Question for A4 owners

**breakking** · 08-29-2007, 10:49 AM

I have an A4 trans am and sometimes when I race my friends I like to down shift from D to 3, or 3 to 2 depending on how fast im going. My question is if anyone else does this on their A4, and could this potentially damage my transmission??? I dont do if often, but when I do it shifts great and feels smooth.

**sirenformula350** · 08-29-2007, 10:53 AM

ha ha I did that all the time in my 89 formula. I have no idea if it hurts the tranny but it definitely made it seem like you are down shifting in a manual. Also if I was sitting at a light I would put the car in neutral so I could let off the brake. Wow, back in the day I wanted a manual so bad

Sorry I wasn't any help though.

**Justin23454** · 08-29-2007, 10:57 AM

I do it alot hope it dont, lol

**nhraformula** · 08-29-2007, 11:01 AM

theres zero reason to shift an auto. you cannot out shift the ecu

**sirenformula350** · 08-29-2007, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by nhraformula

theres zero reason to shift an auto. you cannot out shift the ecu

Yeah, you can't out shift the ecu but he is talking about down shifting. correct me if i am wrong but It seems like he is just doing it to slow down faster after racing or what not.

**breakking** · 08-29-2007, 11:12 AM

I do it on the freeway, for example if im racing my friend, and were going around 60mph, i'll downshift from D to 3 and floor it for better acceleration rather than just flooring it on D which will accelerate much slower.

**breakking** · 08-29-2007, 11:19 AM

I do it on the freeway, for example if Im racing my friend going around 60mph, Ill downshift from D to 3 and punch the gas for better acceleration, rather than flooring it on D which accelerates slower. hope this makes sense

**Joez T/A** · 08-29-2007, 11:43 AM

I have never tried it simply because I didn't want to mess anything up.

**breakking** · 08-29-2007, 11:59 AM

If im on the freeway with my friend going around 60mph, ill down shift from d to 3 for faster acceleration rather than flooring it on D which will accelerate slower.

**warpwr** · 08-29-2007, 12:10 PM

Say you are rolling start and the car has upshifted itself to overdrive or whatever.
Then you will for sure beat the ecu if you put it into the gear you want to race in before you nail it.
Or am I missing something here?

**third_shift|studios** · 08-29-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by breakking

I have an A4 trans am and sometimes when I race my friends I like to down shift from D to 3, or 3 to 2 depending on how fast im going. My question is if anyone else does this on their A4, and could this potentially damage my transmission??? I dont do if often, but when I do it shifts great and feels smooth.

when you mash the gas, it'll do what you want with no problems. If you wanted to shift, they make m6 models

***Ed Blown Vert*** · 08-29-2007, 12:18 PM

Let the tranny shift itself.

**JwMonE99** · 08-29-2007, 12:42 PM

Get a shift kit

**breakking** · 08-29-2007, 12:43 PM

Whats a shift kit??? ARe they for A4???

**Zboner** · 08-29-2007, 02:14 PM

yea dont down shift the only thing that can happen is BAD. leave in in OD(overdrive) and let it do everything for you. if you want harder and quicker shifts get a shiftkit, and a stall converter, go to a transmission shop and tell them what you want the car to do and they will make it happen

**02cetransam** · 08-29-2007, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by breakking

Whats a shift kit??? ARe they for A4???

you can only get a shift kit for an automatic, so yet they are for an A4. The purpose is to make the tranny shift alot firmer, crisper and harder. They are installed in the transmission valve body so the pan must be removed and holes must be drilled into the valve body. The kit will come with instructions. Its not rocket science but you do have to be careful.

**Heartbreak1** · 08-29-2007, 02:30 PM

I down shift only when I need to, I always feel like I have quicker response when accelerating by droping it down to the gear I want rather than mashing the gas. Plus I don't always like where the tranny is programmed to shift so I will purposely row the gears. Im sure my tranny is eventually gonna go but I could care less if it means I can do the conversion for the T56. Thats originally what I wanted for a tranny anyway.

**Zboner** · 08-29-2007, 02:32 PM

and IMO the 4L60 sucks

**VTR99** · 08-29-2007, 02:33 PM

Generally speaking automatic transmissions are pretty bullet proof. They are made shiftable for a reason, although racing isn't part of that reason. I have had automatics with manual valve bodies that had to be shifted just like a manual. The advantage being that they will outlast a manual clutch by about 4 to 1 or better. The disadvantage is that automatics are always a little slower than a manual with the same engine and gearing due to power loss. A shift kit will give you more solid shifts similar to a manual, but will also put more stress on the rear end.

**Zboner** · 08-29-2007, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by VTR99

Generally speaking automatic transmissions are pretty bullet proof. They are made shiftable for a reason, although racing isn't part of that reason. I have had automatics with manual valve bodies that had to be shifted just like a manual. The advantage being that they will outlast a manual clutch by about 4 to 1 or better. The disadvantage is that automatics are always a little slower than a manual with the same engine and gearing due to power loss. A shift kit will give you more solid shifts similar to a manual, but will also put more stress on the rear end.

you have lost your mind

i agree with everything else except the first about them being bullet proof, i went through 6 of the shitty 4l60's and never beat on the car, and that was in a time period of 6,000 miles with a mild HP car, my chevelle had about the same amount of HP as my camaro did and i never once replaced or rebuilt the TH350.. sorry i just do not agree with that statement...one thing goes wrong with an auto its pretty much game over for the whole thing.