Why do race car drivers brake with their left foot? Common mistake when learning to brake with your left foot On an automatic transmission
In the world of motorsport, even if a team has the most powerful and advanced car and a huge budget, it will be at the bottom of the rankings without a smart driver. And a good pilot, in turn, must not only be able to put pressure on the gas, he must clearly understand that the brakes were invented not only by cowards, but also by very wise people, because knowledge of the correct braking techniques will allow, as paradoxical as it may sound, to increase speed passing a lap, increase control over the car and improve the skill of piloting in general.
The same knowledge can also help ordinary drivers, although “civilian” road users do not need to race against time and win fractions of seconds over their rivals, but theoretical knowledge never hurts.
And if you are interested in these professional techniques for braking and controlling the brake pedal, then getting a practical skill will not be too difficult either, since there are many professional extreme driving schools where master instructors teach all the intricacies of driving a car, including proper braking. Well, let’s first look at the theory. So.
The first thing any driver should know is that the middle pedal must be handled with care - it is not an on/off button, but a precision instrument with fine adjustments. Even in normal driving situations, adequate and correct use of the brakes can help, and sometimes with the help of these correct techniques.
Modern braking systems in cars
Professional racers also actively use the entire range and options for using their feet on the brake pedal, feel its modulation (an important criterion for assessing the braking system, the ability to change the amount of braking force depending on the force of pressing the brake pedal), know and feel the physics of a slowing car, time and points transferring weight during braking, understand the extent to which grip changes under certain weather conditions or road surfaces.
Before we move on to a direct examination of braking techniques, it must be said that there are three main stages of braking in extreme conditions that are important both on the road and on the track.
First, braking begins by quickly (but not instantly) applying as much braking force as possible, without allowing the wheels to lock or the ABS to engage.
Secondly, this is the most important stage of braking, when the front suspension begins to sag under the influence of inertia, that is, the forces in the car begin to be redistributed. It is very important to avoid several practical mistakes:
1. prevent wheel blocking (skid)
The most important signal that the wheels are skidding will be the characteristic squeaking of rubber, the second important factor will be changes in the forces on the steering wheel and the third, the car moving off the trajectory.
Remember, the main thing is that a car with locked wheels will travel a much longer distance than a car braking without locking or on the verge of it. Plus, in the case of braking without blocking the wheels, it is possible to control the car, which is no longer possible in a skidding car.
The third stage of braking occurs before the end of the braking zone, at the moment when the car has almost slowed down to the required speed necessary to complete the turn. At this moment, an experienced rider will not suddenly release the brake and press on the gas, he will do it smoothly, gradually reducing the pressure on the brake pedal, moving from maximum brake operation to zero value as smoothly as possible. And of course this is not done for the sake of comfort, but for safety. During intense deceleration, the front suspension and all types of tires are under high load, which increases the available steering control of the front wheels. If you suddenly release the brake pedal, the controllability and traction of the wheels with the road surface will sharply deteriorate, which is completely undesirable when entering a turn at speed.
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During turns, the car is most sensitive to sudden weight transfers. Sloppy control of the brake pedal can at a crucial moment “throw” the car off the trajectory, and no one wants to end up in a ditch or, especially, in the oncoming lane.
Threshold braking
Emergency braking without anti-lock braking system is called "Threshold braking". One of the most important braking techniques, this type of braking is a must-have for any driver, professional, racer or everyday commuter.
The point is to develop maximum braking torque, on the verge of locking the wheels or triggering the ABS. It is at this point, when wheel slipping begins, partial slipping is no more than 10-15% and the most effective braking is achieved.
The point is to constantly balance on the verge of the car stalling or blocking the wheels, after which the pressure on the brakes sharply decreases (the pedal is not released completely), in order to avoid loss of control, then the cycle continues again until the car stops completely. The technique requires an excellent sense of the car, all tactile sensations are used, including changing the strength of vibration on the steering wheel. After some practice, you will be able to understand by the degree of beating of the steering wheel whether the moment has come for the wheels to lock or not.
