Left Foot Braking Explained

"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
08/12/2013 at 21:39 • Filed to: rally

Left foot braking is a key skill in racing and performance driving, but it can also make you a safer driver on the street, reducing reaction times in emergency stops and (with additional car control/weight transfer instruction) help you maintain or regain control of your vehicle, particularly when driving on a loose or slippery surface (New England winters, anyone?). In this excellent video the guys at Team O'Neil Rally School giving an explanation of how to use the left foot braking technique.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for those of you who launch yourselves through the windshield while first attempting left foot braking.

DISCUSSION (80)

ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 10:49

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

fink stinger > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 11:16

I like this guy's approach to using whichever foot makes sense at the time. Most instructors, including my driver's ed instructor who wanted to fail me, seriously frown on left foot braking in any situation. Even one of the Xtreme Xperience instructors mentioned it when I jumped into the Gallardo.

It all boils down to experience. I started with the left foot since I ran karts and drag raced long before I drove in the street, so my left foot control was already natural. The only time I feel the need to put my right foot on the brake pedal is if I need to downshift during braking. Sure could use a third foot there since proper heel-toe is exceedingly difficult with a street car pedal layout.

Dusty Ventures > fink stinger
08/13/2013 at 13:15

Exactly. Left foot braking doesn't mean "only use the left foot," it means use left foot when practical. The LFB technique is actually the cornerstone of Team O'Neil's program, and they provide detailed information and statistics about how it's better than standard RFB.

I became proficient at LFB early through constant gaming, and when first starting to drive that was the foot I used (automatic car) until mom made me stop because I was "doing it wrong." A few years ago I started using my left foot to brake again (still automatics only) because it just made more sense to me. When I went to Team O'Neil in April I went up with only a half hour of manual-driving experience (in a big floppy Jeep with oversized tires and no sway bars), and was nervous as hell. Then they said all the day's lessons would be in second gear and using LFB and I was like "Yes! I gots this!"

MiddleAgedAngryGuy > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 16:19

Good instruction. I really only left foot brake when driving a car with semi auto or paddle shift trans. I never really wanted to use left foot braking on a manual because I like to clutch kick when I'm playing around.

Me Boosta > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 16:24

Its weird... in racing Sims where I am using a wheel and pedal controller, I left foot brake to my heart's content and it works great. Not so much when I go to do it in a real car. I think that's mostly due to how my feet are arranged, and possibly partly due to not experiencing the g-forces involved with it... but its weird how I can do it in one place and not the other.

VERY good instructional video, though. Need to watch more of these to improve my driving.

Roaduardo > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 16:27

My brake pads are going to hate me while I practice this.

Casper > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 16:34

People think that it's all or nothing. When people tell you not to left foot brake, it's because the odds of you actually needing to be doing so are low and the chance if it causing driver error is much higher. It's not that you shouldn't do it, it's that you shouldn't do it unless you have already learned all the supporting techniques to ensure your driving ability is at a level to actually know when and where to use it and to minimize accidents. You should also be in a vehicle that it's of use in.

Based on just generally how bad most people are at just driving, I recommend against left foot braking. It's not because I am saying the technique is unnecessary or shouldn't be used, it's because that person shouldn't be trying to do it. You need to have the knowledge of what the tool is for before simply starting to try to use it.

FormerInstants > fink stinger
08/13/2013 at 16:39

I don't know why people think LFB on the road is "bad" or "doing it wrong." Those people probably frown on heel-toeing too.

One time back when I had an automatic, I sprained my right ankle and for a while it was painful to try and twist my foot like I usually did to hit the brakes. It was fine operating the gas, but just something about the way I hit the brakes made it hurt. Anyway I started doing LFB for that reason, and at first it was really jerky because that foot was calibrated for either the clutch or hard braking in race sims. Eventually I got used to it and I kept doing LFB as long as I had that car.

Brumos59fan > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 16:51

I did a one day school at Team O'Neill years ago and they told us to practice LFB on the street in the weeks leading up to it in order to get a feel for it. I did and it helped tremendously as they teach you to steer the car with your left foot when they start you out in front drive cars. Unfortunately, the undefeatable stability control in a lot of modern cars will not allow for left foot braking as it cuts the throttle completely when you attempt to do so.

