Help me understand tunes better

[ZBoater]

Tune related: what does "firmer" shifting mean?

I've read some comments about people's impressions after installing a performance tune, and they say the shifting is a lot "firmer"?

What does that mean?

Also related, can someone comment on what specifically is changed in the way the Raptor shifts when a performance tune is installed? Perhaps if I understood more what is being changed from stock I can appreciate better what "firmer" is supposed to mean.

Thanks!

 

[Bulletnjm]

A firm shift is in a way a quicker shift, there is less hesitation. And yes, you can feel it, when i put my 5 Star tuner in the shifts where much quicker. Not sure if it hurts anything but it just feels a lot better IMO.

 

[TurboEd]

Firmer and they can hit hard. Feels more or less like dumping the "clutch" hard on each gear.

 

[ZBoater]

Is this during normal commute driving or "spirited" driving. I mean, if you drive like your driving Ms. Daisy, are you going to feel the "harder" shifts?

Right now I'm trying out a "soft" shifting tune but I haven't stepped on it. I'm giving it some time. But is my normal driving, which is slow and easy, I can't feel it shifting almost at all. It's smooth as silk.

 

[Evanscott29]

try stomping on it just wont and youll get what they are talking about. When you stomp on it and it feels like forever for it to downshift and get after it...

 

[TurboEd]

During Miss Daisy driving this is almost imperceptible. I say "almost" because there is alway the guy that will say the contrary.

Which is usually the "night and day" guy anyway so... just do some spirited driving with the 93perf and you'll see what I mean.

 

[goathearder]

Along the same lines, is a tune the only mod for our trucks to get firmer shifting? I hate how lazy the shifts are in this truck but I don't want to put a tune on yet since its obvious to dealers.

I am used to older cars where you can just throw a shift kit in or a line pressure booster but I'm betting with an electronically controlled tranny you can't do that right?

 

[Dv8tor]

Firmer and they can hit hard. Feels more or less like dumping the "clutch" hard on each gear.

Who uses a clutch when they shift? Haha

 

[Agent 00 L]

Is this during normal commute driving or "spirited" driving. I mean, if you drive like your driving Ms. Daisy, are you going to feel the "harder" shifts?

Right now I'm trying out a "soft" shifting tune but I haven't stepped on it. I'm giving it some time. But is my normal driving, which is slow and easy, I can't feel it shifting almost at all. It's smooth as silk.

Try to explain this as best I can here. "Firmness" refers to what you feel as the truck shifts gears. A Firm shift will snap your head back and you will know the truck has sifted gears. A soft shift all you will notice is the RPM dropping.

Firmness can be controlled by adding pressure in the transmission to fill the clutches faster. The more pressure the faster, the fill, and the firmer or harder the shift. As shifts get firmer the time to change gears actually drops which is a good thing as performance increases. With shorter shift duration there will be less clutch slip and in theory less wear on the transmission.

The beauty of electronics is that the firmer shifts can be commanded only during high load situations so you don't get neck snapping shifts when you are crusing around town. I have a Lightning that feels stock just crusing but will spin 1-2 and bark the tires into 3rd.

My experience with the 6sp transmissions is limited but the older transmissions could develop problems with excessive shift pressures. Not really clutch related but in the valves that controlled the shifting. There were valve bodies made for the 4R100 (Lightning trans) that would give you firmer shifts without tuning, but I am not sure if there are any available for the newer transmissions.

Hope that helps some

 

[ZBoater]

This helps, thanks! I personally prefer softer shifting then. I don't want to notice when it's shifting, I prefer a smooth transition. So I guess I'm not a good candidate for these "performance" tunes. I've asked Chris for a 93 performance tune but with even softer shifting. It's great you can ask and receive what you like. We'll see how it goes.