What Causes the Jerking Sensation When Downshifting a Manual Transmission?

[DiSarah]

It is mostly caused by improper clutch operation. Additionally, when shifting at lower RPMs, the jerking sensation is less likely to occur. However, when shifting at higher RPMs, if the throttle is not properly coordinated during upshifting, the vehicle is very prone to jerking after engaging the gear and releasing the clutch. Solutions are as follows: 1. Reduce shifting time: On one hand, try to minimize the shifting time, completing the gear change and re-engaging the clutch before the RPM drops. However, this method is incorrect. 2. Throttle blip: On the other hand, if the shifting is not fast enough, learn to blip the throttle. Before releasing the clutch after shifting (while the clutch is fully depressed), give a slight throttle blip—usually less for upshifts and more for downshifts. The exact amount should match the vehicle speed, and with practice, it can be done by feel. The principle is simple: raise the RPM close to the pre-shift level before re-engaging the clutch.