Dusty Ventures > Casper
08/13/2013 at 16:58

I would argue it depends on the transmission. If its an automatic, as most cars in the states are these days, there's really no reason not to left foot brake (and our Team O'Neil instructors said so as well). Using LFB (once you get used to using your left foot) reduces reaction time in a panic stop situation by as much as half, which can be the difference between hitting that car/deer/crashed alien spacecraft and stopping soon enough to avoid it.

GrauGeist > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 17:36

I LFB all the time. I don't understand why anybody thinks LFB means you always stand on the pedal - if you can train your right foot to modulate the throttle, you can train your left foot to modulate the brake

Casper > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 17:46

That includes the distance added by mashing the accelerator? Generally most performance training I have seen, especially for high speed stuff, revolves around dissipate as much as you can while maintaining the ability to avoid the collision. Don't commit completely to braking because you probably will not be able to reach 0 before you reach whatever it is you don't want to hit. By taking left foot braking out of the equation for people who are not committing it to muscle memory, you are simplifying the process and improving the chance of success. Basically following KISS. Using the right foot to brake makes it impossible to hit the gas an brake to the same extent (that's why the accelerator is lower than brake in most cars).

If you mash the brake and gas as hard as you can in an automatic, it opens the door for all kinds of problems worse than had the person simply been 1/100th of a second slower to the peddle. Of course all this is speculative because it varies widely between vehicles equipment, mass, power, braking capacity, tires, surface, etc. It will make far more sense to operate gas and brake concurrently on a loose surface than a hard surface with good grip (such as asphalt).

McLarry > Casper
08/13/2013 at 17:55

I'd say if you're teaching driver's ed, don't teach left-foot braking and discourage your students from doing it that way on their own. If you're teaching some sort of performance class, then sure, teach left-foot braking.

In my mind this isn't any different than all the other racing techniques you can learn and logically not use on the road. Some are fine...go ahead an heel-toe, I'm sure we all agree it's a better way to downshift, but there's no place for, say, the scandinavian flick on public roads. Left-foot braking is somewhere in between, I think...If you can already do it, it isn't very dangerous, but it's dangerous to try to learn it on your morning commute, so I definitely don't want every boy-racer out there that already drives like a moron trying to left-foot brake as well.

After reading your comment again I think this is what you were saying anyway, so I'm just adding my thoughts to yours.

Casper > McLarry
08/13/2013 at 18:02

Exactly. It's about the persons level, aptitude, seriousness, etc. The problem is a lot of people taking a performance driving school are not performance drivers. You have to ease them into concepts that require a high level of proficiency to do correctly... kind of like a sampler plate. Let them know it's there and to keep it in mind. A person not heal toeing, not left foot braking, but making no mistakes will be much much faster and safer around a course than someone fumbling to do fancy techniques that are above their ability. Now, once they have achieved proficiency with everything else and are starting to push themselves to improve by tenths of seconds, that is when everything starts to come together and they can start digging through the tool box for what helps them.

The other thing that becomes very evident moving from one performance driving school to another is that technique is very opinion based. Eventually everyone develops their own take on concepts or own method of application. Some people will always be their fastest doing something that is generically considered "wrong" by the masses, while someone else doing everything the masses consider "right" will be trailing him.

GrauGeist > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 18:14

I would argue it depends on the driver. If the driver has the ability to LFB, and actually practices it , then LFB is better. If the driver is a ham-footed moron, then they should take the bus.

GrauGeist > Casper
08/13/2013 at 18:23

@Casper, If you are too stupid to LFB, then don't do it!

Dusty Ventures > Casper
08/13/2013 at 18:26

You're right about dissipating speed and evading (another lesson they teach on the first day at Team O'Neil) generally being the best/only option instead of just slamming on the brake and hoping 0 comes before the object in your path. I don't know where your "slamming the gas" statement is coming from, unless you're talking about people who, due to being used to braking with their right foot will end up flooring both pedals in a panic situation, which with a little practice should become a nonissue. I did say the improvements in reaction time (which studies have shown can be as much as half a second - 44 feet at 60 mph - not 1/100 seconds) come only after practice and familiarity. Spend a week in an automatic driving around and braking with the left foot and it should become second nature and instinctual. Hell, up at the school everyone from 14 year olds to grandparents who have been right foot braking for 50 years are able to comfortably and effortlessly right foot brake within an hour or two of practicing.

Dusty Ventures > GrauGeist
08/13/2013 at 18:27

I disagree.
They don't have to take the bus, commuter rail is a good option as well.

JimAtKSF > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 18:29

When you typically talk about LFBing it's the idiot who is riding the brakes while accelerating, driving, eating and putting on makeup. This only serves to massively annoy and frustrate the unfortunate drivers that happened to get behind them.

Dusty Ventures > JimAtKSF
08/13/2013 at 18:33

True. Unfortunately 100% of the brake-riding LFB-ers are visible and noticeable to other motorists while 0% of the ones who actually do it properly are noticeable, thus giving all LFB-ers a bad name.

Casper > GrauGeist
08/13/2013 at 18:34

Were you dropped as a child?

GrauGeist > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 18:34

OK, sure, they can take the trolley.

GrauGeist > Casper
08/13/2013 at 18:36

Probably not, given that I mastered the arcane art of Left Foot Braking without needing to pay big dollars at some track school, whereas you apparently are clueless and fearful.

GrauGeist > Me Boosta
08/13/2013 at 18:38

Is your racing sim a 3-axis sim? If not, you're not getting anywhere near the real-world feedback of actual LFB in a car.

Casper > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 18:41

I'm referring to people panic braking both peddles due to inexperience/training. The risk involved in left foot braking is that the driver will panic stomp both, leading to a compounded problem that wouldn't exist if they stuck with right foot braking.

I personally can, and do, left foot brake as needed. What we are discussing is who should be doing this and when to be practicing it. Sure you can get comfortable doing it for an hour or so. Take those people home and plop them on a road and introduce an emergency stop and most likely over 50% of the time they will either mash both feet into each other or mash both peddles. It's just a natural reaction that can't be programmed away with a few hours of practice. It's also critical to practice for the application... and emergency stop with a left foot on a manual car causing a stalled car in the middle of a freeway isn't any safer than a right foot stop that took slightly longer.

The entire point is that it's not a blanket technique. Rewiring your brain to do it at the right time and not others is more important than simply being able to do it.

Casper > GrauGeist
08/13/2013 at 18:42

You obviously have some mental failing as you have completely missed the conversation. I do left foot brake as needed, the discussion is about when/where/why to introduce other people to the concept.

Lahjik > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 18:51

So, ya know that old saying that says:

The throttle is a not a switch it's a potentiometer?

That does double for brakes...

teamtestbot - the David Tracy of Vans > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 18:51

99% LFB'er here. I really do think it's just another style you pick up or learn and is an element of your personal driving style. It's just very alien to the majority of folks, and I think that is due mostly to myth propagation ("Oh, but you'll accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake!" or "You're just riding your brakes the whole time, don't do it."). In the city here the half-plus second of reaction time gain is, in my opinion, well worth it.

Sixtimestodaysofar > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 18:52

Yep. Pops was a left-foot braker all his life, and there wasn't a used car he owned that retired for any other reason than a burnt-out automatic tranny. And he had 'em all, too—'55 Pontiac hydro, '52 Buick Dynaflush, '57 Dodge TorqueFlite, '62 Pontiac hydro, '66 Caddy hydro, '75 Ford C4, right up to his currently-slipping 2009 Contour...

Yeah, he's an all-or-nothing kind of Louie Left Leadfoot...

GrauGeist > Casper
08/13/2013 at 18:58

No, you make these ridiculous comments about foot confusion.

Casper > GrauGeist
08/13/2013 at 19:04

You mean that issue that has literally destroyed entire vehicles lines and caused mass panic... while also being one of the top reasons people crash into buildings? Yes, I bring up reality. I'm sure you are very good at left foot braking in your game chair during your lapping sessions on Gran Turismo, but we are talking about training real people in the real world and when/where application supersedes risk.

Dusty Ventures > Casper
08/13/2013 at 19:20

Ok, I think ultimately we are on the same page. I agree it takes more than an hour of practice for someone to get to the point where they can safely and reliably brake with the correct foot in an emergency situation. I also agree its not a blanket technique but a "know when to use it" technique.