This type of braking is much more effective than any modern anti-lock braking system, but high results can only be achieved with practice, under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
And pulse inhibition (rhythmic)
This type of braking is also called “Russian ABS”. The idea is simple: by frequently pressing and releasing the brake pedal, the car will slow down, but at the same time remain controllable. In this case, the frequency of impulses for a professional will be about 4 per second, for a top-class professional racer, up to 8 (!) deliberate presses per second.
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Pulse braking is not as effective as the description above, threshold, but its advantage lies in the controllability of the car, even when decelerating. If this technique is used correctly, the car will not skid, and any obstacles that arise will not take the driver by surprise.
Left foot braking
At first glance, it seems that braking with your left foot is an extremely simple technique, but it is difficult. Instead of the right one, press the left one and that’s it! But behind this apparent simplicity lies insidiousness. The left leg is much less effective and accurate than its right “colleague”. In cars with manual transmission, it performs a rather rough job - squeezing and releasing the clutch; in cars with an automatic transmission, it generally rests all the time.
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
Emergency braking in turns and on straight roads. Course of maintaining vehicle stability when braking. Driving technique during emergency braking. Gas brake Anti-emergency effective braking. Extreme driving
Gas brake photo, Self-instruction manual for emergency and effective braking. Lessons on maintaining controllability and stability when braking. Professional driving
Using emergency driving techniques unnecessarily on public roads - STUPID. Take care of your life and those around you! We hope that the lessons will prevent more than one accident and loss of life. Driving techniques in critical situations. The course includes vehicle stabilization, preventing loss of control and increasing braking efficiency.Gas and brake - simultaneously
When braking on an icy downhill, many drivers have experienced fear and uncertainty as the car loses control and accelerates uncontrollably downhill instead of slowing down. Refusal to brake is most often accompanied by periodic skidding of the rear axle and sliding of the locked front wheels. This is especially acute on a front-wheel drive car, where blocking the front wheels not only worsens the braking effect, but also eliminates any maneuvers with the steering wheel, turning the car into an uncontrollable ballistic projectile.
In the practice of racing drivers, there is an extremely effective technique that allows you to overcome such situations. If you “open the gas” during braking, “you can avoid blocking the drive wheels, which on ice are blocked even by minimal braking force. This anti-locking effect allows you to maintain the stability of the car, and, on a front-wheel drive, controllability.
However, to perform this technique, you need to brake with your left (!) foot without removing your right foot from the fuel pedal. Such actions are only possible for a trained driver who has studied this technique in advance. A beginner, not being able to finely differentiate the braking force with his left foot, can not only block the wheels, but also turn off the engine (if direct gear is engaged). On the descent, this can further complicate a critical situation.
On a front-wheel drive vehicle, the gas-brake technique can be used when turning, on bumps, and in all other cases when it is necessary to prevent the front wheels from locking. It is unacceptable to accept it only on cars of those models in which the steering column is almost vertical and extends between the clutch and brake pedals (many types of buses and trucks). The steering column does not allow you to quickly move your foot from the position on the floor near the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. If you do this in advance by placing your leg around the steering column, then the same difficulty arises in cases where you urgently need to operate the clutch pedal (for example, when engaging a downshift).
The technique can be performed with the gas constantly “open”. It is quite enough to keep the fuel pedal at 30-50% of the maximum. The brake pedal should be operated in intermittent or stepped braking modes.
I often hear and see arguments about whether it is possible to drive a car with an automatic transmission with both feet: the right foot accelerates, the left foot brakes. Most drivers believe that this is unacceptable. I am especially pleased by the big eyes of car salespeople at dealerships when I show such two-legged tricks during a test drive.
Finally, I decided to answer the now rhetorical question... Let's go! In order.
Where did the stereotype come from that you can’t press the brake pedal with your left foot?
Very simply, this is a stereotype of “mechanics”. The left foot, accustomed to pressing the clutch pedal without compromise, in their minds is simply not designed for smooth and precise operation of the brake pedal. And anyone who has tried to press the brake with their left foot after a long drive in a manual transmission knows how sharply, roughly and dangerously the car brakes for drivers behind. But athletes and simply competent drivers use left foot braking both with “mechanics” and “automatic”. Depending on the type of gearbox and the situation on the road, you can and should brake even at the same time as pressing the gas. More on this below.
