Thanks for watching! Check out the rest of the Driver's Uni series including how to trail brake (bit.ly/2PypIMK) Find out your driver level by taking our scorecard test: bit.ly/2LmYNBA
Man, you're a great guy, but you have got to stop recommending people practice their sim racing techniques in a real life car. Learning a new braking technique, when there are actual people and cars around you, is not a good idea. Learn on the sim.
QUESTION, What's a better technique for left foot braking: To leave the heel on the floor or to raise the heel from the floor? I was told that raising the heel allows you to finesse the release more
The left foot 'lack of feel' is only a muscle memory thing though isn't it? In other words, you can establish better muscle memory. It's only pressing a pedal, it's not like kicking a football.
Yeah, basically. I started LFB in my car about 7 years ago. It felt weird and unusual at first. My left foot had no feel for brake points nor muscle memory to brake at different precise points. But eventually with enough reps and time, my left foot started getting the feel and muscle memory. Nowadays, LFB is second nature, and I use it exclusively.
One way to LFB in a conventional H-pattern manual car is to mount a wide brake pedal surface and use LFB on initial brake application on corner entry, then quickly move the right foot to the brake pedal as the left foot slides left. By the time the right foot is fully on the brake and modulating brake pedal pressure, your left foot would be completely off the brake and ready to press the clutch for a heal and toe downshift. Obviously, this is not possible if the pedal box is too small, your feet are too big, etc., and not easy to pull off without plenty of practice.
+Driver61, But the problem is when going hard into corners the left foot brace no longer exist so the motions of the G-forces can result in irregular brake pressure. I think left foot braking would work if the seat position and leg length is ideal enough for the G-forces not to influence the brake pedal pressure. Also for people who need to brace w/ their left foot to keep their body straight going left foot brake could be a bad idea. People might not brake enough or brake too hard causing an off track or collision situation. 100% if done right the efficiency is a lot better because the right foot brake to left foot is cut down to immediate. You can actually use some brake while hitting the gas and vice versa. This allows for a smoother and stable handling vehicle.
Would it be worthwhile in a long braking zone (H style manual) to initiate braking with left foot then transition right foot to brake and left to clutch for heel and toe?
Anyone have any funny stories of the first time they tried left foot braking 😂😂😂. I had just passed my driving test on an empty public road I decided to give it a go, in a VW Polo. Needless to say that's the quickest I've ever come to a dead stop. If I didn't have a seat belt on I'd have gone yo the moon and back. And I stalled. Pedestrians were looking at me absolutely perplexed 😂😂😂😂
For me it is doing it in my friend's automatic Perodua Viva when I was practicing for my driving test. I pressed both pedals at once and the car went for a nosedive 🤣. It was in an empty parking lot tho.
I learn driving on a manual car, but since I moved to Australia I directly shifted to left foot breaking with auto cars since I was already used to it with karting and sim racing. It's so much better for everything, I'm very surprised this is not what is teach at driving school. You get a much smoother feel of the car, and the balance, acceleration and braking are also improved.
Thanks for the info! I have a right lower leg injury from a car collision as a boy, and operating the throttle pedal and brake pedal has been a bit of a challenge over the years. I recently bought a Corvette, and have started going to tracks. The rapid right foot movements are not very clean for me, so learning to left foot break has been on my list of most important things to learn. Thanks!
Yeah in your case, this technique is very beneficial! I lost my left foot due to a accident and now looking for a left foot breaking technique which works without a left foot… 😅 Ok that sounds weird. 🤔 I’ll hope you getting in there and have fun… stay safe mate!
This is what I thought, lfb is better suited to auto or sequential gearing. Trying to left foot brake when coming to a gear change throws the balance out loads.
I have been driving over 25 years and have always left foot braked. So many people would give me crap about it or thought it was weird saying that I drive wuth 2 feet. My perspective was just as you described with reaction time. It always just felt right to me and made sense.
What you don't seem to talk about is the difference in left foot braking whilst still keeping power on and how it is totally different in front wheel drive as for rear wheel drive. Accelerating whilst braking in a front wheel drive is a bit like using your handbrake but far more controllable. The engine drive partially negates the brakes to the front wheels (FWD) but the rear wheels get full braking effect. In a fast sweep, the faster you are going, the more you tend to "run out of road" on your exit. Judicious left foot braking with power still on, gets the car to turn in a bit more when you really need it most -by the rear wheels loosing a bit of traction and letting go a bit.
