Left foot braking.

[MustangSVT]

Found this thread and thought to revive it instead of making a new one. Anyway, I just started doing left foot braking in GT4 just yesterday. Thought I would try something new and I tried that, and I seem to be quite good at it, it looks to me like I've improved in control of the car (not that I wasn't good before, but now possibly even better).

Anyway, what are some techniques of using brake and throttle at the same time that others have found useful and what is this heel-toe and bliping the throttle mean? I realise you need to be using a clutch and manual transmission to use these techniques so it doesn't relate to GT4, but what are they exactly.

 

[Gabkicks]

left foot breaking helps with the yellowbird. i havent played gt4 in ages tho.

 

[Scaff]

Anyway, what are some techniques of using brake and throttle at the same time that others have found useful and what is this heel-toe and bliping the throttle mean? I realise you need to be using a clutch and manual transmission to use these techniques so it doesn't relate to GT4, but what are they exactly.

Here you go for Heel & Toe



Regards

Scaff

 

[Sureboss]

When I use my wheel (Mainly enduros as I have to move Telly, etc) I've always used left foot braking, just easier as a whole.

 

[Duke]

Found this thread and thought to revive it instead of making a new one.

Thank you!

Anyway, what are some techniques of using brake and throttle at the same time that others have found useful and what is this heel-toe and bliping the throttle mean? I realise you need to be using a clutch and manual transmission to use these techniques so it doesn't relate to GT4, but what are they exactly.

Well, Scaff has given you a picture describing heel and toe, and as you note, it's not required in GT4. In fact, you can hear the computer doing it for you every time you call for a downshift under braking - the engine revs briefly as the car changes down. That's the 'throttle blip' - just a little tap on the accelerator.

 

[Braddock]

I kind of strted a thread similar to this one before I found this one. Ive always used LFB in the GT series. The latest thing Ive discovered is when driving a light, high powered car (Cobra 427) that has tons of oversteer in braking, I tap the accelerator while braking and simultaneously downshifting entering the corners. It tends to balance the car and greatly reduce my times. The thing I was wonddering in the other thread, Is this a race/driving method which is used in the real world?

 

[shabba]

Here you go for Heel & Toe



Regards

Scaff

Nice info. Thanks for the link.

 

[Scaff]

I kind of strted a thread similar to this one before I found this one. Ive always used LFB in the GT series. The latest thing Ive discovered is when driving a light, high powered car (Cobra 427) that has tons of oversteer in braking, I tap the accelerator while braking and simultaneously downshifting entering the corners. It tends to balance the car and greatly reduce my times. The thing I was wonddering in the other thread, Is this a race/driving method which is used in the real world?

The exact effect you are getting Duke described perfectly in the other thread

All you're doing is counteracting the forward weight transfer of the braking with some acceleration from the gas.

You could get the same effect by simply braking less, though the left-foot braking is letting you get on the gas a little earlier.

As far this being real driving technique, well without seing the exact order you are doing them in its difficult to tell.

Certainly one of the advantages of heel and toe downshifts is that they stop compression braking from occuring as a result of the downshift. If allowed to occur this will cause a rapid shift of weight forward and also runs the risk of locking the driven wheels.

The subject of compression braking is covered here

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1785601&postcount=361

GT4 does automatically heel and toe for you on downshift, as is shown in the following tests I carried out.

http://gtplanet.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1794405&postcount=375

Which is why I feel that Duke has hit the nail on the head with this one, and you are simply taking advantage of good throttle and brake control to balance the car.

A thread does exist in the GT4 Tuning and Settings sub-forum that covers a huge range of GT4 braking related topic, but be warned its a big thread, so get a good chair.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58993

As for heel and toe technique in the real world, well the bit I posted above covers that.

Regards

Scaff

 

[Vince247]

Here's a movie about left foot braking, they say it's pretty good on FF cars.



hmm, it doesn't seem to work, oh well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvNYFbJIJ-Y

 

[Duke]

hmm, it doesn't seem to work

When you use the

 

[Jay.]

Interesting video.

I can understand how it would work well with the right sort of diff.
giving extra traction and acceleration to one side of the car only,
but if I tried this in my GTI, (with no diff.) I'd probably write off the car
and/or 'headbut the steering wheel'.

 

[Fangio]

Salutations Fellow Leftys!
Back in the days of carburetors, drum brakes, and Castrol R, I campaigned a 1967 Saab V4. I wasn't very competitive at first while other drivers in the same car were enjoying more success than I. Up until that time I had piloted Spitfires, TR's, and other rear drive cars rather well. It wasn't until a fellow Saab racer, actually a pro rally racer, clued me in. Left foot braking would shift more weight onto the front drive wheels enhancing traction in the curves, and allowing for more speed upon exiting. It was indeed an eye opener for me, and improved my times considerably.
Unfortunately for me, I became so used to this technique that one weekend at Lime Rock, while qualifying a friend's XKE, I forgot that a rear drive, nose heavy car does not handle the same as mine own little Swedish front driver. I came boiling into a fast right hander, stabbed the brakes with my south foot, and pirouetted ingloriously into the hay bales. Great fun for the spectators and corner workers, less so for me.
I still have to remember this when going from my Cooper S to milady's BMW. She would be most displeased if I pranged her beloved chariot.
But I do prattle on!
Nostalgicaly
Fangio

 

[Vince247]

When you use the

 

[Tulok]

That's Terrible Fangio!
and, unfortunately I havent visited my friend yet, so no videos yet