[omaharacer]

um... wow. how did I manage to miss this thread?
My 06 mustang shifts just like my last 95 mustang with a v8 and a 5 speed. It really sounds like you haven't driven a manual vehicle for very long, or never driven a mustang with a manual transmission, possibly both. You have a LOT more torque now, use it. You can pick higher gears and use lower rpm's. Learn to match the rpm's to the gear you are in, just driving around for a week or two should help with that. Slip the clutch if you need to, just don't do it for very long, or with very high rpm's.
Yes, your transmission's synchros can "match up/soak up" your rpm's if you aren't shifting correctly. Don't expect your transmission to last very long if it is forcing gear changes through bad shifting. And if i'm going to slow down for a corner I either coast in neutral, or ride the higher gear until i'm slow enough to down shift.

 

[chp2150]

I did a quick Google search on double clutching videos. This one is pretty good. Take a peek at it and it should explain and demo it pretty well. These guys have a bunch of others including heel-toe and J turns. I would NOT suggest J turns yet! I learned J turns courtesy of the county in my EVOC course. If you screw that up, it can be expensive!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI3cHXnGEx4&feature=PlayList&p=5223B1F60D1813EE&playnext=1&index=37

 

[Guest]

double clutch

This guy is pretty good in the video with the double clutch. It takes sometime to get use to operating two pedals at once with the same foot. You can always cheat by just holding the clutch in, blip the throttle and let it out. Just make sure you give it sufficient throttle to raise your rpms high enough to free up the tranny. Sticks are a blast to drive when you get comfortable with them!

 

[chp2150]

One other thing, DO YOU HAVE A TUNE???? That's paramount to being able to double clutch. I'm an old fart (55) That grew up with cars that were darn near instantaneous in their throttle response. This whole drive by wire system really creeped me out. Hence the purchase of a CAI and tune. It's still not perfect but it's very livable. If you don't have a tune you're just beating your head against a wall. A good after market shifter will really help too. These Tremec tranmissions seem to be pretty rugged based on what some of the folks on here are running through them, torque wise. Tremec is the Mexico division of Dana Corporation. They came some hell for stout products.

As for your question about approaching a corner, if you miss the shift, don't force it. That little screaming you hear in the transmission is the poor syncros trying their best to match the speeds so the gears don't grind and make a mess. Just push the clutch in and coast to the stop sign. Engage first gear and your practice session can begin again!

 

[BlueLou]

... or clutch cable, ...

No clutch cable. Ford nixed it in the 2005+ It's hydraulic.

... Overall it just feels really simple, brutish and ineffective. ...

IMO - The trans/clutch in my car feels silky smooth and light when compared to my past pre-2005 Mustangs.

 

[Thereaper]

Every time I rev the engine to 4000 and pop the clutch the tires will smoke really bad. :happyhapp

 

[Black_Sunshine]

That is a GREAT video. It's interesting because I do the same thing, rev-matching, but waaay slower. I always pause after blipping the throttle and let the clutch out a tad slow. I need to see if I can do this at the speed he is. Of course, he's probably driving some awesome, tight rally car like a WRX. That's OK, I think my car has more charisma. And sounds better.

I do actually have a tune, I alternate between a Bamachips 87 Perf. and 93 Torque tune, depending how much money I feel like spending that week. The torque tune definetely bumps up the throttle response a bit. Good stuff.

Y'know, a lot of my problems are probably stemming from my lack of experience with American cars. I don't know how the last generation of Mustangs have felt for you, I can't compare. I understand how American/large displacement/low end torque differs from Foreign/small displacement/high end torque. So maybe thats the problem. My main concern is that I don't manage to shred a gear or two because I don't have the proper shifting strategy. It's cringe-worthy when you do that first shift of the day and you (and the car) aren't warmed up yet and you're rewarded with a big, fat, heavy metal CLUNK.

Hell, I guess if these transmissions can handle 100+ extra hp after someone slaps a supercharger on the engine, they can handle a misshift or two.

 

[Vandal]

I cut no one slack!:gringreen

Dude, once you get used to that stick, nothing else will feel the same. I take a certain amount of pleasure in trying to control the Mustang as I drive down the street. The car can be brutal to drive. You will get better through practice and to practice, you have to drive your sweet ride. Have fun learning!

 

[Guest]

manual transmission

I've been really annoyed with my stick since I got it. I love a good 5-speed, but either these transmissions are crap or I don't know how to shift. Three things:

1. When I let the clutch out too quickly, the car jumps.
2. If I let it out too slowly, I feel like I'm grinding away my clutch.
3. If I try to accelerate from a stop, and I'm behind someone meaning I can't just let it rip, I need to let the clutch out extremely slow (and I feel like I'm eating up my clutch) or I will end up in someone's rear end (and not in a good way).
4. If I wait for the revs to match after either down OR upshifting, the transmission CLUNKS.
5. If it's the first start of the day AND it's cold out, I cannot let the clutch out slowly enough, it almost always jerks/jumps.