Also when left foot braking the brake bias can be moved to the rear giving a nice way of controling the back end on corner entry by adding more or less throttle to the braking. On rear wheel driven cars, that is.
I'm using this advice for my simracing. I just got my rig and wheel two days ago. Very new. But, the biggest piece of advice I took away was to practice while on automatic to learn how to properly apply the brakes BEFORE I start worrying about learning to paddle shift. I think it was all too overwhelming to learn left foot braking and paddle shifting and fighting with the direct drive system. Don't know why I needed this "It's allowed" but I needed it.
I left foot brake with my H-Pattern. I hardly ever use the clutch pedal, once I'm on the move. With conventional, helical geared road cars, upshifts are relatively slow (1-2 seconds depending on conditions) as you lift off the throttle to unload the gearbox, disengage the lower gear to be in neutral, then wait and feel for just the right moment when the gearbox allows you to engage the higher gear. Sounds hard but it's relatively easy. Clutchless downshifts are rapid but significantly more difficult, as you blip the throttle to rev match, feel when the gearbox is not under load to disengage the taller gear and engage the lower gear, all in fraction of a second. Takes a weeks of practice (and gear grinding) but hugely thrilling when you master it.
Yeah I do the same! I’ve noticed it’s fast and easy to downshift if I rev 500 or so rpm higher than needed. The gearbox will pull the stick right into the gear with 1 finger pressure. And upshifting with 1 finger as well with careful throttle control
I used to left foot brake all the time in past while driving automatic in real life. It was bad habit, since you're unconchiesley slightlly applying it most of the time, putting strain o engine. Years came by I now sim racing and copmletlely forgot this technic and how to use it properly and would love to re-learn it, Some irony..
When Sim Racing.. I always use my left foot as a brake and heel toe my clutch when needed.. that might be because my left foot is way more flexible than my right foot and I can't heel toe the brake / gas pedal as easily..
sadly this wont work in real life, since the throw for the clutch is so long that you need to use the movement of your whole leg to activate it. Left foot braking is really only important in fwd cars.
I myself and many others are perfectly fine clutch less shifting a manual H pattern gear box up and down. So why would you not left foot brake a manual H pattern? Gave thumbs up tho😂
the video was not 100% accurate. i too know clutchless shifting with an H gearbox. It is actually common in rally to clutchless shift in an H when you're left foot braking
I just heel toe my left foot with clutch / brake.. but my left foot is way more flexible than my right foot, I can't heel toe the brake / gas as easily.
Is there a technique to left foot break if you just have one foot available? (Yeah sounds weird but hear me out) I am an amputee and lost my left foot in a motorcycle accident. My car is a 96 CRX Del Sol (obviously) automatic and i would like to improve my technique when driving on track. I’ll understand the benefits in regard to weight transfer and make the car turn into a corner better… every other benefit isn’t available for me unfortunately. Is there a technique hoe to do it with one foot? I’m thinking about using my heel to break while pushing the gas paddle with my toe’s. I’ll used a similar technique in drag racing where i held my car at the start with my big toe while kinda rolling the rest of my foot off the side of the break paddle to push the gas, get some rpm and increase the preload on the torque converter… Would be great if anyone has an idea for my problem ☝️😁
I left foot brake because I haven't had a clutch in my sim setup until now. Moving my right foot over to the brake feels like it takes literally forever lol.
I had been driving for 19 years and use the brake with my left foot but havent gotten into any accidents I've only learned today that most people use both the brake and the accelerator with just their right foot
That's because you've learned driving on an automatic transmission I suppose. If you want to drive a manual it will be probably very difficult for you. Manual gearbox drivers can make a transition without any training at all. On a manual, when street driving, you only use the left foot for the clutch. But, it is not a bad thing for you because using the left foot is the most efficient way for driving an AT.
I learned on Manual and when I used automatic for the first time Nobody told me “convention”. Be it 2 or 3 pedals, I have always used LF for brake/Clutch, & use RF dedicated to Gas Pedal.
i learn this technic on my simulator and with my brake cell pedals and then i manage to do in real world its so nice to have sims hardware you can learn any laser scan tracks etc.Thank you for your Great Work!Keep it UP!!!
question, in a normal car, the Brake pedal is usually much further out towards the driver than the Accelerator, mainly because it's designed for heel and toe. But is this still the case in a Sequential or paddle shifter double clutch?
