Why does the shift shock phenomenon occur in lower gears as compared to higher gears in

automatic transmission engine?

Shift shock is the jolt felt when transmission changes gear. This jerk or shock feeling is observed in
lower gear shift (i.e. 1-2 or 2-3) and not in higher gears shift (i.e. 5-6 or 6-7). What is the reason for
such behaviour?

It is the rotational moment of inertia which scales up with i²

Shift shock is not specific to automatic transmission, and can happen even in a vehicle with manual
transmission, mainly when the driver shifts to lower gears too early or if the lower gears have a
relatively higher gear ration than what is actually required.

Therefore, if the AT is tuned to downshift earlier, the shift shocks are felt, because there is a sudden
reduction in the speed, and a corresponding increase in the torque output from the transmission.

Could be something to do with the fact that there is a greater torque in the lower gears, greater
torque leads to greater energy created in the gear train and usually the engine is operating higher up
the rev range, nearer the peak torque and power.

A rate of the proceeding of a shifting operation during an inertia phase is adjusted to a target value
such that a transmission output torque varies without any rapid change during the inertia phase and
agrees smoothly with an output torque value to be established after the gear shift at the ending of
the inertia phase.

A system and method for controlling a vehicle speed so as to prevent gear shift shock in a power
train associated with a vehicular engine and automatic transmission are disclosed in which an air
charging efficiency for engine cylinders is reduced during the gear shifting transient period, e.g.,
when shifting from first gear range to a higher second gear range. Therefore, when engine output is
reduced by means of retardation of ignition timing at the time of gear shifting, no misfire occurs due
to prevention of internal pressure increase in any engine cylinder. Thus, shift shock can be prevented
with the smooth reduction of engine output and air charging efficiency is smoothly recovered after
completion of the gear shift transient period.

An automotive powertrain total control system using estimated output shaft torque has been
investigated in order to enhance drivability and improve fuel economy. The system provides efficient
control for both the engine and transmission which leads to an enhancement in drivability by
reducing shocks during gear shifts. This paper describes a new smooth gear shift control method
using the total control system. By use of the estimated output shaft torque, it is possible to detect
accurately the fluctuation condition and the start time of the inertia phase, which are important
factors affecting shock occurrence. Torque feedback, got from estimated torque, was applied to the
control of engine output shaft torque during shifts. The optimum hydraulic pressure, also got from
estimated torque, was applied to the clutch of the transmission during shifts. The estimated output
shaft torque of a hydraulic torque converter was calculated using the input/output shaft speed signal
of the hydraulic torque converter and the hydraulic torque converter characteristics. A test vehicle
utilizing an electronically controlled throttle valve was developed to verify the new smooth gear shift
control method. The total control system reduced shock during 1-2 upshift by nearly 35%.

Shift quality is one of the most important characteristic performance and vital factor for vehicles that
equipped with Automatic Manual Transmission (AMT). Shift quality can be evaluated by two factors:
stability (low jerk) and rapidity (short friction time). Stability and rapidity are two contradicting
factors. If the degree of stability is too low the passenger could experience an undesirable shift shock
in a short shifting time. On the other hand, higher degree of stability results in a lower shift shock
that generates an insufficient driven output torque and elongates the shifting time.