Left foot braking is an advanced and quite complex technique. Therefore, it should be used after numerous practical sessions. When you first learn to brake with your left foot, at first you press the pedal too hard. This happens because you are used to pressing the clutch with your left foot, which is usually pressed all the way to the floor. It will take you some time to reprogram the muscle memory of your leg and foot. And we strongly recommend that you find some asphalt for practice where you won’t disturb anyone.
Re-gearing or Heel & Toe is the art of downshifting and selecting revs while braking. By combining braking and shifting when cornering, rather than using both separately, you will become faster in any discipline that involves driving - a fundamental skill for a professional.
What does shifting with your heel do when shifting?
o Reduces load on the transmission
o Prevents excessive weight shift forward when downshifting
o In extreme cases, reduces the likelihood of wheel locking
o Allows you to quickly and smoothly downshift before entering a turn
How to do it?
This technique is implemented by turning the right foot toe inward and using the toe for braking and the heel for accelerating. Although it sounds complicated, re-gasping is a relatively simple technique that requires a little practice. This technique is vital on the track, but will also give you smoothness on the road.
Regasification - step by step:
1. Over-throttle is most often used when downshifting before entering a corner. Diagram 1 (below) looks at a situation where the driver is accelerating in third gear, approaching the top end of the power band.
Diagram 1: acceleration in third gear
As you approach the braking point, place the toe of your right foot over the brake pedal. The brake has higher priority than the gas in this case. So make sure your foot is firmly in contact with the brake pedal without the risk of slipping off it. If something doesn’t work out for you, it’s better to under-pressure the gas than to release the brake ahead of time. In some cars it is very difficult to change the throttle due to the inconvenient placement of the pedals. It is useful to wear racing shoes or boots with thin soles to increase the sensitivity of the foot and better feel the pedal. This will also reduce the chance of your foot slipping off the brake pedal.
2. Apply the brake and reduce your driving speed to a speed where you can downshift without excessively increasing engine speed (see Diagram 2 below). In this example, the driver in third gear slows down.
Diagram 2: Hard braking before a turn, revs drop as you slow down
3. Just before you can downshift, but still braking, turn your right foot and get ready to hit the gas with your heel. If the pedals are very close, you can press with the outside of your foot instead of your heel.
At the same time, depress the clutch with your left foot to disengage the wheels and engine.
Diagram 3: Rotation of the right foot in preparation for pressing the gas and simultaneous depressing of the clutch
4. As soon as you depress the clutch, the engine speed will begin to drop faster. Increase the speed using the heel of your right foot so that it matches the speed in second gear.
Diagram 4: accelerating with the heel to the desired speed level
5. When the driving speed and engine speed match, switch to a gear that will allow you to exit the turn quickly, in our case - to second (Diagram 5).
Diagram 5: shifting to second gear
6. Smoothly, with increasing acceleration, release the clutch pedal.
Diagram 6: Release the clutch and accelerate into a corner
7. Take the turn, accelerate smoothly and get ready for the next turn.
Diagram 7: overclocking
Congratulations, you have just successfully downshifted using the Heel & Toe technique. But remember, true mastery comes from training.
When moving, the weight of the machine can shift longitudinally (towards the front or rear axle) or transversely (from side to side). Depending on how and when the change in weight distribution occurs, it can help or hinder your performance on the road or track.
To better understand the effects of weight shift, it's worth considering a car with a very soft suspension.
Shift, or redistribution of weight, can be caused in three ways:
o Acceleration
o Slowdown
Many drivers wonder why the right foot is responsible for both the gas pedal and the brake pedal, even if we are talking about an automatic car that does not have a clutch pedal. Experts say that this scheme was invented to prevent the gas and brake pedals from being pressed at the same time.
As a driver with a manual transmission, I also had a similar question flashing through my head at one time, but very quickly this question disappeared. This happened after I read an interesting story on one auto forum: the gist of it was that a driver with a manual transmission is strictly forbidden to press the brake pedal with his left foot, which works with the clutch.
The author of the story, the driver of a manual Hyundai Solaris, said that one day it occurred to him, as an experiment, to try pressing the brake pedal with his left foot. Because he was warned about the dangers of this experiment, he chose a quiet road with almost no cars, and very carefully, smoothly brought his left foot to the brake. According to him, the effect exceeded all expectations - the brakes worked so hard that he hit his head on the steering wheel. For such an experiment, the speed had to be reduced to 15-20 km/h, while he was driving 35-40 km/h, naively believing that a smooth touch would save him.