Thanks driver 61 that was a good video I drive a H pattern car And there is a fast corner turn one at Sydney motorsport park. Have a look and see if You think it's a candidate for holding throttle flat then left foot braking to wash of a bit of speed.
hey driver61 I'm starting out in automotive racing and I'm starting to use left foot braking in my 1 ton fwd car it's no track car more of a street car but Iv found left foot braking can help combat under streer in fwd or even help turn I'm easier. is this a useable option as I'm not very knowledgeable on if there is something better out then I mainly use in a longer drawn out turn or a small almost 90dreee bend cheers
I hate left foot braking. People keeping foot on brake is called a dead foot for a reason. I see no one in front of these people on highways and they keep pressing brake over and over. I quickly pass them and sometimes honk because they are dangerous drivers. I think sometimes they panic in emergency stops and accidentally press gas instead of brake too.
![Are you making these MISTAKES when braking [Sim Racing]](/img/n.gif)
On a turbo car, you can also use left foot braking when correcting understeer to keep the boost pressure up by using the accelerator at the same time
Initial D headass
Thanks for watching! Check out the rest of the Driver's Uni series including how to trail brake (bit.ly/2PypIMK)
Find out your driver level by taking our scorecard test: bit.ly/2LmYNBA
Man, you're a great guy, but you have got to stop recommending people practice their sim racing techniques in a real life car. Learning a new braking technique, when there are actual people and cars around you, is not a good idea. Learn on the sim.
QUESTION, What's a better technique for left foot braking: To leave the heel on the floor or to raise the heel from the floor? I was told that raising the heel allows you to finesse the release more
The left foot 'lack of feel' is only a muscle memory thing though isn't it? In other words, you can establish better muscle memory. It's only pressing a pedal, it's not like kicking a football.
Yeah, basically. I started LFB in my car about 7 years ago. It felt weird and unusual at first. My left foot had no feel for brake points nor muscle memory to brake at different precise points. But eventually with enough reps and time, my left foot started getting the feel and muscle memory. Nowadays, LFB is second nature, and I use it exclusively.
One way to LFB in a conventional H-pattern manual car is to mount a wide brake pedal surface and use LFB on initial brake application on corner entry, then quickly move the right foot to the brake pedal as the left foot slides left. By the time the right foot is fully on the brake and modulating brake pedal pressure, your left foot would be completely off the brake and ready to press the clutch for a heal and toe downshift.
Obviously, this is not possible if the pedal box is too small, your feet are too big, etc., and not easy to pull off without plenty of practice.
Very comprehensive. But obviously, the best and safest place to practice left foot braking and develop "feel" is in a kart!
Thanks for your comment.
+Driver61, But the problem is when going hard into corners the left foot brace no longer exist so the motions of the G-forces can result in irregular brake pressure. I think left foot braking would work if the seat position and leg length is ideal enough for the G-forces not to influence the brake pedal pressure. Also for people who need to brace w/ their left foot to keep their body straight going left foot brake could be a bad idea. People might not brake enough or brake too hard causing an off track or collision situation. 100% if done right the efficiency is a lot better because the right foot brake to left foot is cut down to immediate. You can actually use some brake while hitting the gas and vice versa. This allows for a smoother and stable handling vehicle.
Would it be worthwhile in a long braking zone (H style manual) to initiate braking with left foot then transition right foot to brake and left to clutch for heel and toe?
@@billyhamilton3669 This!!
Anyone have any funny stories of the first time they tried left foot braking 😂😂😂. I had just passed my driving test on an empty public road I decided to give it a go, in a VW Polo. Needless to say that's the quickest I've ever come to a dead stop. If I didn't have a seat belt on I'd have gone yo the moon and back. And I stalled. Pedestrians were looking at me absolutely perplexed 😂😂😂😂
For me it is doing it in my friend's automatic Perodua Viva when I was practicing for my driving test. I pressed both pedals at once and the car went for a nosedive 🤣. It was in an empty parking lot tho.
I learn driving on a manual car, but since I moved to Australia I directly shifted to left foot breaking with auto cars since I was already used to it with karting and sim racing. It's so much better for everything, I'm very surprised this is not what is teach at driving school. You get a much smoother feel of the car, and the balance, acceleration and braking are also improved.
