I think it's only fair to post this here as well:
I received the GTeye spring exactly 2 weeks after placing the order. It was shipped in a simple package. The instructions were emailed to me the same night I had placed the order a very well put together PDF with colour pictures. I like colour pictures. Very clear and easy to understand.
Installation only required 2 tools, a Philips screwdriver and a 2.5 mm allen key. My allan keys are part of a flip open set and as such I could not complete the installation without 1 extra step. Well, actually more than 1 step. I had to remove the brake pedal from the base unit. This is a very simple procedure involving 4 screws and 3 wires. Inside Sim Racing has a nice video showing how this is done (Nixim install). Taking my time, and including re and re of the brake pedal , it took me just about 40 minutes for installation.
First impressions
wow. I am not going back to the stock spring. Braking feels so much more real now. Its actually a bit stronger than I was expecting. There is definitely a learning curve. I have done a couple of 1 hour races wearing socks without a problem or undue stress or fatigue. The biggest difference I have noticed performance wise is in street cars with comfort tires or sport tires. Where it was very common for me to accidently over brake and cook the tires or spin out, I find myself braking just enough. Due to the progression etc, I have to really want to take the braking to 100%. It doesnt happen by accident anymore. Im actually enjoying running around on cs tires now. I know there is some debate regarding which spring to go with. Ill be testing the Nixim soon but I imagine that is should be comparable to the GTeye. Once you have made a decision, dont put it off. I didnt realize how bad the original spring is until I changed it out.
Timed sessions will be done once I have received and tested the Nixim mod.
Had a bit of time to do some testing today, so here it is.
Update:
In addition to my first impressions:
After about a week of testing, the stiffer spring now feels completely natural to me. It's very easy to hit the brakes "just enough" even in panic situations. I had a 4 hour session at one point and had no effects from fatigue. No issue wearing socks, but shoes might be nice to try out. I was surprised to notice such a big improvement using the X1s. I don't spend much time on the brakes, but I guess when I was braking, I over braked less resulting in higher exit speeds out of corners. And then there was the Elise - I don't normally drive street cars / street tire without abs, but I prefer it as long as the brake balance is right. Results below. Nixim mod to be tested when it arrives.
Nixim - to be tested
I did a few 5 lap test races to record times before upgrading to the GTeye brake spring. All testing was done as follows:
No Aids, ABS on zero, on line lobby, track edge / grip on REAL, Tire Wear and Fuel OFF, Race cars on Racing Soft Tires. Elise 111R on Sport Soft Tires. I usually allowed 5 warm up laps prior to starting a 5 lap race. The exception was with the Elise. I have never used it without ABS and therefore needed about 12 laps to get a feel for it and set the Brake Balance to 4/1.
Results prior to upgrade: ------------ ------ GTeye
F2007 at Spa ------------ -------- F2007 at Spa
Session Best Time 1:41.323 ------------ Session Best Time 1:41.208
Race Laps ------------ ----------- Race Laps
1 1:43.330 ------------ ----------- 1 1:44.472
2 1:42.972 ------------ ----------- 2 1:41.602
3 1:43.069 ------------ ----------- 3 1:41.793
4 1:41.323 ------------ ----------- 4 1:41.433
5 1:41.408 ------------ ----------- 5 1:41.208
------------ -----------
F10 at Nurb GPF ------------ -------- F10 at Nurb GPF
Session Best Time 1:28.910 ------------ Session Best Time 1:28.776
Race Laps ------------ ----------- Race Laps
1 1:34.983 ------------ ----------- 1 1:33.093
2 1:30.323 ------------ ----------- 2 1:28.776
3 1:30.163 ------------ ----------- 3 1:29.386
4 1:29.448 ------------ ----------- 4 1:43.334 crashed
5 1:29.007 ------------ ----------- 5 1:29.014
------------ -----------
X2010 at Suzuka ------------ -------- X2010 at Suzuka
Session Best Time 1:00.158 ------------ Session Best Time 59.556
Race Laps ------------ ----------- Race Laps
1 1:02.775 ------------ ----------- 1 1:01.321
2 1:00.832 ------------ ----------- 2 1:00.306
3 1:00.229 ------------ ----------- 3 59.875
4 1:00.158 ------------ ----------- 4 1:00.053
5 1:00.467 ------------ ----------- 5 59.556
------------ -----------
X2011 at GVS ------------ -------- X2011 at GVS
Session Best Time 54:215 ------------ Session Best Time 53.617
Race Laps ------------ ----------- Race Laps
1 58.330 ------------ ----------- 1 59.024
2 55.126 ------------ ----------- 2 53.989
3 54.398 ------------ ----------- 3 53.888
4 54.215 ------------ ----------- 4 54.120
5 55.051 ------------ ----------- 5 53.617
------------ -----------
Elise 111R at Tsukuba ------------ -------- Elise 111R at Tsukuba
Session Best Time 58:334 ------------ Session Best Time 57.775
Race Laps ------------ ----------- Race Laps
1 1:03.050 ------------ ---------1 1:03.030
2 59.228 ------------ ----------- 2 58.651
3 59.905 ------------ ----------- 3 57.775
4 58.334 ------------ ----------- 4 58.374
5 58.758 ------------ ----------- 5 59.496 bad lap
Just received the Nixim Brake Mod and will be installing it tomorrow. Results will be updated in a few days depending on how long it takes to get used to it.
Few days later:
First impressions using the Nixim brake mod:
Quality appears to be same as the GTeye. Any concerns about one copying the other can be put to rest as they achieve almost the same result but in a different way. Where the GTeye is initially stiffer when I step on the brake, the Nixim is about 20% softer. The Gteye is missing just a bit of that last stage of progressive braking that is achieved by the Nixim rubber insert, but somehow still ends up feeling a bit more progressive through the full range. I was worried about the rubber insert requiring too much pressure to activate 100% braking once the range had been set in GT5, but that is not the case. I have no issues using the rubber insert with GT5 other than I am strongly considering reducing the length of the insert.
After a few laps I was actually enjoying that extra bit of pressure to engage 100% braking. Pedal travel was the only thing that has initially surprised me. After using the Gteye for a few weeks, it was leaving me feeling like there may be too much pedal travel and that it took too much effort to get to 100%. The Nixim in contrast has less travel maybe about 3/8 less by my rough estimate and left wanting a bit more travel in order to have more precise brake control. This is very minor issue that I believe is resolved by reducing the length the rubber insert. However, I am not going to change anything until I spend a bit more time with the Nixim mod and also do the timed sessions.
Todays initial shake down using the X2010 and Suzuka was producing very consistent 59s. Absolutely nothing wrong with the Nixim with the way it is shipped.
I can personally recommend both of these brake mods to G27 users. They achieve the same result in slightly different ways. I can honestly say it will be difficult to decide which one to leave in the pedal. Nice problem to have I guess. If anyone is considering getting one of these order it today and you will have it in time for the later rounds of GT Academy. Im pretty sure it will make the experience better and make you more consistent maybe even quicker.
Times sessions to be completed in a few days.
GTEYE spring on the left, Nixim on the right.
. Enjoy!
