Friday, May 05, 2006 - 12:37 am, by: Shane Ilich(Ferret)
When I had my stage 1.5 kit in, and the line pressure adjusted all the way to "hardest shift", the shift were very firm - 1st-2nd was a solid thunk into gear, which was not very pleasant at low speeds - eg peak hour traffic on the freeway.
I learned to get around this 2 ways: 1. In situations such as peak hour traffic, I left it locked in 2nd, and just took off in 2nd. 2. After a week or so of driving with it, you learn where the shift points are, and by just easing off the throttle as it shifts into gear, you eliminate a lot of that jarring.
Was running it with an open diff, so was trying to be as forgiving as possible to it.
It was only at low speeds that the firmness of the shift was an issue to me/passengers. At anything above 60% full noise on takeoff, it just seemed to slide straight into gear - at closer to full noise, the issue I tended to have was that 1st-2nd change would hit just as the car began making full boost on stock turbos, and so would induce wheelspin out of 2nd - in the dry, a chirp...in the wet, I was doing the Soarer version of the bum dance.
Cihan, in regards to your question regarding ignition retardation on changes - with my 1.5 kit, I felt as though I could still feel it a bit, but ONLY on full noise gearchanges.
Brockas should be able to give you his impressions, as he's now running my old shiftkit.
Friday, May 05, 2006 - 08:53 am, by: Cihan Aday(Cihan)
Thanks Shane. The ecu retard timing no matter what we do to the transmission. If you have a tuned soarer that doesnt blow heaps of carbon out the back, watch it during a gearchange - carbon city - even if it is chirping.
I think once the box is manualised, this shouldnt be an issue at all. That is, if the stock ecu is removed from the auto loop altogether.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 08:40 pm, by: Freeman Tang(Cobra_man)
Shift Kit (especially 1.5 stage or higher) + LSD (Torsen or whatever type) = Death!!
I have been in a TT with 1.5 shift kit (no LSD in that one)...I could clearly see the car launching forward underneath me as it accelerates no matter how easy you put your foot down. Around round abouts, in the wet, mate, you really want to pray! because you have NO control of how and when the car changes gear. And guess what's waiting for you on the other side of the kerb? Concrete poles , parked cars and pedestrians!
I highly don't recommend it!!! for your cars sake and your own safety too.
My one does kick sometimes under lite throttle, but most of the time, driving it normally in traffic, you can't even tell it has a 1.5 shift kit. It does kick into gear however when you give it a bit throttle. I wouldn't call it dangerous unless your really giving it heaps, as I've found out on some occasions
I've never had to put it into 2nd off standing start cause it was kicking badly under lite throttle. I've got a torson, but ive also got a big single, which maybe the reason it feels more driveable as my stock convertor is still on and its not as responsive off the line as with stock turbos.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 03:31 am, by: Dragan Vidic(Soarer_ttt)
Freeman Tang wrote on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 08:40 pm:
And guess what's waiting for you on the other side of the kerb? Concrete poles , parked cars and pedestrians!
Dont know who's car you were in and how he/she drives but its nothing like that mate....how many soarer do you hear of being smashed because of a shift kit and lsd....comon plzzzz
If you're a maniac you dont need shift kit and lsd to loose it...just a bit of stupidity will do.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 07:50 am, by: Benny Gammelmark(Oldfield)
I find my shift kit most intrusive on lite to medium throttle. It also seems to have become softer as time goes by.
I was a bit disappointed with it at the start due to the car jerking but you learn how to drive with the kit after a while.
I only have a stage 1 shift kit and it's a V8 but I would think it works similar in a TT.
I would also think that you have almost full control on when the car changes gears. Drive in second gear around the roundabouts and shift it to D when out of it. If you kick down to 1st in the middle of a roundabout you must be flooring it. Not really very safe at that point.
How much difference does the LSD make in terms of safety? I've thought about putting one in.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 08:46 pm, by: Freeman Tang(Cobra_man)
True, your attitude decides you fate, not the hardware. I agree.
