Kj814fun

I read on a thread a while back that it's not a good idea to drive with your hand on the stick shift. Is this true and why?

Phanni

You should have both hands on the steering wheel unless shifting.

A hand on the shifter may look cool, but there is no reason to drive that way. (assuming your shifter doesn't jump out of gear.)

Macleod52

Aside from the safety advice above, I'd like to know too. My dad always taught me not to do that as well. I assume there's potential for extra wear on shifter/transmission components.

grantv

Unless my memory serves me wrong my BMW manual stated to not drive holding the shifter... I know for sure I've seen it somewhere.

JR-01

My Dad also told me to get my hand off the shifter because it's hard on the tranny.

CQRT

I suspect it's solely for the safety aspect . . I can't imagine there's a potential for damage unless you got jostled and jammed it into reverse on the freeway.

but I've certainly been wrong before . . . .

The Chev

I heard that it was hard on the syncros. It could be an old tale from back before science. I also learned to drive from a guy that only closed doors as hard as necessary, always put the tranny in second before first and first before reverse (I still do this), and would not turn the wheel unless in motion to save his asphalt, tires and steering components.

I also would imagine that the potential for damage depends on how heavy handed you are, and if the shifter is connected directly to the tranny.

................. on second thought, I bet this is a carry over from people that used to rest their arms on the shifter for the three on the tree. That seems like it could be too much pressure for every day driving.

Kj814fun

You know it makes good sense to drive with both hands on the wheel. My issuue is that when you drive in town because you shift so much I find myself with my hand on the shifter quite often. It makes me think of that question so I thought I'd ask. Thanks for your replies I look forward to more reasons.

WA 2 FST

you would have to be consistently putting pretty significant pressure on the shifter to create an issue with the driveline.

Driving around in town, you have to shift often with these, since the trans gear ratios are so close.

Leave your hand on the shifter until you're at a speed where you're done shifting... you'll be fine. Been driving sticks for 3 decades, including my C5Z for 13 years. No issues with this type of driving style.

av8or

I've seen posts that declared resting a hand on the shifter can result in the shifter fork rubbing on the syncro ring, causing premature wear.

No idea if this is true or not, but it has helped me keep my hands on the wheel, except when shifting.

WA 2 FST

If you're "preloading" the shifter in anticipation of the next upshift, then yes... I can see some potential for above-average wear. Resting your hand on the shifter with light/little pressure... I disagree with that notion... but to each his own.

I've yet to break a late model trans or have it develop shifting issues... from T5/T45 in Mustangs, to T56 in my Viper truck, to the TR-based 6-speeds in Vettes.

From a safety issue, if you're racing, you want to complete the upshift/downshift before entering corners, so yeah... you'd want both hands on the wheel anytime you're not getting ready to shift.

DevilDog II

Real men drive with one hand on the shifter, regardless of what everyone says.

yaknow

Pounder

smartadze

It WAS true for early models of MG and Austin-Healy - a hand resting on the shifter could cause internal gearbox problems.

NOT true since then.

JR-01

I think it probably was true for most old style gearboxes. The shifter needs it's freedom to go with the flow. Does not want to be tied down.

Big Vig

Vin Diesel would disagree... Your supposed to flex with your hand on the shifter...

Stroker87

I'm not sure it has to do with the tans at all, my son's driving instructor told him both hands on the wheel for better control in case you need to avoid something really quick (car, person and so on)

JR-01

The reason you should not do this is because the weight of your hand, and arm, is multiplied due to leverage. This can move the shifter rail slightly off the detent ball which holds the shift and fork in its proper position. The shifter fork fingers are then being rubbed against the rotating synchronizer sleeve (think of placing your thumb and forefinger inside the grooves of a small pulley).

Over time the shift fork fingers and the sleeve will wear down. Once the gap is excessive the force applied to the gearset in question (1/2, 3/4, etc) will try to slide the synchronizer inserts inside the sleeve. There is a point of no-return here and the synchronizer hub/sleeve assembly will then try to place itself in the neutral position; a.k.a jumping out of gear.

I have read some posts about guys cars jumping out of gear. I wonder if they rested on the shifter.

jackthelad

.......and the other round a blonde.............