pedal height - Heel-toe

[stuartsjg]

Does anybody know if you can adjust the break and accelerator pedals so that they are more at the same height?

I was driving a new style Honda Civic (i dont like it!!) and i did notice that the pedals were much more about the same height which made heel-toe breaking/gear changes much better when going into corners.

I had tried this many times in my FR but the pedal difference is too much to do it comfortably/safely.


Stuart





For those not familiar with heel-toe, its an advanced driving technique whereby as you break prior to a corner, immediately before you turn the wheel, you change down a gear but pre-rev the engine to limit the transmission shock.

With heel toe, you keep you toes on the brake, pivot your heel over to the accelerator and 'blip' it as you let the clutch out.

This means, if you have been doing 4k rpm in 4th, break down to 1100rpm and pop it into second to go round and power out the corner, the 'blip' of power raises the rev's up roughlt to around the area they will be when you let the clutch out.

If you had been doing 4k rpm in 4th, then break to 1100rpm, then move into 2nd, as you let the clutch up there will be a physical jolt which could destabilise the car.

The only other way around this is to let the clutch out slowly and allow the transmission and engine speed to equalise slowly. Problem here is your possibly coasting round the corner

The way alot of people do it is you brake well in advance of the corner so you have time to take your foot of the brake and pre-rev the engine as you do the gear change before the corner - this isnt heel toe but is a good idea any time you are changing down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-YlmRYL2o&feature=related
Some vids on youtube show it, some YT vids show it with double-de-clutching which isn't normally needed but helps get the gear box at the right speed too and the syncros ready for the shift - i cant do double clutching!!

.

 

[Nath.]

Heel-toe is a no-no on most modern cars. When the brake is pressed the ECU cuts the fuel to just a dribble.

This is to aid MPG

 

[Leigh15]

Heel-toe is a no-no on most modern cars. When the brake is pressed the ECU cuts the fuel to just a dribble.

This is to aid MPG

I was about to say the same - the ECU cuts fuel as soon as the brake's pressed

 

[spenny2004]

if you cant do heel and toe then left foot brake obviously all these techniques will used in the safety of a private road

 

[stuartsjg]

The ECU doesnt cut the fuel.

Quite often i will, when changing down even just about the town, ease only slightly off the accerator so the revs dont drop as im changing.

Say ive been at 40 in 4th, going into a 30 - Ill let it slow, or break in 4th until 30 where i may change to 3rd is theres lights of traffic etc.

Ill leave my foot still on the accelerator, or ease of slightly - the rpms stay where they are or rise slightly whilst i let the clutch out in the new lower gear, often - if i get it right - the engine revs are a few 100 rpm off where they should be so i dont need to slip the clutch out to avoid the any lurch as the revs jump from idle to, say, 2000.

My dad was an advanced police driving instructor back in the day and says that you should be able to go 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 whilst holding 30mph and there should be no lurch. Meaning, a passenger will only notice the increased RPM - not the gear change its self.

Thats not a practical example but its how drives used to be trained to minimise clutch wear and keep the car stable if your pushing it.

The ECU will probably reduce the fuel, as to hold 2krpm with the clutch in wont take as much fuel as moving at a given speed. You can certainly change the engine rpm whilst changing gear.

left foot breaking doesnt work for me - im never against the clock. as for heel-toe, it can be used to make day-to-day driving smother - not necessarily hammering about the country.

Stuart

 

[Nath.]

The ECU does cut the fuel, it waits about a second then the fuel is cut.

Try it and see.

I have not found a car above about 2001 that allows you to do heel-toe or left foot braking, they all seem to be like it these days.

Blipping the gas or holding 2k revs with the clutch down works ok though. It's just when the brake is on that the ECU does it's fuel cutting thing.

 

[Chan_P1_TDi_FR]

I can still blip the revs when I'm pressing the brakes. i sometimes do it in mine when i feel playful and do some spirited driving. Therefore, i can definitely heel-toe in mine at least.
My previous Ibiza was great for heel toe as the pedal where perfectly positioned.

I do agree with the pedal height. The brake is a little on the high side, but heel toe is still manageable.

 

[andycupra]

you can do it, however if the ecu sees that the accelerator and brake are being applied at the same time for a certain period then it cuts power.

If you do heal and toe efficeiently you should be able to do it.

 

[Oli K1]

I agree with above as i have a 58 plate and can heel and toe no problem but left foot braking doesnt work in mine.

 

[stuartsjg]

Been out and about and tried, you can heel-toe but i find it awkward in this car compared to the (otherwise horrible) civic. Left foot breaking doesn't go down well - you get a short time then the revs drop as it shuts off the fuel.

Back to my original question....

Can you modify the pedal heights?

Stuart