OK to answer your questions: I was in Ian Bongailas' TT, it has 1.5 shift kit. We were driving with very light throttle around a round about, in the wet that night. Firstly we stopped before it because there was a car on our right, then we drove forward **casually**(light-medium throttle that is) and trying to turn right at the round about. The car changes from 1st to 2nd at the clipping point of the round about while we were turning right, and just like what I said, BOOOOM, side ways it went and launch forward(well, more like drifting!) Total lack of control at that moment! Tail end kicked out.... a lot! Lucky no cars next to us, eg. a double turning lane.
It is such a device that will send you a big nasty shock EVERY TIME! No matter you or your car like it or not(unless you floor it). It needs some kind of switch/control system that when you are dragging, turn on the shift kit module, and when you are driving home from work in peak hour traffic, turn it off. Otherwise, you just have to force yourself to adapt to its aggressive nature and be submissive to the needs of "shifting down to 2nd at this this time...lock in 1st when you do that...then put in D" at different times. What's the point of having an auto then? Why not just get a manual TT or do a R154 conversion in that case?
The most important thing is, how does your car feel about it? We are all Soarer lovers right? We all care about our cars yes?? Hence we are all there reading this. But the sudden shocks from shift kits frequently deliver so much unnecessary shock waves/stress through your car's entire tranny, drive shaft, couplings, entire diff assembly, side shafts, stub axels, and tyres, not to mention the rubber mounts for eng/tranny/diff as well. For my car's sake, I will not put in a shift kit, because it causes a lot of premature wear.
You may not agree with me, or think I am being negative/arrogant/dumb/old fashion or what ever, but that's another point of view about shift kits, showing you the other side of the "Thrilling shifting sensation" and ultra quick drag-spec-gear-changing times.
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 07:56 am, by: Luke Nieuwhof(Luke_nieuwhof)
The shift kit (I have a stage one) is all about how you drive it. The first to second shift is the noticeable one and always fairly firm. However the rest can be nurtured with the throttle so they aren't neck snapping.
Any mod to a car will affect its long term wellbeing.
As for me, I'm looking to run 12s so a shift kit was needed, its got me a 13 so got to be happy with that!
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:42 am, by: Steven Nanevski(Imprestik)
so upon reading everyones comments on shift kits, the torsen can handle it quite well, although a stage 1.5 shift kit is not recommended for heavy traffic driving (which i do 5 times a week to work and back). Is the kick that bad from 1st to 2nd?? Man I am quite confused on this now, maybe I should settle with a stage 1 kit then??
Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:41 am, by: Dragan Vidic(Soarer_ttt)
Just pop your bonnet and tighten the kickdown cable all the way. If you can live with that then 1.5 should be ok. It shifts a bit harder then that on normal driving but huge difference on full throttle ....or just get a member to take you for a spin mate
Steven Nanevski wrote on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 12:26 pm:
good point Dragon, can someone in a TT take me for a spin with a 1.5 stage shift kit in Sydney??
Will come where ever you are located
I can take you for a spin if you like. I just got my car working again tonight. Was going to offer when you posted, but car was having some issues at the time.
Ben Evans TryHard Qld "Master Power" Turbo 1J With Xtras
Monday, May 15, 2006 - 02:10 am, by: Ben Evans(Sbyder)
i honestly dont know what you guys are talking about...?
I have a 3000rpm stally, cooler, syenthetic fluid, 1.5 shift kit and a tight 96 Torsen LSD and i dont have any issues at all. Treat the box with respect and release the throttle slightly at the shift points when your driving in traffic and it works a dream. You will hardly even notice it if you do it right. Just act like you changing gears without moving the gear stick
Then, when you need it, keep the bugger planted and fun will be had by all.
If you feel uncomfortable if the car starts sliding in the wet, send yourself and your beast to a trackday/ skid pan so you can learn how to react with the given situation, ie sliding sideways at 60kms/h.
Different cars with different tyres driven by different people will have different effects i spose...
Personally, i would not go back to a open wheeler ever, i just like having the extra grip when i need it.
Stephen, get a 1.5 and just drive her with respect
For the mods you are doing a stage 1 would be fine, but why not get a 1.5 when you have the box apart already.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 09:34 pm, by: Ben Evans(Sbyder)
ummm.... no. It works in the opposite way. High stall enables you to rev the motor on the line up to the set RPM which will get the turbo spinning, and with the correct set-up, build boost without leaving the line.
So when you take off, the turbo is already spinning. Just think of it like revving a manual to 4grand then dropping the clutch.