Sorry if this sounds stupid but....

Am I correct to think that left foot braking through a turn will increase the wear on my front pads over my rears?

 

Correction, it can give you more control, if done correctly. When done impropperly it can result in serious injury or accident. <- my disclaimer.

 

Why are you braking through the turn? You should get almost all your braking done when you're going in a straight line before the turn. Turn in while your foot is gradually trailing off the brakes ("trail braking") so that by the time you're approaching the apex, you're off the brakes and adding power.

As itr1275 wisely notes, if you're not accustomed to the trail braking technique, you may be better off getting off the brakes entirely when you turn in.



[Modified by nsxtcjr, 6:21 PM 3/1/2002]

 

Very true, but LFB should be mastered somewhat to save yourself in a sticky situation, i.e. if you understeer badly or if your heading towards the guardrails. Ive been practicing it lately and it's hard to do. I can totally understand how it can jeopardize the driver's safety if not done right. First time I used my left foot to brake I stabbed too hard and the car did a quick 180. It came around faster than I'd expected. But I do see the potential of this technique.

Who needs a mugen sway bar when you got LFB. j/k

 

Yeah, it's harder on the brakes, but you are only supposed to LFB entering turns which require no downshift, and only require light braking. This way you can stay on the throttle, and it's kinda like launching a rocket when you let go of the brake.

BUT. You have to stay on the throttle, and more than likely you do not need to be doing this, unless you're ice racing. Are you ice racing? I didn't think so

There are only 2 corners of all the tracks that I go to that I sometimes play w/ LFB. You better be careful though, cuz it's an easy way to end up against a solid object.

Warren


[Modified by Warren, 9:03 PM 3/1/2002]

 

i'm not getting this....since your left foot is braking, what is your right foot doing? why cant we just use the right foot like normal?

 

You're on the throttle while on the brakes, hence the need for the left foot. Hard on the engine and the brakes. I prefer not to do it.

Warren

 

hm...why would you want to be gasing it and trying to slow it down? why cant you just let off the gas?

 

It's a very different sensation, and you can use it to balance the car if you're really good with it. It's also about the only way you're going to get a fwd to turn if you're ice racing.

It's good for laggy turbo cars because you can keep the turbo spooled. Good for some corners because you can really rocket out of them while just barely slowing down for the entry. It's not the same as coming off the throttle, braking lighter, and then getting back on the throttle.

Warren

 

oh i see thanks Warren

 

You want to go as fast as possible from brake to throttle in a turn. That doesn't mean that you don't need to be smooth however. The longer the delay, between shifting your foot, the more you will upset the car. And you don't want to do that to your loved one do you?

 

"I t's a very different sensation, and you can use it to balance the car if you're really good with it. It's also about the only way you're going to get a fwd to turn"

Ayup!

I tried this on the road once almost by accident and not knowing exactly to control it thoroughly.

Ya know what? If you saw it in front of you, it would have looked like a movie car chase scene. I was doing a nice tail loose slide into a right angle turn at an intersection.. I pulled it off flawlessly. Well, not flawwlessly. I almost pushed it too far. and if I had, my R would have ended in the woods. I was lucky but, I usually always am.

It was one of the stupidest things I did on a public road. I guess it ranks up there with stupid and dangerous stoplight hi-jinks. Sorry.

If you want to try it. Go to an Auto-X or Track day(PDA event) and or have a driver instruct you how to do it. .Just don't do it until you are a very good driver. No, I am not a very good driver yet just a foolish one.

It was a dangerous manauver and a stupid thing that I subconsciously attempted it. But, it was fun as Hell...

A.

 

I wonder what funky driving techniques there would be if we had 3 legs. Granted, some of us do , but..

A third leg? Perhaps a performance upgrade for some of you rich guys.

 

I definitely use LFB braking in autocross when I need rotation coming out of a sweeper or a loop. But it is a dance that has to be performed at the exactly right time=> Say the turn is a decreasing radius sweeper. Just at the point when the turn gets tighter, you turn the wheel. As you turn the wheel tighter the back of the car gets a little lighter. Then tap the brakes and apply more throttle (just slightly more so u don't slow down). The back will start to rotate. Let go of brakes and sling shot out of the turn. Sometimes you will have to countersteer because of slight over rotation. When done properly it is very fast and fun.