Launching! And all the little things between

[XiKeiyaZI]

I haven't really seen a sure-fire thread about this, so I thought I would post this and see if we can share some ideas and help educate people like me who simply want to learn.

Right now, my 1st gear is Iffy... whether it be that 1st is simply crappy... or I STILL don't have my shift linkages adjusted correctly.

I am currently utilizing 2nd to take off, and the car does good. Pulls nice and smooth with no bogging unless I don't feather the RPM's enough.

One thing that I'd LOVE to know... is how to effectively launch from 2nd gear. Let's say, theoretically, that all other gears are in perfect strong condition.. and you simply want to launch from 2nd so you have a longer gear to pull through.

Is it possible?

What setup do you need to do this?

What's the most effective way to acheive this?

This car is mostly stock. The one supporting Mod to this question is the 2100 ACT clutch assembly. I have read that it's saer to pre-load the drive-line by revving to where you want to launch from, lightly let out on the clutch so as the car begins to try to move forward, and THEN release the clutch in quick/smooth motion.

I have NOT tested this. I'm actually a little skeptical on that...I just want a little input on this. I'm sure there are MANY of you who do this.. ;P Or have tried this and know the pros and cons.

;D Thanks!

 

[gofer]

I can't answer your "How to launch from 2nd gear?" question since A. I've personally never done it and B. Why would you be at the track racing without 2nd gear anyway?
Drivetrain mods are a ACT 2600 clutch (street disc) // ACT chromoly flywheel // B&M short shifter // symborski shift kit // shifter bushings // SS full clutch line // slave cylinder extension rod & I also run 245/40/17 Bridgestone Potenza RE760 tires when I'm at the track.
There are a few techniques that should be specific to YOUR setup that will get you off the line faster. With my setup I've tried launching two different ways to see if I could get out of the hole faster, I'll talk about each of them and which one worked best for me.

My personal favorite and the one that I've cut the fastest 60ft times using is slipping the clutch. I run my launch control right at 5k and I'm able to build about 8psi coming off the line using the HTA68. After I see the 3rd amber light up I'm already MASHING the gas and I slide the clutch up slowly until I feel the car start moving forward. At that point you lift the clutch up fast but smooth, don't drop it or else you'll jump forward and then bog... After the clutch is released I take it all the way to 7.5k and let it bounce off the rev limiter once or twice before I go into 2nd gear. The best part about using this method on my setup is that once I get back into the pits my car doesn't smell like a burnt up clutch, its just hard on the driveline.

The second way to launch an AWD car is by "preloading" the suspension/driveline and using the e-brake to hold you at the tree. In my opinion the only DSM's that should "preload" are guys/girls running a twin disc like this Exedy Twin Disc, they aren't cheap though. This type of launch requires alittle bit more thinking on your part at the line since your doing a few things trying to get down the track faster. First things first you put the gas to the floor (IF YOU HAVE LAUNCH CONTROL) to build some boost and get your RPMs up. After you do that you pull up on the ebrake and hold it tight with your right hand. Then as the lights start dropping you release the clutch little by little until you feel the drivetrain/suspension "preload" and you'll know when it does it because its wanting to move. Then once the 3rd yellow amber lights up drop the e-brake and quickly release the clutch pedal the rest of the way, again don't drop it!

I personally have TRIED "preloading" off the line but my ACT 2600 was not a fan, after I got into the pits it smelt like clutch, the reason why you need a twin disc setup to do it.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

I can't answer your "How to launch from 2nd gear?" question since A. I've personally never done it and B. Why would you be at the track racing without 2nd gear anyway?
Drivetrain mods are a ACT 2600 clutch (street disc) // ACT chromoly flywheel // B&M short shifter // symborski shift kit // shifter bushings // SS full clutch line // slave cylinder extension rod & I also run 245/40/17 Bridgestone Potenza RE760 tires when I'm at the track.
There are a few techniques that should be specific to YOUR setup that will get you off the line faster. With my setup I've tried launching two different ways to see if I could get out of the hole faster, I'll talk about each of them and which one worked best for me.

My personal favorite and the one that I've cut the fastest 60ft times using is slipping the clutch. I run my launch control right at 5k and I'm able to build about 8psi coming off the line using the HTA68. After I see the 3rd amber light up I'm already MASHING the gas and I slide the clutch up slowly until I feel the car start moving forward. At that point you lift the clutch up fast but smooth, don't drop it or else you'll jump forward and then bog... After the clutch is released I take it all the way to 7.5k and let it bounce off the rev limiter once or twice before I go into 2nd gear. The best part about using this method on my setup is that once I get back into the pits my car doesn't smell like a burnt up clutch, its just hard on the driveline.

The second way to launch an AWD car is by "preloading" the suspension/driveline and using the e-brake to hold you at the tree. In my opinion the only DSM's that should "preload" are guys/girls running a twin disc like this Exedy Twin Disc, they aren't cheap though. This type of launch requires alittle bit more thinking on your part at the line since your doing a few things trying to get down the track faster. First things first you put the gas to the floor (IF YOU HAVE LAUNCH CONTROL) to build some boost and get your RPMs up. After you do that you pull up on the ebrake and hold it tight with your right hand. Then as the lights start dropping you release the clutch little by little until you feel the drivetrain/suspension "preload" and you'll know when it does it because its wanting to move. Then once the 3rd yellow amber lights up drop the e-brake and quickly release the clutch pedal the rest of the way, again don't drop it!

I personally have TRIED "preloading" off the line but my ACT 2600 was not a fan, after I got into the pits it smelt like clutch, the reason why you need a twin disc setup.

Veerrrry informational. Infact, I'm going to experiment with the first idea when I get everything lined out. I wont, of course, be trying to put this kind of stress on the car during it's break-in period.

Just to clear it up.

Why would you be at the track racing without 2nd gear anyway?

You mean First, right? ;P Because that's the instance here. I have a very moody 1st gear. Sometimes it wants to slide right in, sometimes it's not having it. That is actually why I'm asking. I plan on having my other trans built up. This one is to use while I break the engine in and until I save up for a rebuild on the other. My curiosity is getting the best of me I'm afraid.

I've only been driving this car for a few weeks, and it's my first boosted car. I've only owned 2 cars and both were DSMs. The first was just N/T. I'm teaching myself how to drive this one, where the boost sets in, how the car pulls in each gear, and how the car moves around curves (Dear god do I love the way this thing rides around curves)

 

[dsm-onster]

Nice clutch or not, I preload because not doing it will kill my tranny faster . I'll gladly replace clutch disks vs. transmissions and whatever axles break.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Note taken.

Still, the question remains... is this possible from 2nd gear, not 1st? o.o

 

[dsm-onster]

Well, why? What 60ft are you cutting taking off in 2nd?

Gears with less tooth count see more stress naturally. Lower the final drive ratio (like reducing tire size) and that will help preserve all your gearset.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Didn't know tire-size effected that... guess it makes sense now that I think about it.

o__o and it's not that I'm at the track trying this... I just want to know IF it can be done with our cars.

 

[Achelea]

For Daily driving? Yeah, but it's a bit hard on the clutch I would think.

If you ever drive in snow you find out taking off in second reduces wheel spin.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Well, I also don't mean launching from every stop sign and red light. ;P