So, I decided to repeat the experiment, because... My car is also manual. I didn’t choose a road with few cars, but I slowed down to 20 km/h and also tried to press the brake pedal with my left foot as smoothly as possible. It didn't work out. The brakes worked as if I had pushed them hard into the floor. Of course, I didn’t hit my head on the steering wheel, the speed wasn’t high, but it didn’t jerk me weakly. Why is this happening?
Explanation
The danger of pressing the “brake” with your left foot is that the brain cannot objectively evaluate and control the force with which the left foot presses on a pedal other than the “clutch”. The left foot has to squeeze the rather hard clutch pedal 300-500 times a day, and this is more than 10 thousand times a month. In addition to the fact that the clutch pedal is 2-3 times harder than the brake, it has even more amplitude and is pressed much deeper. Thus, the muscle memory associated with the left leg is responsible for a strong and amplitude press on the pedal, and when it requires a smooth press on the “brake,” the same powerful press comes out, even if the driver tries to press lightly.
If you liked our materials, then give us a “like” and share with your friends. We are pleased to see your activityThe left foot has a number of advantages and is even the safest, but only if the driver controls it perfectly. According to the American expert company Evidence Solutions, if you keep your left foot on the brake pedal in advance, at a speed of 85 km/h, the braking distance can be reduced by 18 meters. The time savings will be 0.75 seconds: this is quite enough to avoid an accident.
There is another reason why professional racing drivers consider this method of control - it makes it possible to slow down without releasing the gas pedal. During the race, when every second counts, this helps maintain high engine torque and helps provide additional control. For example, by simultaneously braking and accelerating, it is easier to control skidding when cornering. Of course, we are talking about aerobatics.
British racing driver Colins Behn wrote in his book “Drive Like the Stig” that he used the left-foot braking technique in NASCAR races when driving rear-wheel drive racing cars. The weight in them is deliberately shifted back to relieve the load on the front axle. In such cars you cannot let go of the gas, otherwise they immediately lose power, and you have to constantly press the pedals with both feet.
There are other advantages of this control technique that are relevant in motorsport. But here’s the problem: many people consider themselves great racing drivers. Fortunately, not everyone is so naive and self-confident, otherwise road accidents would happen much more often.
In any case, no matter what your driving experience, you should not overestimate your skills and abilities. If you are used to braking with your right foot, there is no need to relearn it. At the very least, you shouldn’t do it yourself, without the help of an experienced professional. And even more so, you should not try to change your foot on the brake pedal out of habit while driving on a street with heavy traffic.
When driving a car with a manual transmission, your left foot handles the clutch pedal perfectly. But you won’t be able to brake smoothly even with this foot without a certain skill the first, second, or third time, regardless of how many pedals there are in the car. Usually in this case the car stops rooted to the spot and is immediately overtaken from behind by another participant in the movement.
Also, keep in mind that even if you have mastered this driving technique, do not try to press the gas and brake pedals at the same time. This is dangerous for the vehicle, and overheating the torque converter will accelerate wear on the transmission.
Pressing the brake pedal with your left foot has been a controversial issue since the advent of automatic transmissions. If your car has two pedals and you have two feet, why not use one for each pedal?
In 1964, The New York Times published an article that in at least eight regions of Canada, pressing the brake pedal with your left foot could lead to a failed driving test. However, at the same time, in six regions this practice was fully encouraged. The remaining regions generally maintained a neutral position. This provoked serious disagreement about which method was correct, and 51 years later the issue remains relevant.
Ask any professional racer and their answer will be clear. Pressing the brake pedal with your left foot is a safer and more effective method of braking while driving. Most road users will also confidently say that when gaining first experience behind the wheel, it is safer to brake with your left foot. And that's why. If you are driving at an approximate speed of 90 km/h, thus covering 27 m/s, the process of braking to a complete stop will take you approximately 4.5 seconds, or 82 meters. In the event of an unexpected stop, 40 meters of braking distance will be required for the time required for you to respond to the emergency situation. During these first 40 meters you won't even touch the brake pedal.
