Why Does a Dual-Clutch Transmission Jerk at Low Speeds?

[Mario]

Dual-clutch transmission jerking at low speeds indicates an abnormality in the vehicle, primarily due to two reasons: 1. Large gear ratio difference in low gears: Those who have driven manual transmissions know that when the engine speed is high, shifting from first to second gear can cause some jerking. This is due to the significant change in gear ratios between the lower gears. For automatic transmissions, the presence of a torque converter helps buffer the shift, resulting in relatively less jerking. However, dual-clutch transmissions lack a torque converter and can only mitigate this jerking by prolonging the semi-engaged state of the two clutch sets, which may still exhibit some level of jerking. 2. Mechanical limitations and shift logic of dual-clutch transmissions: Due to the mechanical structure and principles of dual-clutch transmissions, two gears are always engaged simultaneously—one is the active gear for power output, and the other is the gear prepared for the next shift. While dual-clutch transmissions shift up very quickly, their downshift speed is comparatively slower.