Conclusion 1: You can press the brake pedal with your left foot if it is specially trained for this.
Why do they say that you can’t use your left foot to brake automatically?
Because there is a risk of pressing the brake and gas at the same time. What is the risk? The fact is that a classic “automatic”, which has a torque converter instead of a clutch, overheats when pressing two pedals simultaneously and can fail. Of course, nothing will happen just once, but if simultaneous gas and brake suddenly becomes a habit, the resource of the box will noticeably decrease :). If you press the pedals hard, the motor will stall and prevent the box from breaking at once (although this is also possible).
Conclusion 2: on a classic automatic transmission (with a torque converter), you can brake with your left foot, but it is advisable to avoid simultaneously pressing the brake and gas.
On cars with a “robot” you can brake with your left foot
But there are other types of “automatic machines” that are designed like mechanics: there is a clutch and no torque converter. But, like an automatic, they do not have a clutch pedal; the clutch is released automatically, without driver intervention. These boxes are usually called differently: “semi-automatic box”, “robotic mechanics”, “robot”, etc. Moreover, today the DSG gearbox, invented by Volkswagen - a “robot” with two clutches, is becoming fashionable. So, all “robots” do not have a torque converter, which means there is nothing to break when pressing two pedals! And on such cars you can (if necessary) press the brake along with the gas, which is especially convenient for engaging lower gears simultaneously with braking, but more on that later.
Conclusion 3: on “robots” (with a conventional clutch), you can not only brake with your left foot, but also press the brake and gas at the same time, if necessary (more on this below)
I hope I have convinced you that you can brake with your left foot even in a car with an automatic transmission. If this is a classic “automatic” with a torque converter, then it is undesirable to simultaneously press the brake and gas. If it is a “robot”, then even braking with the gas pressed is acceptable. Of course, to do this you need to have some skill in driving a car. Now let's figure it out
Many people often think about the question: what
the same happens when the accelerator and brake pedals are pressed
straightaway? Well, if you press on both pedals at once, then just nothing
in particular will not happen, one might even say nothing will happen at all.
The car has stood still and will continue to stand, you won’t even notice any
configurations, but this is only on the outside, since essentially everything will be inside
completely different. Since by pressing the gas, you will force
the engine will spin, gaining momentum, and the wheels will receive
signals prompting them to start moving, but it will not happen, so
that the brake is also pressed with the gas.
What
with all this receives the greatest load?
The greatest burden in all this will be
fall specifically on the pedals, since they are located between
wheels and rotating elements. Meanwhile, the engine speed will be
grow more and more with every second, this will naturally lead to
that the shaft rotation speed will be many times greater than that of the box. Due to
This results in the release of copious amounts of unspent energy into
quality of heat, all this happens when two particles work in an asynchronous mode.
Eat
Does it make a difference whether the car has a manual or automatic transmission?
Of course there is, because if with mechanical
press on both pedals at once, then this will not end well, since
this will cause the clutch to burn out. With all this, the engine will receive a very strong
overload. Of course, the car will not allow the clutch to break,
because it just stalls, which of course is the only way out of this
situations. As for the automatic transmission, in this case everything
things are little different. The connection of shafts in such machines occurs due to
water, and the converter has three parts, such as a reactor, turbines and a pump. WITH
With the help of oil, the reactor is adjusted, therefore at the moment of simultaneous
When both pedals are pressed, a different process occurs than in the manual transmission.
TO
what does this lead to?
So, first the engine starts
increase the speed of its own rotation, and the pump, in turn, transmits through
turbine on the box rotating element. This results in non-synchronous
wheel spinning. Here actions begin to develop according to the same pattern as in
Manual transmission - the engine overheats, since the movement of the pump wheel does not coincide
with turbine. But here there is a difference, since with an automatic transmission
gears, the torque converter will burn out first, since its task includes
connection of the motor to the gearbox. It will be immediately followed by the engine and
box. So it turns out that the processes with both boxes
are identical and lead to bad consequences. But even despite the fact that
the car gets damaged, pressing both pedals at the same time still
used.
