Harsh Shifting - Final Drive Issue?

Phoenix-IT

New Member
Dec 2, 2002
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Dallas, TX
Okay, I'm trying to figure something out... I've got an 03' GT and this is driving me crazy... I do have the Tremec issya, but that's not what I am bringing up here.

I've driven allot of manual transmissions, but this GT has got to have the jerky-est shifting I have ever experienced. Too little gas when you release the clutch and you dive hard, too much and you lunge forward... It's almost like it stalls sometimes... The gas your giving isn't enough and then you give a little more and it's way too much. It's real bad when it's cold... I read one post on here with a most accurate description, "It shifts like a dump truck..." That's the truth, it's difficult at best to get smooth motion in bumper to bumper traffic. :bang:

I had a 97 Ranger, and even with it's ultra-long throw shifter it was not hard to shift smoothly. :(

Clearly, with 6 cats and a 3.27 rear end, Ford was struggling with emissions on this car... The enormous slack in the drive train is no help either.

That said, for you guys with 3.73 and lower... Is the shifting smoother after the change? I'm wondering if this is related to the rear end being geared so high that it has to drag the engine along before you get the gas in perfect.

Thanks,
Phoenix
 
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It was about the same for me before and after the gears. Mine isnt as bad as you make it out to be, but I do know what your talking about. Honestly mine got a LOT better after I installed a new clutch. If I hit it right, it almost feels like an auto it is so smooth :nice:. I never had the feeling with the stock clutch. I normally am a touch over on the gas though, so I get a slight bumb/jerk, not very noticable, but its there.
 
Phoenix-IT said:
I'm not saying that it can't shift smoothly... Just that it's way more difficult than it needs to be... :rolleyes:

It's just because your not used to it. Before I got my car 2 years ago, I had a 1990 Ford Ranger and it was the smoothest shifting vehicle I ever drove. When I got the stang, It was rough just like you said...eventually you will get used it....now I can drive it and be as smooth as can be. It just feels normal to me now. :shrug:
 
ZaC851 said:
It's just because your not used to it. Before I got my car 2 years ago, I had a 1990 Ford Ranger and it was the smoothest shifting vehicle I ever drove. When I got the stang, It was rough just like you said...eventually you will get used it....now I can drive it and be as smooth as can be. It just feels normal to me now. :shrug:

I've had the car since November 2002... :bang:

It's always been like this... During normal driving it isn't that bad... unless I let my attention lapse when changing gears... That's what bothers me, it requires attention when other manuals I have driven didn't; including my '87 Mustang. It's not easy to drive...

However, getting smooth shifts is a real challenge when the engine is cold. Also, when I'm in bumper to bumper traffic... as my left leg gets tired, the longer I drive in it the worse the "dumpyness" of the whole operation becomes.

I'm also wondering if there is a cure for outrageous amount of slack in the drive train. :shrug: