CMC950 Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Is is ok to drive a DSG using left foot braking? Won't do any harm to the transmisson, even if on the brakes and the loud pedal at the same time? Would be useful for trackdays or launch control moments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 ....I can't see anything in the handbook to say that you can't, so I assume it's okay but of course with consideration of what's happening at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_d Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Guess you have to left foot brake for launch control to work...probably doesn't do any damage, but glad you're keeping it to track days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted March 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Indeed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBuer Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Check out Pentti Airikkala's left foot braking course...apparently meant to be very good! www.leftfootbraking.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbetts Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 On most modern cars, including the Golf they have a system called e-gas which effectiviely cuts power to the engine when the brake pedal is applied. Something to do with economy and emissions. My 911 turbo is the same and all the 911's since 2001. Their is a way you can bypass this electronic 'feature' but it is of little use unless you are a 'racing driver' that explicitly requires this degree of control. This means for instance, that you cannot gently left foot brake whilst applying the throttle in order to dry the brakes after driving through a Ford or whatever. It also means that some of the control that you can gain from this style of driving is lost. Why you would benefit from this on the road I can't understand As for using your left leg to apply the brakes I do not suppose the car, DSG or otherwise gives two hoots as to what limb you use...8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 On a DSG in road and not track use, you could be potentially 'confusing' the DSG mechanisms because, as I understand it, gearshifts are actioned directly according to your use of which pedal. Personally I have found that in series of severe right-angle bends with short fast stretches inbetween (typical South Somerset), the conscious but separate left/right foot use of brake and throttle in S-mode makes all the difference and teaches you exactly how DSG can behave beneficially. It can be said that your clutch skills in a manual are transferred to a DSG car. I have never had any reason to left foot brake in DSG. I have no track experience and so cannot contribute anything useful about DSG in that context. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 There is a school of thought that suggests using both feet in an automatic (or DSG) for safety reasons when manouvering Linky [ QUOTE ] The technique is as follows: Right foot for the accelerator; left foot for the brake. Best employed while manoeuvring to retain total control over the car rather than losing it in the time it takes to move the right foot from accelerator to brake. But with practise the skill to use it all the time can be developed, with no problem of confusion when you get back into a manual. Can also be used on a manual, of course, but that really does take skill. [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] A retired driving instructor was manouvering his Mini automatic in a supermarket carpark using only his right foot as he had always taught his pupils. Either the engine surged or he had a spasm. He quickly tamped his right foot on the brake, hit the accelerator instead and the Mini went into a wall. He died of his injuries. A man was parking his BMW automatic in a Hong Kong multi storey car park. Either the engine sudddenly surged or the driver had a spasm. He tried to brake. Hit the accelerator instead of the brake. Crashed through the safety barrier and plunged six floors to his death. [/ QUOTE ] Ooops All a bit reminiscent of the current "Yellow pages" advert where the guy crashes his car in his own garage....... Reminds me of the time my car was being serviced and the Stealer rung me up to say "sorry we've driven your car into a ramp - getting it repaired and bonnet resprayed and have it back to you in 3 days - do keep the courtesy car for the time being!" (It was a manual too - so no such excuse regarding left or right feet) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 ....A good, valid point. However, my technique is to use my heel as an anchored 'hinge' and be able to instantly swing my right foot either way onto brake or throttle as needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_d Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 I've yet to see the need of left foot braking on the road, it can be used to balance the car in high speed corners (when I'm on the track I sometimes use a little brake to adjust the line), but most of the time it's fairly useless imho. We had this debate on another site I frequent and the conclusion was rather mixed to say the least! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 [ QUOTE ] skifly old hand Reged: 10/05/05 Posts: 742 Re: Cars you have completely failed to waste! [Re: garcon] #739757 - 09/03/06 01:22 PM Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply the epitomy of my Traffic Light Grand Prix (TLGP) experience was my sheer inability to change gears in a clutchless a-class. My A160 was straining at the hilt for a fast getaway from the lights while the little old lady in her fiesta was gnawing her false teeth at me and hollering for some spankage off the lights. The lights changed and I made a quick getaway in 1st, pulling away from the decrepids (car & driver) at a startling pace... then i went for a fast change to second, dropped the clutch... squealing tyres all round and massive slowage, right foot instinctively went to the brake to find it already occupied by a rogue left foot. My two foot braking gearchange technique was slightly flawed that day and I ended up screetching to a halt in the outside lane looking rather bemused/confused as the wrinkly in the fusty fiesta steamed past me at an approximate stonking speed of 10mph. Ahh the joys of clutchless manuals! [/ QUOTE ] So you can put both feet in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted March 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 [ QUOTE ] On most modern cars, including the Golf they have a system called e-gas which effectiviely cuts power to the engine when the brake pedal is applied. Something to do with economy and emissions. My 911 turbo is the same and all the 911's since 2001. Their is a way you can bypass this electronic 'feature' but it is of little use unless you are a 'racing driver' that explicitly requires this degree of control. This means for instance, that you cannot gently left foot brake whilst applying the throttle in order to dry the brakes after driving through a Ford or whatever. It also means that some of the control that you can gain from this style of driving is lost. Why you would benefit from this on the road I can't understand As for using your left leg to apply the brakes I do not suppose the car, DSG or otherwise gives two hoots as to what limb you use...8-) [/ QUOTE ] Very funny, but I had specified 'on track' and when the peddles are used symultaneously! I'm convinced that the car will lap quicker, using the LFB technique, or at least I was until I read your info on electonics. Thanks for the heads up. Are you talking specifically about automatics? Because if this 'cut out' electonic management was in play on a manual car, that would rule out heal and toeing. I'll look into it. And if its possible to get round it on the DSG. In all honesty, I will learn to drive the car using LFB on the road, but not at pace. Purely for the enjoyment of the education and disovery. Quite possibly it could be the prefered method in terms of comfort - and its certainly safer as reaction times onto the brake would be less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fans Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Really useful if you have driven through a ford, or flood and need to dry your brakes out. Pain in the bot to have the engine shut down to idle when left foot braking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 The "launch control" is the situation on European GTIs where the electronics will allow revs with the (other) foot placed on the brake. Otherwise the revs have to be cut to protect the clutches from premature wear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Can you still heel and toe the MKV, sounds like it will not possible if you can not left foot brake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmg11eng Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 It is still possible to Heel & Toe, as the throttle retardation function only operates if the brake is pressed after the throttle. Whilst Heel & Toeing the brake is pressed first then the throttle blipped to match revs for a smooth down change, the functionality is not impaired. I.E. it is possible to left foot brake, but the brake has to be pressed before the throttle, and in reality this is not feasible, as the balance of the car will not be maintained in the desired way, to gain the benefit from the left Foot Braking technique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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