Thanks for the info! I have a right lower leg injury from a car collision as a boy, and operating the throttle pedal and brake pedal has been a bit of a challenge over the years. I recently bought a Corvette, and have started going to tracks. The rapid right foot movements are not very clean for me, so learning to left foot break has been on my list of most important things to learn. Thanks!
Yeah in your case, this technique is very beneficial!
I lost my left foot due to a accident and now looking for a left foot breaking technique which works without a left foot… 😅
Ok that sounds weird. 🤔
I’ll hope you getting in there and have fun… stay safe mate!
This is what I thought, lfb is better suited to auto or sequential gearing. Trying to left foot brake when coming to a gear change throws the balance out loads.
I have been driving over 25 years and have always left foot braked. So many people would give me crap about it or thought it was weird saying that I drive wuth 2 feet. My perspective was just as you described with reaction time. It always just felt right to me and made sense.
What you don't seem to talk about is the difference in left foot braking whilst still keeping power on and how it is totally different in front wheel drive as for rear wheel drive. Accelerating whilst braking in a front wheel drive is a bit like using your handbrake but far more controllable. The engine drive partially negates the brakes to the front wheels (FWD) but the rear wheels get full braking effect. In a fast sweep, the faster you are going, the more you tend to "run out of road" on your exit. Judicious left foot braking with power still on, gets the car to turn in a bit more when you really need it most -by the rear wheels loosing a bit of traction and letting go a bit.
Also when left foot braking the brake bias can be moved to the rear giving a nice way of controling the back end on corner entry by adding more or less throttle to the braking. On rear wheel driven cars, that is.
I'm using this advice for my simracing. I just got my rig and wheel two days ago. Very new. But, the biggest piece of advice I took away was to practice while on automatic to learn how to properly apply the brakes BEFORE I start worrying about learning to paddle shift. I think it was all too overwhelming to learn left foot braking and paddle shifting and fighting with the direct drive system. Don't know why I needed this "It's allowed" but I needed it.
I left foot brake with my H-Pattern. I hardly ever use the clutch pedal, once I'm on the move. With conventional, helical geared road cars, upshifts are relatively slow (1-2 seconds depending on conditions) as you lift off the throttle to unload the gearbox, disengage the lower gear to be in neutral, then wait and feel for just the right moment when the gearbox allows you to engage the higher gear. Sounds hard but it's relatively easy. Clutchless downshifts are rapid but significantly more difficult, as you blip the throttle to rev match, feel when the gearbox is not under load to disengage the taller gear and engage the lower gear, all in fraction of a second. Takes a weeks of practice (and gear grinding) but hugely thrilling when you master it.
Yeah I do the same! I’ve noticed it’s fast and easy to downshift if I rev 500 or so rpm higher than needed. The gearbox will pull the stick right into the gear with 1 finger pressure. And upshifting with 1 finger as well with careful throttle control
Scott do you do any Sim racing?
He does and has a channel on here for it!!💪
Surely the cheapest, safest place to left foot brake is in a sim?? Then a rental car. Then a friends car. Then your own car? 😉
People who drive with one foot clearly just have poor foot coordination.
i left foot brake on H shift cars just like you said, me coming from karting i think is so weird to right foot brake, i would never right foot brake..
"Its better if the car has an auto gerbox"
.......Unsubscribed😂
I used to left foot brake all the time in past while driving automatic in real life. It was bad habit, since you're unconchiesley slightlly applying it most of the time, putting strain o engine. Years came by I now sim racing and copmletlely forgot this technic and how to use it properly and would love to re-learn it, Some irony..
When Sim Racing.. I always use my left foot as a brake and heel toe my clutch when needed.. that might be because my left foot is way more flexible than my right foot and I can't heel toe the brake / gas pedal as easily..
sadly this wont work in real life, since the throw for the clutch is so long that you need to use the movement of your whole leg to activate it. Left foot braking is really only important in fwd cars.
Might be late here, but so was the stylist. Probably around 5min
I myself and many others are perfectly fine clutch less shifting a manual H pattern gear box up and down. So why would you not left foot brake a manual H pattern? Gave thumbs up tho😂
the video was not 100% accurate. i too know clutchless shifting with an H gearbox. It is actually common in rally to clutchless shift in an H when you're left foot braking
Think ill stick with what the guy whos being teaching people to race for over 15 years says over you three.
I just heel toe my left foot with clutch / brake.. but my left foot is way more flexible than my right foot, I can't heel toe the brake / gas as easily.