That said, most drivers in this country wi (sadly) never drive a manual car. In the case of these drivers I think they should be using their left foot to brake most if not all of the time. There's no risk of stalling on the highway, as you mentioned in your example, and they'll have that benefit of shortened reaction times (and let's be honest, these are often the people that need said time the most). The issue of mashing the wrong pedal or both pedals will be an issue during the transition phase, but for anyone new to driving as a whole or who drives regularly they should have the muscle memory embedded well enough to instinctively just hit the brake with the left foot without hitting the gas as well in a couple weeks to a month.

Ravell > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 19:22

Having driven manual gearboxes all my life (as well as the occasional automatic) I have to say I barely see the point of left foot braking on the road. I have played around with it a fair bit and can brake as well left as right. Your reaction time is going to be much higher than the time it takes to switch your right foot from the accelerator to the brake, especially as you have to keep your left foot in a resting position as hovering above the brake is going to tire your foot and leg out really quickly. Hovering your foot like that also risks riding the break and overheating things.

The only reason I can see is in a racing or especially rally situation. Firstly as a method of keeping the turbo spooled up for less lag, if the car has one, although this wouldn't work on a modern road car with a electronic throttle as the ECU will cut the throttle partially as soon as you'd brake at the same time to prevent the brakes from overheating.

The second situation is in a FWD or 4WD car to bias the breaking to the rear and use this to set up the car in a corner, dialing out an understeer or oversteer tendency. Aside from the immense skill and practice this needs, you should never be driving that close to the limit on the public road for that technique to make any difference at all. You're basically using the brake to adjust a 4 wheel drift.

So unless your a very proficient racing driver doing it on track/rally, I really don't see the point aside from trying it out every once in a while for fun. As a daily driving technique it is pretty much useless in my opinion.

GrauGeist > Casper
08/13/2013 at 19:40

Bitch, please. That's Sudden Acceleration, and it's caused by Right Foot Brakers not knowing which pedal they're standing on with their Right Foot. If you are suggesting that they're able to fully depress the accelerator with their Left Foot, get real.

I don't play video driving games at all, but I LFB all the time in the real world. I'm not a moron like you, making crap up and blaming RFB idiocy on other things. It works just fine in the real world.

In the real world, it's easier to simply press left to stop and right to go, and no more risky than turning the wheel left or right to go left or right.

Retard.

lowflyin > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 20:03

LFB is such a great technique to know, especially if you autoX a properly set up FWD car.

Need to get the tail around a slow to medium control/cone? Add a touch of brake with your left foot and there you go. Slaloms are another obstacle where LFB can help get you through quick and tidy.

skylark64 > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 20:04

This is all fine and good until your hovering left foot rests on the brake pedal. I see a lot of people accelerating with their brake lights on. That means they are power-braking and wearing down their brake shoes.

Maybe it's not a big deal but I bet you could do some testing and prove that it increases brake wear. I'll try it on the way home today anyway.

Chris Havill > fink stinger
08/13/2013 at 20:12

Sure could use a third foot there since proper heel-toe is exceedingly difficult with a street car pedal layout.

nah, you just have the wrong car. some cars are easier, especially bigger cars with larger pedal boxes, but you can just about manage in most cars. having size 11s and being 6"4' in a miata makes it difficult, but you play around without the car even being on for a little while (heel toe is great, because you can practice in your driveway) and you find the right way to jam your feet in, and pivot them around.

of course, like any learning experience you make mistakes. i can't count the times i've pulled up at the lights with the engine revving away and the brake lights on, and i still find myself placing my foot wrong when i don't have time to think about foot placement, but that's probably for the best looking at the times i fat foot it, lol.

Dusty Ventures > skylark64
08/13/2013 at 20:20

Yes, I see those too and it definitely does wear on the brakes, but what you aren't seeing are all the people who properly left foot brake without riding the brake. I, for example, have been left foot braking for years and never unintentionally sit on/depress the pedal (and I can say this with confidence because the interior third brake light cover in my car is missing so whenever I'm on the brakes I can see it in my mirror). So it is possible to be a lefty beaker without wearing out your brakes

Stupid Flanders > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 20:20

I understand the suggestion of practicing LFB so that you're not new to it when at track.

However, I don't think there's much of an advantage to it on the street, and there is a potential disadvantage. I've been LFB for some time, and I don't think my reaction time is any better than before, unless I keep my left foot hovering over the brake pedal, which is tiring after some time. So, I doubt there's much of an advantage there. It takes me just as long to get my left foot from the floor to the pedal as it does to move my right foot onto the brake pedal.

Last, in an emergency braking situation, how will you brace yourself? Chances are most of your force will be transferred through your feet (only some through your arms), and having neither foot on the floor of the car puts you into a much more unstable and less "in-control" position, and you won't be able to let off the brake until you're completely stopped (which isn't always what you want). It's also possible that an instinctive need for support would make a driver's right foot press the gas pedal (not out of confusion).

Stupid Flanders > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 20:21

I understand the suggestion of practicing LFB so that you're not new to it when at the track.

79MZsidecar > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 20:25

Tried this after the last discussion about it on Jalopnik. On my manual A4, I almost unavoidably brake way too hard. I need to practice this well away from people before using it for real. I see the advantage on it, tho.

Ski Bum > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 20:48

Dear Audi if you would like me to break boost around the corners like the old Audi 90 ALMS car then please take the idiot safety off the pedals. Thanks

Clay_T > skylark64
08/13/2013 at 20:55

I see it all the time on the (LA) freeways. Brake lights on for 10, 15, 30 seconds, just to bleed 10mph. You know these boneheads have both feet in... otherwise they'd be stopped with that much braking.

On a (LFB) positive note, If one really needs a place to rest the LF, other than the footrest on the left, riding the brake is better than riding the clutch.

RandyR > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 21:30

Anyone that drives a manual should watch and learn this. Not because you need to have a stick shift to do right foot braking, but because if you are coordinated enough to use a stick and clutch, left foot braking is not a big leap.

Casper > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 22:05

Yes, we basically agreed all along, I was just pointing out that people were trying to use absolutes (always use this vs never use this). The reality is these techniques are situational and require practice before being relied on fully. If someone has learned and developed muscle memory against a habit, changing them to a new technique will probably make them worse in the short run and take a lot of conditioning before it becomes a benefit. Just like shooting and changing up techniques.

I would agree that people learning on automatic FWDs have no real reason to not just start learning left foot braking from the beginning in performance situations... but it would be really uncomfortable to do that for 5 hours on the freeway with current car peddle layouts favoring the right side. It also helps load the car up riding the brakes a bit on an automatic while also working the accelerator to keep revs... depending on the transmission/torque converter setup.

Kamka-Z > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 22:20

Of course us "Driver-Ed Instructors" are going to steer NEW drivers away from using the left foot for braking. LFB is an advanced technique primarily for performance driving. "This isn't a go-cart and you shouldn't be on both pedals at once.", I inform them. And they will if you let them. Since my life depends on their driving technique, they will only use their right foot for the time they're with me.

I have used LFB with great success while racing FWD cars on the ice and occasionally on snowy or gravel roads. I'm still not going to advocate for the practice in new drivers.

HTownTweet > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 22:38

I don't drive automatics.

**edit....oh wait....just watched the video...

SCardot60 > Dusty Ventures
08/13/2013 at 22:52

This is something I've been experimenting with a lot lately on the track. Since it's a circle track I don't shift and it keeps the car more balanced since I can keep my right foot down and just scrub a little speed on the entry of turns 1 and 3. If the track is slick I'll use left foot to trail brake and that keeps the car from understeering. Very important when there's traffic up high.

This all seems to make sense but I'm new to racing and I'm told my car still isn't set up right. Not finishing very well yet, but hopefully more seat time will help.

rxtrio > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 00:37

Depending on the car and situation, you may run into a situation where the car believes a LFB and "some" throttle is a WOT (wide open throttle) and will cut the power and send the ECU into limp mode.

Dusty Ventures > rxtrio
08/14/2013 at 00:55

Ah the joys of modern technology

codemunky > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 01:24

What he didn't mention is that braking shifts the weight forward. Understeer and oversteer is a big part of this. But that's on another video.

not2subtle > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 01:51

I've been LFB for at least two years now. After you get used to the modulation its fine. Turns out that my mum has been left foot braking her whole driving career. She was blissfully unaware that it was 'unusual'.

