Shifts are sometimes clunky

[paul32]

2018 GT350 w/ about 1500 miles on it. I think this has existed since day 1, but I've started to notice it more as I've gotten more and more familiar with the car.

Often times when I shift into first gear when at a complete stop, I'll notice a "clunk" sound coming from under the car right as it goes into gear (with the clutch pedal still fully depressed).

When shifting up through gears, sometimes the shifts are buttery smooth, both other times I can feel a little bit of roughness in the stick (again, clutch pedal full depressed, this is happening as the lever slides into gear). Difficult to describe, but it's just a little bit of a rough feeling in my hand on the gear lever. Doesn't prevent the car from going into gear or anything like that. Obviously since I've noticed this I've tried taking extra care when shifting to see if it's me.

Is this normal behavior that I'm just over-analyzing? Or should the shifts feel super smooth 100% of the time?

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[Vettel-ish]

There is a recall however I think its just for the 2019 and up. Mine tends to do it when going into second but thats only when it cold. Good old Wisconsin.

 

[proeagles]

Frankly I think you are over thinking it. Someone on here will tell you to put Redline trans oil in it and all will be well but I don't believe it. Manual transmissions often have a very positive feel to them when you are shifting as though you can feel the syncros engaging the next gear. I don't mind that because it's all part of the mechanical experience of driving a stick.

 

[paul32]

Frankly I think you are over thinking it. Someone on here will tell you to put Redline trans oil in it and all will be well but I don't believe it. Manual transmissions often have a very positive feel to them when you are shifting as though you can feel the syncros engaging the next gear. I don't mind that because it's all part of the mechanical experience of driving a stick.

Yeah if it is just the feel of the synchros then that's totally fine with me. Just wanted to make sure nothing is broken or wearing more than it should be. Frankly, I've never owned a car with a transmission with this much feel, so I don't have any good reference points.

 

[Voodoo Velocity]

This has been discussed elsewhere on the forum. It is not the shifter. Most all have it to some degree and mostly notice it shifting 1-2. It may happen in other or all gears, but mostly noticeable as slow speeds (think: parking space hunting) where this less tire / engine roar. I have read it is an inherent characteristic to the car. I very regularly can feel and hear the mechanical engagement of the rear end in slow speed maneuvering.

 

[The Chairman]

Even with the clutch depressed, the clutch disks and input shaft to the transmission are still spinning free. Then, when you select a gear, that momentum causes a “thunk” feeling as they engage, which you can sometimes hear as well. If you mount the trans & diff in a lot of rubber bushings, that can be minimized. But all manuals do it.
Performance cars tend to have less rubber mountings for isolation to improve performance. So you will get that feeling. All of my cars do it. Its normal.

 

[JAJ]

2018 GT350 w/ about 1500 miles on it. I think this has existed since day 1, but I've started to notice it more as I've gotten more and more familiar with the car.

Often times when I shift into first gear when at a complete stop, I'll notice a "clunk" sound coming from under the car right as it goes into gear (with the clutch pedal still fully depressed).

When shifting up through gears, sometimes the shifts are buttery smooth, both other times I can feel a little bit of roughness in the stick (again, clutch pedal full depressed, this is happening as the lever slides into gear). Difficult to describe, but it's just a little bit of a rough feeling in my hand on the gear lever. Doesn't prevent the car from going into gear or anything like that. Obviously since I've noticed this I've tried taking extra care when shifting to see if it's me.

Is this normal behavior that I'm just over-analyzing? Or should the shifts feel super smooth 100% of the time?

These gearboxes are built with fairly heavy components to handle the power that goes through them. The heavier the gear wheels, the harder they are to synchronize during a shift. On that basis alone, it'll never shift as easily or as smoothly as a car built with less power. That said, there are some things to try. First, for the dead stop clunk, are you sitting with the gearbox in neutral and the clutch pedal up? If so, all of the gears in the gearbox are turning, and getting into first means stopping them. Try slipping into second before going to first - that should be easier. By the way, if that doesn't work, then you may have a dragging clutch, which would explain all of the symptoms you're talking about. That's pretty unlikely though.

As for the occasional weird feel on engagement, that's "normal" in the sense that lots of cars do it. Mine did until I switched to a different gear oil and friction modifier. It doesn't do it now at all.

