Double clutch heel-toe downshifting.

RCZ

Why are you double clutching AND heel and toe'ing when you downshift? People still double clutch? I thought that died with the invention of the synchros...

Why do I think you're a little confused about what you're doing?

I mean...if you are actually doing all that on downshifts, awesome, but judging by your original question, Im not so sure.

the_student

Double post

the_student

Well If you doubt me what am I to do. To me double clutch down shift is when I first disengage the clutch shift into neutral engage the clutch then rev my engine then disengage the clutch again downshift into a lower gear and then engage the clutch again and during that whole process I am pressing the brakes with the ball of my right foot and revving with the side of my right foot. I don't think I'm confused but whatever. I can do regular heel-toe also. I just stated it's smoother for me to double clutch heel-toe and am practicing so I don't have to do the extra step of shifting into neutral. I also know that noone really uses double clutching now adays unless you are running straight cut gears. So anyway back on topic. I'm about to go driving and gonna practice. Let's get some tips out there for people to get smoother at heel-toe.

Brendan@Bwalk

I single clutch downshift the higher gears (6th through 3rd), but I double clutch downshifts under that, or when skipping more than three gears. Call me crazy, but my gearbox has slower, notchy synchros, and double clutching lessens the load on the synchros, and makes the shift feel better. I'll double clutch heel and toe going from say 3rd to second while on the brakes, and anytime I go back into 1st when I'm not fully stopped.

The 370Z rev hangs more than my car does, so the trick is simply being more accurate with your timing, and a little less swift on clutch take up. On my car I over rev, and pull the clutch out as the rev's fall down. In the Z with Rev Match off, you have to nail the throttle blip a bit better, wait for the revs to slowly fall, or clutch out a bit slower.

Practice practice practice and you'll get it. The 350Z was IMO a bit easier to drive smoothly, but the 370Z can be mastered with enough practice.

*EDIT I just saw that you're in the Bay Area. Feel free to drop by Boardwalk Nissan in Redwood City (PM me first to make sure I'm here), and we'll go out and I'll show you a few tricks.

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