Bmxstang > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 02:56

I try LFB in my truck because its manual and can take a beating.. It's interesting because I don't have a tach.. so i never know where i'm at exactly when I do it.. I guess it helps make a better driver?

tengu22 > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 03:59

The whole left foot braking is kinda weird to me. When I first learned how to drive I used my left foot to brake, as it felt more comfortable. Everyone told me I was doing it wrong and I ended up training myself to use my right foot to brake, especially because of learning how to drive stick. But even with an auto and the right kind of car, left foot braking and good throttle control thru twists can be fun.

vr6geek > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 07:28

This makes me feel better about some of my driving techniques. I'm usually a right foot braker, but I've found myself using my left foot every now and then without even thinking about it. I think this has a lot to do with me finally having a long term car and being comfortable with it. To be honest I never even considered shifting without the clutch, so that was an interesting part of the video. I found myself jumping backwards in the video to examine foot movement while approaching and exiting corners. Good stuff.

MikeEldred > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 08:10

Oh, a left foot breaking post. Must be time for another post on why we all should be driving automatics, too. You know, because what's good for F1 drivers or the rally track is good for the street, right? That's why I do a Scandi flick when I turn at the traffic light downtown.

Bill Holter > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 08:15

Thank you for posting this video. It shows most of the roads you drive on at the O'Neil school. Looks even better in the snow.

GirchyGirchy > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 08:32

I don't see where all of these time savings are coming from. The distances between a dead pedal and brake pedal, or accelerator and brake pedal, are nearly equal. It's not as if people drive around with their left foot hovering 1mm above the brake pedal.

Unless you count the idiots driving around with their brakes partially engaged.

Shankems > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 09:13

As people aren't running harnesses on the street, left foot braking is silly. You can't brace yourself to so at to be able to modulate the brake if you're stopping hard.

Dusty Ventures > Shankems
08/14/2013 at 10:40

I've been doing it for years and have had multiple instances where I've needed to brake hard/panic brake. Inability to brace and inability to modulate has never been an issue.

llamaguy > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 10:47

Most cars have play in the brake pedal so that this doesn't happen. Feel the pedal movement and you can tell there is some travel where the lights turn on, but you haven't actually moved the hydraulics yet.

peejaybee > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 10:50

Man, I *try* to do this, but every time I do, my left leg gets sore from being in such an unusual position.

Liam > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 10:53

Ok, I'll start this off with stating that I can barely drive as it is, so probably shouldn't be getting myself all excited watching these videos. But, in a situation where you need to slow down with minimum hesitation, like someone pulling out on you, and you're left foot braking... What are you going to do with your clutch? Slide both your feet over one pedal to the left each when you need to push it in, or perhaps just let it stall? Thanks

renfence > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 11:10

My mom has done this for 40 years (that I can remember, probably 50+) and Dad always accused her of "riding" the brake... only problem is, when following her, it's on only on the braking line.

After going to school to "learn" how to drive, I know I do this sometimes (and definitely more with the AWD car). I have to remember to ask her where she picked it up.

gt40mkii > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 12:15

Funny story.

A family friend left-foot-brakes. It drives me up the wall. He accelerates up to speed and keeps his right foot steady and uses his left foot on the brake to modulate his speed on the freeway. So he's constantly on and off the brake to keep from running up on other cars. Bugs the snot out of me.

But it gets better. Years ago he bought his first car with cruise control and kept taking it back to the dealership because the cruse control kept shutting off. I wonder why. The dealership couldn't figure out the problem and never considered that this brain-doner was constantly hitting the brake while cruising.

bariki > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 12:46

There's no reason not to LFB with an automatic. Ever.

With a conventional manual it's more of a wash because you can't shift without the clutch, unless you have a dogbox, and even then you often still need to use the clutch, and the clutch pedal is physically in between your foot on the dead pedal and the brake.

