:
2016 STI

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyrez View Post
Seriously you need to examine your own behavior here, you're literally a forum nazi with nothing better to do it seems.
man this thread got entertaining.
VancouverSTI gets worked up as hell about things that don't matter, like a person asking a simple question about a downshift.

If you suggested it's ok to pass on a double yellow as long as it's totally safe he'd be off the rails pissed.
rtv900 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:06 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.