Overall it just feels really simple, brutish and ineffective. I'm not even talking about the shifter, that's a whole other story. Is there any way to smoothen out this transmission?

I used to drive an old Golf and even it's yard of throw and mile-long clutch pedal didn't bother me half as bad as this.

Just a couple of things on your concerns:

Poin 1. Learn to feel the engagement point of the clutch. Try and start from a dead stop with only the clutch (NO GAS). There is enough torque in these cars and the flywheel is heavy enough to get you going.

Points 2 and 3. Clutches are designed to allow the user to adjust the amount of pressure being applied to the face of the flywheel (creating your slip). It is normal as long as you are not letting it slip continuously. If this is the case I still have my stock one that is still in excellent $hape

Point 4. Bang away on the up shift. Thats the beauty of these cars. Getting that rear end to break loose in a controlled manner. Down shifts you need to blip the throttle but again don't be afraid to be agrassive in your shifting.

Point 5. These throttles are fly by wire and the bucking bronco in the mornings seems to be common.

Just remember Ford had to engineer a product for a wide consumer base. The stock clutch can handle a lot of abuse but may be a bit spongy. After market cluthes have a much shorter throw and deliver better feel for the driver.

Frustration is part of ownership. Keep at it!

 

[b1stang]

practice my friend..every time you get in the car..keep working at it youll get it down.

 

[chp2150]

+1

You can always use the excuse to go driving so you can "practice"

 

[engineer76]

I've been really annoyed with my stick since I got it. I love a good 5-speed, but either these transmissions are crap or I don't know how to shift. Three things:

1. When I let the clutch out too quickly, the car jumps.
2. If I let it out too slowly, I feel like I'm grinding away my clutch.
3. If I try to accelerate from a stop, and I'm behind someone meaning I can't just let it rip, I need to let the clutch out extremely slow (and I feel like I'm eating up my clutch) or I will end up in someone's rear end (and not in a good way).
4. If I wait for the revs to match after either down OR upshifting, the transmission CLUNKS.
5. If it's the first start of the day AND it's cold out, I cannot let the clutch out slowly enough, it almost always jerks/jumps.

Overall it just feels really simple, brutish and ineffective. I'm not even talking about the shifter, that's a whole other story. Is there any way to smoothen out this transmission?

I used to drive an old Golf and even it's yard of throw and mile-long clutch pedal didn't bother me half as bad as this.

Hi Black_Sunshine

We are talking about three different things now (clutch, tranny and ECU)
1: Yes, that's a driver problem -> don't let the clutch out too fast
2: Yes, that's a driver problem -> don't let the clutch out too slowly
3: That's an issue with the ECU. Throttle response is extremely bad with the stock tune -> Bamachips (sct3) greatly improved throtle response on my '06 GT and made RPM "dosage" way easier.
4: Matching RPM's: The same than 3: Its a throttle response issue and can be solved with a tune from Bamachips. That way RPM's drop way faster and you get nice, matching upshifts.
5: Those tranny's are quite strong but cheap - it's not a Mercedes or Audi tranny, otherwise it would have a diffrent price tag on. Just live with the clunks.

hope this helps

 

[topbliss]

first of all manual trans's have fluid in them. None have 'grease'....

second, a trans fluid change prolly won't help. Sounds like a clutch or slave cylinder for it is the issue.

well i doubt it because its a manual. but im not to up todate on if these manuals work with some fluid, or just plain greese, .

u could have bad wear on your clutch, where the previous owner hot rodded it alot. could be alot of stuff. but these trannys are pretty strong. sorry to hear about your bad experiance!

someone will help you

 

[kj_cinci]

These are good trannies! Most issues are with the hydralic clutch and the very direct 'contact point'... you should try it with +600 HP and a SPEC 3+ clutch... LOL... best way out: ALWAYS BURN RUBBER, it looks cool, no jerk, no fast (unplanned) acceleration... :hihi:

A custom tune helps a bit with the engine surging and the too high revs to get going smoothly...

A short throw makes the tranny feel better...

I just took my 5-speed out for a 6-speed. 19,000 miles, half of it with double the power Ford gave me... not a problem! Reminds me, anyone need a used 5-speed with a Tri-Ax short throw shifter??

And to tranny care... I was told this by a VW Master Mechanic and it used to be in the VW manual:

1. Never dive with your hand on the shifter, the weight will wear on the sychroes (should not be a big issue for us with the linkage arm?)

2. When going to 1st always go through 2nd to line things up. i.e. start the car, even if you're in 1st go 2nd - back to first, if in N, go 2nd - 1st. This is to 'line the tranny up' and I've noticed it works!

 

[kj_cinci]

P.S. I wanted to edid to add that maybe most was said already since I missed page 2 of the thread... I also wanted to fix some of my spelling errors... gosh! Darn you AFM! Still using that server from 1975?? :gringreen