First time posting , F1 transmission downshift double "clunk"

Are you putting into neutral as you come to a stop? In most respects, you should drive the car the way you drive a manual. That means putting in neutral as you come to a stop, shifting appropriately for corners and such, and other things.

It's not an automatic. If you leave it in gear it will just keep downshifting unnecessarily as you slow to a stop, which is just poor driving.

 

Like above. It will downshift through all the gears when rolling to a stop to 1st gear and then will automatically go to neutral after a bit time (like 20 seconds) when stopped.

Put it in neutral as you roll to a stop. This will minimize the clutch and tranny wear. Plus no clunking.

F1 is really a manual transmission powertrain with actuators on top to automate the clutching and gear change. So you should feel the same way when slowing down as a gated car, it downshifts.

If it doesnt sound like it's hesitating to change gear or having difficulty changing gear while clunking I wouldn't be concerned.

 

Do not drive it in automatic.

 

^^I don't think the op has any option on that one.

My 360 used to have a noticeable clunk if you let it shift down into 1st. I wouldn't be concerned.

 

He cannot put her into neutral, which requires two hands, with the use of only one arm. That is why he is using Auto mode.

So disregard all the comments about putting her in neutral. It is possible that the point of initial slippage (PIS) is a bit off, and that could be causing the clunk going into first. Even if that is not it, the best idea would be to have it diagnosed with an SD-2 (system diagnostic 2) by your tech and see if there is anything the tech can do to smooth out the 2nd to 1st shift. What you have is a manual transmission with an electro-hydraulic mechanism for operating the clutch and the gearshift. So she is not as smooth in the Auto mode as a true automatic because the transmission does not have a torque converter to smooth out shifts. The SD-2 can run her through a full shift sequence and highlight any problems. Changing the F1 fluid, bleeding the system of air, and adjusting PIS should be done at least every 3 years, and that might help, as well. Many F1 Ferraris have never had the fluid changed. Your tech will be able to help since it is impossible to diagnose F1 problems over the internet.

 

Terry, I remember you told me once that the first gear synchroes are that sturdy that the car will not have a problem to downshift from 2nd to 1st without causing any wear even at speed.
Regardless that, i always drive the car as a manual and if I see an eminent stop I put it in Neutral and coast to the stop.
BUT the other day in a spirited drive through canyons the car was in 2nd and I pressed the throttle fully and the car needed to downshift to be in the right RPM, so I pulled the paddle to Downshift and the transmission made a clunking noise to engage, because I was not downshifting to slow down but with the throttle fully pressed, is this something's that the synchroes still have no problem handling?

 

Fernando- Should not be a problem. May have been an issue with asking for a downshift while increasing the throttle. If you were in Normal (Sport in a CS or F430), you do not get any rev matching at all, so that may have been what you felt.

 

1st correct post here.

The F1 system is perfectly adapted and in fact meant to be driven in auto mode, that is why the function exists. A great many wives tales surround the auto mode and for the most part should be ignored. Do as Terry says and it should be fine. It may already be fine, your description of events is within normal but having it checked isn't a bad idea.

 

That's interesting because some of what I've learned about F1 transmission being driven as at automatic has come from Terry's writings, including posts like these:

I always felt first priority on driving an F1 equipped car is to drive it the same way that you would drive a manual in order to preserve the clutch first, throwout bearing second, and syncros third (although those don't really seem to be wear items under responsible driving).

 

I always drive in sport mode but as you said I asked for 1st with the throttle all the way in, as long as the synchroes are that strong I think it should not be a problem.



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Any chance the double clunk is motor mounts?

 

Those of us with the use of 2 hands have more options and I prefer to drive mine like I do a three pedal, except with the clutch pedal missing. Steve does not have that option, so AUTO will work perfectly fine for him. May be a bit clunky at times, but worth it for the pleasure of enjoying an F430.

The way I drive my F1 is just a technique, and others do it differently and are still happy.

 

Tranny mount?

 

I'm not casting judgement on right or wrong. My opinion is directed toward wear and longevity.

FWIW, I completely missed the part where Steve cannot drive with two hands in his initial post, even though I quoted it.

I also like hearing from Brian that there is nothing wrong with driving in auto and the car is designed for that.

 

It was designed to be operated like a conventional automatic. Can it be operated with slight advantages differently as Terry suggests? Sure. But to some that option does not exist. I can say the same of driving a stick shift. There are many styles of use. To suggest one is correct and all other wrong isn't really correct. Allowing it to do its own downshifting coming to a stop does make a little noise and does make slight thumping in the back but clutch wear off throttle the way the computer does it is nearly non existent. Every cycle of a syncro is another off it's life span. That eventually is an issue...someday. If clutch wear is the prime concern the wear moving off from a stop is where it nearly all comes from and learning how to optimize that will reap benefits that are vastly more important than allowing auto down shifts. I would suggest using sport mode in most dry road circumstances.