RX-7 5-4 Downshift

[joeracerx95]

Yes, all RX7 transmissions I've used are touchy going from 5th to either 4th or 3rd. I've been told, and take this for what it's worth, that the shift forks are usually bad in these transmissions. I don't know what that means or how to fix it, but if it's true it may be related.

Now, how to solve the problem? Here's the method I've found that works pretty much 100% of the time.

As soon as you hit the brakes, put the clutch in and take the transmission out of 5th. Then either let go of the shifter completely or, as you get used to this method, simply release any pressure on the shift lever from your hand. Let the transmission "settle" for a moment and the shift lever will automatically align itself with the 3-4 slot due to the internal springs pushing on the shifter. This takes very little time and you will still be in the braking zone. Now push/pull the lever into the gear you want. You will find that it does so without any problem. Trying to muscle or force these transmissions just doesn't work.

Double-clutching or heal and toe will not have any affect on this. Double-clutching helps the transmission gears match speeds and is only really needed if your syncro's are bad. Heel and toe matches engine revs to tire speed and will get rid of that screech you are getting when you let the clutch out. You need to learn this, otherwise you will loop the car at some point. If you haven't looped the car when the rear tires screech, you probably aren't hitting your brakes hard enough to begin with.

[lateapex911]

My method is to stomp the brakes, get it out of 5th and into N, pop the clutch out while rolling the right foot onto the gas to zing it, then clutch in and straight into third, and more zinging as I ease the clutch out. At certain tracks like Lime Rock, it's all about trailbraking and being smooth as you roll back on the throttle. Can't do a fast lap there any other way that i've figured out.
I don't have any grinding, screeching tires or spinning. I also pause in my shifts a millisecond, as a rule, to be nice to my transmissions.

Learning proper heel toe and double clutching is useful.
In a sense we are lucky that our cars don't brake like F1 cars and we have plenty of time to get all the shifting done.