Subaru: Clutch action of 5-speed "feels different" in Subaru Outback - reported by two friends, what is up?

BeamGuy wrote:
 

I don't gripe much about the Subaru, but I would
tend to agree. I've driven sticks all my life and
there is something vaguely "wrong" about the feel
of the Subaru clutch/transmission.

The 2>3 shift has always been rough unless there
is a slight pause in neutral, and it's way too
hard to get it into reverse. We had it looked
at under warranty and they said they topped up
the transmission grease to fix it. Of course, there
was no change.

When I push the clutch in on my 95 Legacy, by the way it feels I can almost
picture the cable running over a pully to the yoke. It seems to wobble
side-to-side, plus when it's cold it sqeaks, like some Rube Goldberg
contraption!

I think I read somewhere that Subaru have not change the design of their 5sp
MT in over 15 years. I've seen pictures of a 3rd party MT replacements for
the STi, which aside from different gear profile, has a much different
dog-teeth and syncho design.

--
Dominic Richens | uottawa.ca
"If you're not *outraged*, you're not paying attention!"

Are you talking about a sequential transmission like in a dirt bike or race
car? TG

"Dominic Richens" <ca> wrote in message
news:boomjf$19r$storm.ca... 
almost 
5sp 
for 

Jim Stewart wrote: 

I agree. I really don't like the feel of the engine/trans combination.
Part of it is likely due to the engine management software and the fact
that the engine has very little drag. The engine just doesn't lose rev's
fast enough when you let off the gas to get quick shift into second
without a "bang" It also doesn't respond fast enough to provide jerk
free downshifts when trying to pass another car. My 1990 BMW325is
probably has the best feel of any car that I have driven. It is a
pleasure to drive and it heel-toe shifts perfectly. Subaru ought to take
a lesson from this car.

"BeamGuy" <com> wrote in message
news:booh8h$1gs1sn$news.uni-berlin.de... 
about the 
one and had 
felt natural and 
car, but ruled 
and if so are there 

Yeah, I think you may have it there. The clutch on the Subarus tend to be
more "grabby". Perhaps the fact that this clutch has to drive two
driveshafts rather than just one means it has to be made with stronger
springs to prevent slippage. Also I get the feeling that the Subaru's
central limited-slip differential might have some role in the jerkiness one
tends to notice. Since the central diff is involved in apportioning torque
between the front and rears, a clutch disengage-reengage action might appear
to be a momentary traction loss between the front and rear, and it might
kick-in trying to balance it out again.

Yousuf Khan

Yousuf Khan wrote: 

Also I get the feeling that the Subaru's 

Unlikely, as it is true differential. It is alway mechanically providing
equal torque front and rear and there is no way the limited slip unit is
engaging under normal strait line acceleration. It may just be the
additonal driveline slop from all the additonal driveshafts and gears.

> 
How? by adding more drag to the engine? <smile>
John

> It also doesn't respond fast enough to provide jerk 

That's why you rev-match