Shuttering when i down shift? please advise

TheSoundMan

TheSoundMan

New member
Hey guys,

So Ive been driving my MY03 Wrx Wagon for about a month now. a couple of days ago it started to shutter or shake a little, only for about half a second when i start out in first, and when i down shift. You can feel it slightly going from fourth to third, more so from third to second. it happens as I disengage the clutch and hit the catch point. Does anyone know what could be causing this problem? its really starting to get me worried. Any advice would be great..

 
Are you rev matching, or just dumping the clutch and letting it bring the engine up to RPMs?

 
Ive never really "rev matched" when downshifting, its not like im shifting early and letting the engine wind, if I shift from 3 to 2nd at 30 MPH this happens....

 
Ive never really "rev matched" when downshifting, its not like im shifting early and letting the engine wind, if I shift from 3 to 2nd at 30 MPH this happens....
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So you going 30. push in the clutch, put it in 2nd, and let out the clutch? At which time the engine just jumps up to higher RPM? If I drive my car like that. it will shudder too.

 
im not ripping my foot off the clutch, i've been driving a stick for almost twenty years, and never had to replace a single clutch. but in 3 weeks I have destroyed this one? so you say no engine braking in a wrx is that it?

 
^^ good point Gabe. It does. Mine doesn't shudder as much as it just jerks if I dump the clutch I guess.

 
im not ripping my foot off the clutch, i've been driving a stick for almost twenty years, and never had to replace a single clutch. but in 3 weeks I have destroyed this one? so you say no engine braking in a wrx is that it?
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did you buy this car brand new or is this a brand new clutch probably not sound like either the flywheel is heavily glazed or the clutch and pressure plate are junk how many miles does the car have on it

 
Given that it's a MY03 and you've only had it for 3 weeks, I'm presuming you bought it used. How many miles on the car? Any sign that the previous owner made modifications or was a "spirited" driver?

My thoughts:

1. Clutch and flywheel are probably a bit glazed which will cause some shuttering. It could also be that they are reaching their end of service life and are due to be replaced.

2. That vintage WRX had a pseudo recall on the clutch for shuttering - they used a relatively aggressive clutch as OEM which would shutter a bit - it you complained about it to the dealer, they replaced them under warranty (not that that will help you now).

3. If it's more of a bucking than a shutter, it's the bushings in the rear suspension and diff mounts. Then tend to wear out and as you get more play, you will get a bucking feeling when transitioning from acceleration to deceleration and vice-versa. But this doesn't sound like what you are experiencing.

Suggestion: a bit of rev matching will go a long way here. Just a quick blip on the throttle as you down shift will smooth it out considerably. You might also consider a fresh clutch and flywheel if it starts getting worse.

Tim

 
Thanks for all the help. When I bought the car, the only mods were suspension, and short shifter. I dont really think that it was beat on at all. I know about the TSB for the clutch chatter, however my car has the new parts from the factory according to the TSB. But, i feels exactly like what was happening with those cars. I found a post last night that said if the clutch plate got warmed up a little, it would stop. I found on my way home, while cruising at like 45, if i shifted from 5 to forth and back a couple of times, it pretty much went away till this morning. Its not horrible, I just was concerned as to how long I had. im gonna take it over to the dealer tommorow and see if someone can go for a ride with me and diagnose it, so at least I know what im looking at. I had found a post somewhere else that said that this could be caused by a bad CV, I dont think its likely, but maybe Ill get lucky. again, thanks...

 
Suggestion: a bit of rev matching will go a long way here. Just a quick blip on the throttle as you down shift will smooth it out considerably. You might also consider a fresh clutch and flywheel if it starts getting worse.
Tim
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I wish I could use all three pedals at once like some drivers I've seen
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I wish I could use all three pedals at once like some drivers I've seen
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Your right foot can do both gas and brake perfectly fine with a bit of practice
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I tried once or twice...... it didn't end well
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practice young grasshopper.

and if it is the clutch going bad, maybe don't use it except taking off till you fix it? unless you don't have the skills and just grind the tranny away to nothing.

 
First you'll turn your synchros into a pile of copper in the bottom of the tranny ... Then you'll grind it to nothing ...

I had to do that to get my car home when my clutch cable broke. I can get the shift points exact though
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i learned to shift clutchless a bit on my sentra, and perfected it on the international dumptrucks at work. eaton-fuller 8-speed is easiest though

 
lol, well, I can't even reach the gas pedal while braking...

If I go to the group drive I can have someone demonstrate it though
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lol, well, I can't even reach the gas pedal while braking...If I go to the group drive I can have someone demonstrate it though
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Isn't that hard once you get the hang of it I was having some fun today. ...
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