A4 shifts EXTREMELY hard

Well I was about to get my 3.73s in so i went ahead and ordered another PCM4less computer and decided to go ahead and get the "firmer shifts" done.

Couple days later I get my gears installed and the car shifts pretty firm as it is and is fairly comfortable.

So after driving a couple days with out my new computer, my new one arrives in the mail with the 3.73 recalibration and the "firmer shifts"... So i go take it for a test drive and find out taking off from a stoplight (normal drive) it shifts so hard its uncomfortable. This is just normal driving too. Its around 2k when the car shifts hard enough to throw you in your seat alittle... Its definetly not comfortable and feels pretty harsh on the tranny.

So my questions are:
1. Are firmer shifts Good or Bad when increasing the line pressure via PCM
2. Do you think I should set it back to stock?
3. If i got LT1 Edit, could i change the line pressure via PCM myself?

Thanks,
Robert

heh i donno whats up with my ride, but occationally first to second or second to third when its cold will just shift really hard... almost as a manual tranny would

Originally posted by Nox1d3
Well I was about to get my 3.73s in so i went ahead and ordered another PCM4less computer and decided to go ahead and get the "firmer shifts" done.

Couple days later I get my gears installed and the car shifts pretty firm as it is and is fairly comfortable.

So after driving a couple days with out my new computer, my new one arrives in the mail with the 3.73 recalibration and the "firmer shifts"... So i go take it for a test drive and find out taking off from a stoplight (normal drive) it shifts so hard its uncomfortable. This is just normal driving too. Its around 2k when the car shifts hard enough to throw you in your seat alittle... Its definetly not comfortable and feels pretty harsh on the tranny.

So my questions are:
1. Are firmer shifts Good or Bad when increasing the line pressure via PCM
2. Do you think I should set it back to stock?
3. If i got LT1 Edit, could i change the line pressure via PCM myself?

Thanks,
Robert

I can't comment on your re-programming, as I'm still on a stock PCM, I do know this:

Both the Z28 and the T/A had a performance shift mode table programmed into the PCM's - The Pontiac was also equipped with a switch to turn it ON or OFF. Our cars have the same PCM/stock programming, but we lack the switch to turn it on and off. Seach under 'A4 mod' or 'perfomance mode' and and I'm sure you'll find a link.

With that said...I'd say:

1) The Trans-Go people will tell you firmer shifts mean less of a sloppy/slipping shift, which is smooth, but wears out the clutches faster. If you can believe them, longer tranny life seems like a plus.

2) It's up to you - There are some fragile cast-aluminum parts inside - I'm on my 2nd rebuilt tranny in 40k miles..same part each time.

3)Yes. I don't know if both the 'normal' and the 'performance' mode still exist in a re-programmed PCM - If so, you might be able to change one table (line pressure) to normal specs and leave the other one alone. Couple this with doing the A4 mod and you've got a choice of how it shifts.

If it's only one table, then yes, you should be able to alter the values to whatever you like. I believe Brent Franker has some info on this...

Best o' luck..

Firmer shifts are easier on the tranny clutches.

And yes, you can adjust line pressure with LT1 edit

Another reason I love the Trans Go shift kit, at part throttle the shifts are kinda soft but at larger throttle openings the shifts get harder.

If the shifts are to hard at light throttle openings, then you are not helping the life of the transmission at all! You want a clean smooth shift at light throttle openings, and the shifts to get gradually firmer with more throttle to achieve maximum life. Go back to the program that gave you the nice comfortable shifts at light throttle openings. If you want firm WOT shifts and still retain the comfort at light throttle, then add the "modified" Trans-Go Performance Shift kit and you can get the best of two worlds.

Hard shifts just equal fun and you can scare your date alot easier.



Later,
-JOhn

IMO, I would just go back to the original program..uping the line pressure is bad, b/c it heats the fluid.(somehow)Heat is the 1# killer of these trannies...Just eliminate the upped line pressure, and get a shift kit...

Hard shifts at WOT is good........makes cluctch bands last longer. I would agree with the not upping the pressure too.

I didn't think a shift could be too hard:eek:

Well this is an old post, but yeah it still shifts hard. At WOT my line pressure is at 120.. have to check about part throttle

well like yesterday for me i raced my brother, and as soon as it shifted oohh man i had problems keeping traction!...

and im pretty sure my buddys shift kit slowed him down at the track a few weeks ago, he says he looses a lot of traction when it shifts

From what I've heard, increasing line pressure is the wrong way to go about things. IMO, I'd leave the line pressure stock (which I did) and when you throw in a converter, do a shift kit at the same time.

As for the "performance shift mode button," it's junk. Yeah it messes with the shifts at part throttle, but the table doesn't have any provisions to lock up a torque converter. So I had to drive around with a Vig3200 non-lockup with 2.73's for awhile until I figured out that the button I was pressing was causing the problems.

Finally, if you don't have the tires and you're just blowing away you're tires when you shift, you're just slowing up anyway but loosing traction.

Performance shift button is pretty neat if your doing some winding and hilly road driving (fast and fun stuff). If your gonna mash the pedal an go straight, it does nothing (that I can tell).

How much are the trans go shift kits and how hard are they to install?


But i know what you mean about the shift firmness. I took mine off after awhile since it sometimes seems like its slipping 3rd at full throttle but im not sure what the problem is right now. Might be the fact that my shifts are set at 6000 RPM and its stock.

I miss my shift firmness tho:( Damn was it fun. 1st to 2nd chirps at half throttle.

But i would rather be safe then sorry so i took it off. One dude had it on here and about after a year on a low mile tranny he already needed a rebuild then after he got it put in he got a trans go shift kit and it only chirps now at WOT.

Chirped my nittos today!!!!! with 2.73's too---only one since my posi is gone:D But anyway line pressure isn't the way to go. It can be upped a little from what i hear......but it does put some strain on parts. Go with the trans go and leave the line pressure where it's at that's what i am doing. Part throttle shifts are short and crisp....perfect and when you hammer it will throw you back good.


Go trans-go and you will love it.........that's what a lot of tranny builders use. Took me 5 days working on it for like an hour a day so 5 hours.....that's taking my time and cleaning everything really good. The key to installing it is not to rush it. Do a couple steps watch the video and go do them. O yea and have some snap ring pliers handy....lol

How much are the trans go shift kits and how hard are they to install?

about $109 bucks, plus a case of oil, filter so after your done it's about 150 bucks. A very well spent 150 in my opinion.

ya u don't wanna up line pressure that is bad, u will blow seals and it does make the trans run hotter. u want to increase volume of fluid being transported. so u can go about it 2 ways, get the shift kit. or make your own. if u have a service manual with pics of the tranny u can do this easily

I have the TransGo kit with the street/strip setting -- not the hardest shifting and the last time I chirped the Nitto's, it took 3 ring gear teeth off. I was about 1/3 to 1/2 throttle. It snaps your head back at anything but just off idle. Cool, fun, g/f's complain, and hard on parts, lol. Someone suggested I let off the gas once in a while.....yeah, right!

My buddy has a stage 1 shift kit in the tranny, and then stage 2/3 on a switch. It's no transgo that's for sure, but when he flips it to stage 3, holy ****! That thing chirps the tires shifting from park to drive hahahaha.

how many spacers did ya'll put in your trans gos? 1,2 or 3