 

[paul32]

I just took a longer drive in the warmest weather I've had so far this year, and I noticed that after about 30 minutes of driving, it smooths out completely.

 

[paul32]

These gearboxes are built with fairly heavy components to handle the power that goes through them. The heavier the gear wheels, the harder they are to synchronize during a shift. On that basis alone, it'll never shift as easily or as smoothly as a car built with less power. That said, there are some things to try. First, for the dead stop clunk, are you sitting with the gearbox in neutral and the clutch pedal up? If so, all of the gears in the gearbox are turning, and getting into first means stopping them. Try slipping into second before going to first - that should be easier. By the way, if that doesn't work, then you may have a dragging clutch, which would explain all of the symptoms you're talking about. That's pretty unlikely though.

As for the occasional weird feel on engagement, that's "normal" in the sense that lots of cars do it. Mine did until I switched to a different gear oil and friction modifier. It doesn't do it now at all.

Yes, sitting in neutral with the clutch pedal up. I did try the second -> first thing and it behaves exactly like you described. That effect makes total sense to me. The only thing I don't quite understand is the rough feeling through the gear lever, seemingly until everything heats up, then it becomes about the smoothest and best feeling transmission I've ever used.

 

[lenFeb]

I have similar feeling as OP when shifting. I just not that sensitive to it. My Audi S4 shifts way smoother. But I like GT350 rough shifting better.

 

[JAJ]

I just took a longer drive in the warmest weather I've had so far this year, and I noticed that after about 30 minutes of driving, it smooths out completely.

Yup, that's a TR3160. Great to drive when warm, a little less user-friendly when cold. Thing is the transmission oil cooler has no thermostat so it always runs, so in the winter the gearbox never heats up.

 

[UXXR]

I got a 2018 GT350 as well - around 2K miles, and about a month ago I created the below thread to ask opinions about my concerns. One of them was exactly what you are mentioning here, first gear being a little rough. I too have the 'clunk' sound and bump feeling when putting the car on first gear, mostly when the car is cold. I believe transmission warming up helps a little. I was also asking about 'need to jam the car into first gear' as it feels quite rough going into first gear compared to other gears.
General feedback I got is similar to yours, you'll see the replies lije 'you're not the only one', first gear feeling is evident on many other cars. Since then I embraced it and imagine it as a thoroughbred race car feeling when putting it in first gear : )

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/2018-gt350-driving-impressions-possible-concerns.137693/

 

[paul32]

I got a 2018 GT350 as well - around 2K miles, and about a month ago I created the below thread to ask opinions about my concerns. One of them was exactly what you are mentioning here, first gear being a little rough. I too have the 'clunk' sound and bump feeling when putting the car on first gear, mostly when the car is cold. I believe transmission warming up helps a little. I was also asking about 'need to jam the car into first gear' as it feels quite rough going into first gear compared to other gears.
General feedback I got is similar to yours, you'll see the replies lije 'you're not the only one', first gear feeling is evident on many other cars. Since then I embraced it and imagine it as a thoroughbred race car feeling when putting it in first gear : )

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/2018-gt350-driving-impressions-possible-concerns.137693/

Re: jamming into first gear problem - I did receive a recall notice for the reverse gear lockout interfering with first gear. I haven't personally experienced it, but you may want to look into that.

 

[UXXR]

Re: jamming into first gear problem - I did receive a recall notice for the reverse gear lockout interfering with first gear. I haven't personally experienced it, but you may want to look into that.

If I remember correctly, my car wasn't in that recall list - I don't have a recall via Ford when I enter my VIN.
After the recall done, could you please report back to this thread and let me know if the 'jamming' feeling lessened - got corrected?
Thanks,

 

[paul32]

If I remember correctly, my car wasn't in that recall list - I don't have a recall via Ford when I enter my VIN.
After the recall done, could you please report back to this thread and let me know if the 'jamming' feeling lessened - got corrected?
Thanks,

Definitely will do. I doubt the recall is what I was originally describing, but I'll let you know for sure. I already took it to the dealer and they said "we'll let you know when we can do anything about it" - I'm guessing not until well after quarantine.

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