How to downshift for overtaking without jerking?
2 Answers
Methods for downshifting to overtake without jerking: 1. Depress the clutch, shift to neutral, release the clutch, and press the accelerator; 2. Depress the clutch, downshift, then release the clutch and press the accelerator. When releasing the clutch pedal with your left foot, immediately follow by pressing the accelerator pedal with your right foot. It's important to release the clutch slowly. The principle is to control the engine speed to bring the pressure plate close to the speed of the friction plate, reducing the impact intensity when the clutch engages, thus avoiding jerking. If you don't rev-match when downshifting, the speed difference will be greater, requiring more friction from the clutch to synchronize, which will accelerate clutch wear and shorten its lifespan. Over time, the clutch pressure plate (commonly known as the clutch disc) will wear out.
I've been driving manual transmission for over a decade, and I'm very familiar with downshifting for overtaking. The key is rev-matching! When pressing the clutch, quickly tap the throttle with your right foot to raise the RPM, then smoothly release the clutch. This way, the engine speed matches the car speed without sudden jerking. Practice heel-toe technique more, start with the basics: downshift from 4th gear at 40 km/h to 3rd gear while blipping the throttle to around 2500 RPM. Remember not to stomp the clutch during practice – release it gently for smoothness. Also, anticipate early – don't wait until you're just 3 meters behind the car ahead to downshift, acting earlier makes it more effortless. When I first started driving, I also had jerky shifts, but now after learning this trick from my mentor, overtaking trucks feels as smooth as silk-stocking milk tea.