But don't practice it with a manual... drive an automatic with the left foot to learn the feel.

jacoboftheuniverse > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 13:16

YESSSSSSS, a couple more of these and i'll be able to convince my wife that i need to go do this in rally cars instead of with her, on the ride home from the grocery store, or the beach, or the mall, or the bank, or the doctors office, or the ......i think you get what i mean... im sure there are plenty of other things prospective students should know, please keep the vids coming!

b1kfd > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 14:00

I'm in the process of teaching my twin 14 year old daughters how to drive. I am teaching them both to left foot brake. I have been left foot braking for as long as I've been driving. When I raced dirt track (Mini-stock and Super Street) I drove some cars that wouldn't corner the way I wanted them to unless you were on the brake and gas at the same time (depending on setup/tires/track condition etc)

gCo987 > Dusty Ventures
08/14/2013 at 14:01

I'm a 100% LFB braker whenever I'm in an automatic, mostly because it kind of makes me feel like I'm driving something more fun, like a go-kart/F1 car, instead of the slush-box I'm actually in. I've never once prematurely worn down pads/rotors, pulled away from a light with the brakes engaged, or accidentally mashed the gas instead of the brakes in a tight situation. I have however actually been able to avoid several potentially very nasty collisions because I was able to brake and move out of the way of things dropping or stopping in front of me while modulating the gas to help engage an emergency lane change and accelerate out of the way a bit better/faster. That's most likely because I actually took the time to learn and practice the skill, and because I'm actually paying attention to what I'm doing while driving which is what any good driver should be doing anyway.

Just because the possibility of someone screwing this up exists doesn't mean the technique shouldn't be taught. That's like saying no one should bother teaching/practicing to heel-toe in a manual because someone might screw up the shift/timing and damage their transmission or lose control entering a turn. Or, never teach someone to start/control a skid, because they might abuse that knowledge and constantly drift around like a tool.

My opinion: the technique exists, is beneficial under the right circumstances, and should be at least taught as an option. Bad drivers will exist no matter what, and the value of a technique shouldn't be based upon the fact that people might suck at doing it.

Dusty Ventures > gCo987
08/14/2013 at 14:45

COTD

Lyle Petersminkle > Me Boosta
08/26/2013 at 21:44

This is mostly due to the differences in pressure needed to be applied to the brake. Even the top of the line racing sim gear uses load cells with springs, which are great and allow you to finely feather braking, but the pressure needed is not linear. But like all things, it just takes time and practice. Just like you can learn to drive two different cars with different braking characteristics, you can learn how to LFB with practice.

Lyle Petersminkle > gt40mkii
08/26/2013 at 21:49

What an idiot! It doesn't say much about your family if they are friends with someone who has such low intelligence. At least it wasn't your friend. Do you know why he does that? Does he realize he is wasting gas and money and causing unnecessary wear and tear on his brakes?

Tell him this. This is how to modulate your speed on the freeway: take your foot off the accelerator!! It works, unless you're tailgating, and if you are, you're dumb. If he can change, that means this planet would have one less brake-tapper.

Mikeado > Dusty Ventures
10/20/2013 at 16:19

I tried left foot braking once, and I could feel my tonsils trying to escape. My car's slightly over-braked anyway. I would like to learn how though, even if I'd only use it in a two-pedalled car.

TurboSloth > Dusty Ventures
10/26/2013 at 12:34

Since I drive a DSG and don't actually have a clutch pedal, I always left foot brake. I find that I've become a better driver, and can control my left foot better because of it in other situations.

153624 - Straight Six > Ski Bum
10/27/2013 at 10:09

Interesting. I'm not sure what you mean by idiot safety on the pedals but I LFB when I drive my mother's '12 Q5. I haven't noticed anything. What do you mean?

pfftballer > Brumos59fan
10/27/2013 at 10:15

You're absolutely correct. In order to properly LFB you need a proper throttle cable, (which has gone the way of the Dodo and moderate politician) otherwise as you said the computer shuts down throttle input once a brake signal is detected.

MotorcycleRider > Liam
10/27/2013 at 11:04

Put the car in neutral without the clutch.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > Ski Bum
10/29/2013 at 16:42

GTR owners would like this as well.

Ski Bum > 153624 - Straight Six
01/16/2014 at 01:07

i don't think thats turboed if you stay on both through the turn you can break boost out with no lag

153624 - Straight Six > Ski Bum
01/16/2014 at 15:03

It's the 2.0 turbo. I fully understand brake boosting- I just don't think the Q5 has the idiot safety.