I love about 95% of my new Mustang, but one aspect bugs me...I seem to have trouble making smooth shifts.

Unlike other members, the shifter itself doesn't bother me. While the throws are a bit long, I think the shifts are smooth and precise.

I've searched here and on several forums, and it seems that the characteristics I'm experiencing are considered "normal" (or at least not uncommon).

Between the revs not dropping quickly between shifts, and what feels like some driveline slop, it makes me feel like a lousy driver...especially at slower speeds, like in traffic.

Anyone else feel this way? Do you feel that your car experiences "driveline slop" (any clunking from the driveshaft, clutch or rear end)? If so, can anything be done to reduce or eliminate it?

 

I feel good, maybe its because I shift so smooth, it feels like an automatic

The only time its not smooth when I shift is when I shift below 2k rpms. Then it clunks and stuff.
But no big deal, because I usually shift around 6200 RPM's

 

I also think the stock shifter is ok. The throws are a bit long. Once I have the car for a while, I may look into a short throw shifter, but I am not running out to get one yet. The long throws seem to match the hanging revs.

I still get some clunk, but usually it is when I knew it was coming (I let the clutch out too fast/slow, shifted at too low a speed, etc.) The more I drive the car - I have had it for a week and a half - I seem to be getting more accustomed to the timing of the revs and the feel of the clutch.

So in response to your post, I guess I have experienced the same type of vehicle behavior - but I am experiencing less of it over time.

 

Do you think your tune affects shifting in any way?

Funny...I feel the exact same way!

 

I do quite well on the shift. I do get the ocasional driveline slop/clunk at low speeds but only when I'm not consentrating on a smooth shift. Normally around town I shift at 3000 rpms but when I get on her, things smooth out. The rpms do hang on for a few seconds and to me, smooth things out on the upshift but it's weird that the rpms hang like that. (Ordering Dougs tune next week)
Down the line I will work on a Hurst shifter as the stocker can be a bit notchy at low speeds and longish in throw but nothing too conserning at this point. Way too busy having fun in this car..

 

Definitely, its more touchy I guess you could say, but not a huge difference.

 

There is definitely clunkiness at low rpm's....I just try not to shift in that rpm range.

 

My wife and I have have driven "manuals" on and off for most of our lives. I grasped the concept of shifting early on, she however, still gives me whiplash. I picked up my technique riding a motocycle as a kid... there's a difference, but the same concept nonetheless... muscle-memory. I guess it's more of a feel that you can't teach... Shift points change with engine speed whch dictates the degree of release of the clutch. Also, I've found of that "it's like riding a bike". I went several years without a "manual"; hopped in my new Stang, and drove it like a champ. Likewise for my wife... she could drive it, but in the same manner that she has always driven... like crap. I guess, once you pick up a bad technique, it's hard to break

 

I did notice when I first got my Mustang, I had trouble shifting. I do notice that when I push the clutch in the rpms rise slightly and have felt an occaisional clunk when shifting from first to second. However I have been shifting at really low rpms under 2k. When I shift at higher rpms, lets say around 3k it does seem to smooth out. The one thing that I do not like is the down shifting, it feels clunky to me. I have been looking at short throw shifters and am still on the fence about which one though. All in all I love this car regardless of it's somewhat sloppy shifting at lower speeds. I guess the tranny is basically teling us your driving to slow

 

The drivetrain slop is because of the stock driveshaft. It's a two peice unit that uses a hangar bearing in the middle and has 3 ujoints. It's also very heavy. Approx. 42 lbs. There are several companies making good one piece units that are a lot lighter and have no slack that will fix this problem. I just ordered a Coast aluminum driveshaft. 18 lbs compared to the stock 42.

 

The only trouble I have is I'm a truck driver and in a truck you float the gears and in the mustang I have to use the clutch. And sometimes I'll forget I'm not in the truck,but other than that no problem. Later on I'll be getting the new shifter by MGW.

 

I'll be interested in feedback after installation. Thanks.

 

The Mustangs are definitely happier when you are upshifting at 3k rpm or above. I have developed a pattern of lifting off the throttle just a little bit before depressing the clutch to better place revs on upshifts.

For downshifts I am doing a version of heel-and-toe that allows for the pedal positions. I keep my right heel planted and let the ball of my right foot straddle the brake and throttle. When I want to blip the revs up, I rotate my leg at the hip, blip up the revs, and downshift. Works reasonably well.

 

I just came back from a drive to try out this technique, and it does seem to work. Thanks for the tip!

 

The drive line slop has all to do with the throttle hang. The input and output side of the drive train is not matched as the clutch engages and you get the clunk. Its not bad driving per se, its the nature of the beast. Unless you have had a tune to eliminate throttle hang, all you can do is grin and bear it or do a granny shift (i.e wait for the RPMs to drop). it is less noticable with brisker driving, but everybody may not like that, except the cops who will love to give you a speeding ticket.

Changing out drive shafts won't make it go away, but will save some weight and reduce driveline rotational mass.

A shorter shifter throw won't eliminate it either ... along with that modification comes more shifter effort because you have given up mechanical advantage or leverage for a shorter throw.

Everything is a compromise. Choose wisely.

 

There is a difference between cars, or at least between an 05 and 06. I test drove a 05 which shifted so smooth, I bought a 06 which ive noticed has good days and bad. It is hard to explain but some days it shifts clean and others its like driving a tractor, but mostly its in between and fine. I do find that shifting while driving slower and in heavy traffic is rougher but at a quick pace is nice.

 

I thought the stock shifter wasn't too bad either. In fact it's miles better than the horrible shifter that was in my 97 VW. Having said that, yeah the rpms don't drop right away and so it makes low speed or low rpm transitions a little sloppy.

To remedy this I first bought a shifter and it is night and day different to the stock shifter but it doesn't eliminate the rpms hanging. My tune comes in tomorrow and I'll know after I install that. I believe I've seen in several cases that a tune will get rid of the high rpms when you let of the throttle. After that I'll get a single piece steel driveshaft and so it ought to be pretty good. But one thing at a time.

 

I await your feedback.

 

One thing I can tell you without a doubt is that the driveshaft theory just isn't so. Having had several Mustangs, I can confidently say that the "slop" people refer to is a combination of the slack contained in both the transmissions themselves and the rear. Moreso though, it's the trans. If you ever get the chance to examine say a T-5 while it's on the ground, you can take the input shaft in one hand, and the output with the other and literally feel the slop while it's in gear. It varies from trans to trans, but they all have it.

The other thing I notice is that the '05+ engine combination/tune DEFINITELY produces more of a backlash effect when the engine is cold. You can experience this quite vividly if you decide to step on the gas some in first and then back off some with the car still in first. The car begins to buck like a bronco. This is a tunable behavior I think but the condition disappears once the car is warmed up. None of my other cars did this.

Shift technique on this car does require some small adaptations from other manual cars, but it's not a ton. My Mazda 6 required a very different clutch technique because of it's throw and take up. I didn't like that clutch much at all.

 

My 2000 Crown Vic w/ 3.55s has the same type of clunking sound from the rear-end. With a locked converter and coasting fuel shutoff during hard braking, my Vic feels like it is a manual Mustang GT: CLUNK CLUNK.

In the S197, I find that 1-2 upshifts can result in clunking, while 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 upshifts aren't as aggressive. If I pop the clutch for 3-4 and 4-5 upshifts, I can hear a double clunk from the rear end. The same clunking can be heard during downshifts.

I was told that this is just the driveline taking up the slack. It's apparent even on the automatics if the torque converter is locked. A slipping torque converter acts as a dampener.