According to information provided by Evidence Solutions, by avoiding the process of changing your feet on the pedals, you can reduce your braking distance by 18 meters at a speed of approximately 85 km/h. Therefore, if your left foot is initially on the brake pedal, you can save 0.75 sec. This half second can help you avoid an accident. How much money have automakers invested in anti-lock brakes, rotors, and other lightweight vehicle parts to achieve a stopping distance of 18 meters? This is the shortest braking distance you will achieve using both feet while driving.However, I will tell you something else: for the above reason, racers use the left foot braking method, because the time they can spend changing pedals, they can use to press the gas pedal. Another reason for using this technique is the need to depress both pedals while turning: this way you can adjust the angle of the car and avoid many problems. For an experienced driver, this method will help to better control the vehicle during dangerous driving.
But we must admit that this solution is not suitable for everyone. It is believed that in a panic, an inexperienced driver can squeeze both pedals at the same time. I would clarify that an inexperienced driver who is used to pressing the brake pedal with his right foot may panic and mix up the pedals. So, which of the two evils is the lesser? In most new cars this problem has essentially disappeared. For example, in a Toyota car, if you accidentally press both pedals at the same time, the brake system will respond faster than the accelerator.
Drivers who are accustomed to a manual transmission and in case of unexpected braking, in order to avoid stopping the engine, have learned to depress the brake pedal simultaneously with the clutch, will find it more difficult to switch to the above method.
Recommendations regarding braking that must be followed when driving
First, unless necessary, do not leave your foot on the brake pedal, always keep it close. It would seem an obvious fact, but, as practice shows, this is not the case for everyone.
Secondly, in the absence of traffic jams, there should be a sufficiently large distance between you and the car in front so that you do not need to constantly keep your foot on the brake pedal. It’s better to put it on a special stand.
For example, you notice that the distance between cars is decreasing: the traffic either speeds up or, on the contrary, slows down, or you are driving along a busy street where children are playing or dogs are walking without leashes. These are exactly the situations where you need to react quickly and put your left foot on the brake pedal just to be on the safe side. When the potential danger disappears, you can safely return your foot to the stand.
Pressing the brake pedal with your left foot really helps in emergency situations, because even if there is a safe distance between cars, in an emergency you will have to react and brake as quickly as possible. But theory is one thing, but in practice, drivers who are just trying to squeeze the brake with their left foot usually characterize this method something like this: “The stop is very sharp, like hitting a wall.” Of course, it will take some time and practice for your foot to get used to squeezing the brake with the right amount of pressure. It's like riding a bike without extra safety wheels - it's hard at first and you want to give up, but then, as you get used to it, you wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
I don't suggest switching suddenly to this method, first practice on the road without cars and then gradually start using this technique while driving on a busy road. If for some reason you cannot adjust, then abandon this method. This is absolutely normal.
However, if you do manage to get used to this braking technique, the distance you gain in case of an emergency can make a huge difference to you.
Left foot braking
In some racing cars with extreme settings, you have to brake with your left foot. I'm talking about NASCAR cars, for example, where the weight is deliberately shifted rearward to take pressure off the front axle. You cannot let off the gas in these cars, otherwise they will immediately leave the trajectory. You constantly press on the gas with your right foot and brake with your left. I only use left foot braking when racing in NASCAR, that special type of circuit racing. Otherwise, I always prefer to brake with my right hand.
Some pilots use their left foot when braking, others do not use it, believing that this method does not provide any tangible advantage. At Le Mans, a left-braking crew is doomed to fail. Braking and accelerating at the same time burns much more fuel and wears out the pads faster, so such a crew would have to make additional refuelings and change the pads more often.
Three-time British Touring Champion Matt Neill, a lifelong front-wheel drive driver, says this about left-foot braking: “It's a tricky way to do it, and people don't know how to stop and overheat the brakes. In fact, there are no special advantages to it. I would never use this method on a regular road."
Even in rallying, the role of left-foot braking has changed since the turbo era, when drivers used it to maintain high revs and avoid suspension problems. Nowadays this method is used more to correct weight shift at the apex of the turn.
Braking with your left foot on the road is as useless as an ashtray on a motorcycle, and don’t listen to those who will convince you otherwise. If you want to effectively train your left leg, learn to release the clutch smoothly. All you will achieve if you put it on the brake is that the car will jerk and the steering wheel will be in your teeth. And for it to be different, you need a lot, a lot of practice.
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