Trans shifting.. Smooth? Firm?

[Granny]

I have a question for you folks. I hear alot of yall talking about your new tunes and how smooth the shifting is. My question to you is please explain what you mean by "smooth". I am of the opinion that you want a "firm" shift. You do not want it "sliding" into or out of a gear. That would seem to cause undo wear and tear on the tranny and gears. I know I want to "feel" it shift. I doesn't matter if I am running a street tune or a race tune and btw I run a race tune for my daily driver, my shifts a crisp and firm they way they should be IMHO. Anyway I am just looking for opinions and what yall think.

[dieseldan2005]

Here is a bump for you Terri. I don't have tunes on my 6.0 so i can't help ya with this one.

[scotty2280]

yep i feel my shifts esp when i stomp on it!

[kosk0100]

My shifts are pretty firm, but I would like to hear about those with the smooth shifts.

[Granny]

Originally Posted by kosk0100

My shifts are pretty firm, but I would like to hear about those with the smooth shifts.

That is what I want to know about. All those folks who keep talking about how "smooth" their new tunes shift. I don't understand "smooth" shifting. I am not sure if these folks really know what shifting is really supposed to feel like and it worries me. I guess that is the "mother-hen" in me coming out.

[Calkidd]

Well I am one of those guys who talks about smooth shifting. Believe me I know what a tranny is supppose to shift like. I have had my share of muscle cars and working at a performance machine shop.

Maybe I am not correctly naming or describing what I am expereincing, but at the same time I am trying convey what others might understand.

I was comparing my shifting between Gearhead and IDP and how the tranny's shifts differently. But you're right you want a firm shift to prevent slipping and to prolong tranny life.

[sportmanst]

Can someone give a better "feel" description between firm and smooth?...


Smooth - shifts so fluently that it almost seems like the truck only has one gear...you only feel your body sway back into the seat when shifting occurs.

Firm - slight hicup in movement...you can feel your body sway forward then back when shifting occurs.


Would this be correct, or the exact opposite?

[scotty2280]

yep, firm shifts are quick and you can feel it.

[Dave]

This is what I mean when I say it.

When going WOT or accelerating heavy the shifts are good and firm as they should be

Now with just in town driving the shifts are still firm. But not as harsh as older versions of the same tunes.

In other words the firmness is still there. The transition between the gears feels better though

[Granny]

I would agree with that Dave. I guess I am just used to my quick shifting and TC lock-up. Some tuners lock their's sooner than others and keep it locked, which is what I like. I don't want mine locking and un-locking. That can't be good for the tranny. It also depends on what tunes you are running also.