It takes ages to get a hang of this but practicing (in a slushbox car) a 1000 times will make you a pro
looks like bros a doctor about to do a CPR class in the tumbnail😂
I've tried it in my road car. It wasn't a succes, I braked too hard.
Is there a technique to left foot break if you just have one foot available? (Yeah sounds weird but hear me out)
I am an amputee and lost my left foot in a motorcycle accident. My car is a 96 CRX Del Sol (obviously) automatic and i would like to improve my technique when driving on track.
I’ll understand the benefits in regard to weight transfer and make the car turn into a corner better… every other benefit isn’t available for me unfortunately.
Is there a technique hoe to do it with one foot?
I’m thinking about using my heel to break while pushing the gas paddle with my toe’s.
I’ll used a similar technique in drag racing where i held my car at the start with my big toe while kinda rolling the rest of my foot off the side of the break paddle to push the gas, get some rpm and increase the preload on the torque converter…
Would be great if anyone has an idea for my problem ☝️😁
Dont you already break with you left foot tho
I left foot brake because I haven't had a clutch in my sim setup until now. Moving my right foot over to the brake feels like it takes literally forever lol.
Clear message “…if you don’t understand weight transfer, please stay out of this tutorial.” 🎯
money is super tight so can't really afford coaching so full hearted truly appreciate all the vids !!!
I found sim training much more convenient for practicing left-foot braking than my road car
I do this in my Corolla SE 2011 manual, the pedal placement makes it harder but it works.
I had been driving for 19 years and use the brake with my left foot but havent gotten into any accidents
I've only learned today that most people use both the brake and the accelerator with just their right foot
Elena Lee Not possible with manual gearbox...
It is possible to left foot brake with a clutch
All it requires is more attention and having more finesse with your footwork.
That's because you've learned driving on an automatic transmission I suppose. If you want to drive a manual it will be probably very difficult for you. Manual gearbox drivers can make a transition without any training at all. On a manual, when street driving, you only use the left foot for the clutch.
But, it is not a bad thing for you because using the left foot is the most efficient way for driving an AT.
I learned on Manual and when I used automatic for the first time Nobody told me “convention”. Be it 2 or 3 pedals, I have always used LF for brake/Clutch, & use RF dedicated to Gas Pedal.
Thanks for the tuto! I hope I won;t get confused and double foot brake! lol
Amazing, guess I have some mind bending to do haha. Thanks for the knowledge, very well explained as always!
lol the white board is really hard on my eyes when im up at 4 am watching these
This I'm good at. Like really good at lol.
i learn this technic on my simulator and with my brake cell pedals and then i manage to do in real world its so nice to have sims hardware you can learn any laser scan tracks etc.Thank you for your Great Work!Keep it UP!!!
This is how I drive to control the understeer
question, in a normal car, the Brake pedal is usually much further out towards the driver than the Accelerator, mainly because it's designed for heel and toe. But is this still the case in a Sequential or paddle shifter double clutch?
You’re confusing dog boxes and sequentials.
Thanks driver 61 that was a good video I drive a H pattern car And there is a fast corner turn one at Sydney motorsport park. Have a look and see if You think it's a candidate for holding throttle flat then left foot braking to wash of a bit of speed.
hey driver61 I'm starting out in automotive racing and I'm starting to use left foot braking in my 1 ton fwd car it's no track car more of a street car but Iv found left foot braking can help combat under streer in fwd or even help turn I'm easier. is this a useable option as I'm not very knowledgeable on if there is something better out then I mainly use in a longer drawn out turn or a small almost 90dreee bend cheers
Because when u brake your weight shifts to the front= more weight on front tires= more grip on the front
which foot do i use to do the left foot brake technique? ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)
which foot is my left foot?
👍
LFB is NOT! Faster what a ..., the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo World Record on Nordschleife was done by a RFB Driver ! LFB is just the standard today...
I heard that there is a university that supports left foot braking.!!!!!!!!!!!!! For AUTOMATIC VEHICLES ONLY.
I hate left foot braking. People keeping foot on brake is called a dead foot for a reason. I see no one in front of these people on highways and they keep pressing brake over and over. I quickly pass them and sometimes honk because they are dangerous drivers. I think sometimes they panic in emergency stops and accidentally press gas instead of brake too.
That's why it's only used for racing
You do not keep your left foot ON the brake pedal.