For what
press both pedals?
So, firstly, this only happens by
necessary and not very often. With a manual transmission, this technique
used if it is necessary to cause a controlled drift, if necessary
maintain engine speed while the car is braking, also at the moment
driving over uneven surfaces and when redistributing weight between the axles. But it's worth it
keep in mind that such techniques are used only by professionals
athletes. As for the automatic transmission, then in this
car, two pedals are pressed only if it is necessary to test for
proper operation of the motor.
Conclusion
Thus, one should come to the conclusion that
If you press on two pedals at once, you can bring your own car to
malfunctions. Therefore, this can only be done if previously
There was a long learning process.
After switching to an automatic from a manual, almost all drivers make a number of mistakes. Moreover, they often believe that their actions ensure gentle operation of the automatic transmission. In fact, exactly the opposite happens.
Forget about your left leg
So, almost all drivers make the same mistake one or more times - they press the brake with their left foot. As a result, a very abrupt stop occurs, which threatens accidents - you can simply be driven into the backside.
This happens because the left foot, out of habit, acts as if it were depressing the clutch, that is, quickly and sharply. Usually only athletes can work with the left leg as smoothly and accurately dosing the effort. In general, in a car with an automatic transmission you only need one leg - the right one. The left one is resting all the time.
At the traffic light
The second mistake is to switch to “neutral” or even “park” when stopping at traffic lights or in traffic jams. Drivers do this by analogy with mechanics, believing that this way they extend the life of the automatic machine. But this is a misconception.
The fact is that a classic hydromechanical automatic machine works completely differently from a manual one. In an automatic transmission, the main role is played by oil (transmission fluid). There are no clutch discs, like on manual ones, that burn. The automatic machine can stand in “drive” on the brake for as long as desired - that’s what it’s designed for. “Neutral” in the automatic transmission is only needed for towing.
When coasting
The third mistake is putting the gearbox into “neutral” when coasting down a mountain. Drivers also have this habit from mechanics. It’s worth saying here that drivers used to save fuel this way. But, firstly, modern cars with electronic injection consume more fuel in “neutral” than when coasting in gear, and secondly, in the modern world, where there are many cars, driving in “neutral” without the ability to sharply accelerate or avoid an obstacle unsafe.
But more importantly, in the neutral position, the oil pressure required for normal operation of the gearbox is almost halved. As a result, the box overheats and wears out faster. I’ve already said it, but I’ll repeat it - “neutral” is only needed for towing.
Change of oil
Also, people who have driven manuals all their lives are not used to changing the oil in the gearbox. In mechanics, it is practically eternal. But in automatic transmissions, the oil must be changed at least once every 60,000 km, and preferably more often. Moreover, it must be changed even if the manufacturer says that the gearbox is maintenance-free and oil is provided there for the entire service life of the car).
The phrase “for the entire service life” is pure marketing, because the manufacturer considers the service life to be the warranty period, which for most cars is 100-150 thousand kilometers. But if you don’t change the oil for so long, then irreversible processes will already begin in the box, and you won’t be able to get by with a banal oil change; you’ll have to do a major overhaul or change clutches and other parts.
Towing
It also comes as a surprise to drivers who have previously driven a manual car that a car with an automatic transmission cannot be towed. Well, that is, in most cases it is still possible to tow a car, but with a number of restrictions. For example, no faster than 50 km/h and no more than 50 km. If you do not follow this rule, then the car may not travel even ten kilometers.
Unfortunately, drivers often learn about this nuance after they have towed their car. In general, read the Towing section of your vehicle's manual and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
There are other errors too. For example, changing gears too quickly or engaging reverse when the car is still rolling forward, and vice versa. Or putting the automatic transmission into “parking” mode when the car has not yet completely stopped. Or a long slip. But these errors are not limited to those who switched to an automatic transmission from a manual transmission.
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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.
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