1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
From what I understand, and close to what TG mentioned, synchros help bring your transmission gears to meet your engine speed. When you press on the shift lever, you are pushing on these conical ring gears (synchros). Your transmission is spinning with your drive-train in whatever gear you are in (engine--> clutch--> transmission-->wheels), and as you are changing gears (disengaging the engine, and letting the revs drop), you need to "synchronize" the transmission with your engine speed. The synchros progressively engage the transmission drive gears, and get them moving to the right speed for a smooth shift. You hear a sort of whining from the transmission if you are forcing a shift: this is those synchro gears in action.
Most cars, even those without synchromesh, will upshift fairly smoothly without much hassle. When you shift to a higher gear (i.e. lower engine speed), the engine speed naturally drops, and the tranmission will slide smoothly into gear (synchros don't need to work for very long, if at all). Downshifts are where synchros earn their keep in daily driving... you will hear them scream if you slam the tranny into a lower gear. This sure beats the metallic grinding sound and jarring through the shiftlever that comes when you improperly downshift a transmission without synchros.
I learned to drive first on an old tractor, then moved to my old Land Rover (5 years older than me, in fact), neither of which had synchros. I still double-clutch everything, though I'm sure there's no need anymore. It makes me feel good about myself though. And I don't like to wear chain-mail codpieces anyway... the rust is hard on my skin.
Best,
Lutfisk
posted by 24.59.101...
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