efseiler Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 After driving a 4EAT for nearly 100,000 miles now I'm back to a standard transmission. One thing I noticed about my '98 outback is 2nd gear seems to be have some kind of special ratio associated with it. When I downshift from, say, 3rd gear it does shudder quite a lot...is this normal? Should I even be downshifting like that? I'm guessing that gear design had something to do with the AWD...to make torque transfer more even when winter driving....does that make sense? Thank you for your thoughts and input. --Damien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I'm not following what you are talking about - what is shuddering exactly? How long does it last, where does it feel like it's coming from? GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unibrook Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I don't even bother to downshift in order to slow the car down. My theory is that brakes are easier and cheaper to replace than the clutch is. ymmv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I don't even bother to downshift in order to slow the car down. My theory is that brakes are easier and cheaper to replace than the clutch is. ymmv. If you downshift properly, ie. double clutching, it doesn't do any harm/wear to any parts of the driveline at all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efseiler Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Feels like it's coming from the clutch. Maybe when the plates get hot like that the friction coefficient goes through the roof... Could also be a new clutch for all I know... I haven't owned a vehicle with a modern clutch like that...they use brake fluid in it? How does that work? I'm used to slowing a vehicle down like that by downshifting...giving the brakes...you know...a break. --Damien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Feels like it is coming from the clutch .... Sounds like it needs a clutch soon. The clutch test. Find something sturdy, 70 year old tree, house, building, 68 Chrysler New Yorker 4 door ... Put the front bumper against the imovable object. Engage the parking brake. With the car running put it in 5th gear and disengage the clutch. While doing this try your hardest to keep the car running. No matter what you do the engine should immediatly stall. If it doesnt immediatly stall then the clutch is on its way out. There is nothing wrong with downshifting, to each thier own unless you are going down a hill. There is nothing odd about subaru transmissions, they have gears and synchros just like everyone else. How does it do with the torque bind test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uniberp Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 On a 98 there are so many things old that it's hard to say. I would even guess shocks, halfshafts, wheel bearings, driveshaft, steering rack or tires before I'd worry about the clutch. A 3 to 2 downshift is the biggest rev change and highest torque on the drivetrain. No one ever (rarely) does a 2-1 downshift driving on normal roads at half redline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 2-1 is even necessary on a steep descent considering you can start off in 2nd without any clutch issues. I am sticking by the begings of a clutch. When in doubt wait for it to get worse, sometimes you just have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efseiler Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Nipper....are you real...or are you one of those dragons that lives in a computer....? See...I told you...Kitt was deadly....Karr was deadlier. :-P --Damien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Nipper....are you real...or are you one of those dragons that lives in a computer....? See...I told you...Kitt was deadly....Karr was deadlier. :-P --Damien Rowr l Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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