Brake pedal mod for left foot braking?

[Levophed]

Hi all, about to go to my first track day. I have many years of experience sim racing and have always used left foot braking and feel most comfortable trail braking with my left foot. Unfortunately as we know the throttle and brake are extremely close together and it makes left foot braking uncomfortable/impossible.

Is there a way we can extend the brake pedal out a little bit further to the left? I posted a picture of what I’m thinking below with the red section being the extender.

It would be awesome if there was something we could clip on and off instead of actually moving the pedal so I can still keep both right and left foot functionality. Does anyone have any DIY solutions?
Cheers!

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[nibble]

One of necessary Mod in order to use left foot braking is 6pt harness & a race seat. Unlike sim racing, you will be shifted around /w stock seat and 3pt seatbelt and you may lose grip on your left foot to brake pedal or even worse, you may step on brake unintentionally. On street driving, it is fine because movement is negligible but on track, not recommended with stock seat and seatbelt.

Good news is, in reality, your left foot does not remember anything about trail braking or any other brake control. Your brain does. Hence, you will be able to perform trail brake fine with right foot. only time you may lose is transition from gas to brake pedal.

 

[Cptnslo]

I’m glad I’m not the only person who left foot brakes autos. I was getting shit on YouTube in a video and I was like “explain to me how it’s an issue” and of course no response

 

[Rocksandblues]

pedals are fine- just more seat time in real car

Even if a green newb on track you will be using your left foot/leg to madly brace your self

 

[Levophed]

One of necessary Mod in order to use left foot braking is 6pt harness & a race seat. Unlike sim racing, you will be shifted around /w stock seat and 3pt seatbelt and you may lose grip on your left foot to brake pedal or even worse, you may step on brake unintentionally. On street driving, it is fine because movement is negligible but on track, not recommended with stock seat and seatbelt.

Good news is, in reality, your left foot does not remember anything about trail braking or any other brake control. Your brain does. Hence, you will be able to perform trail brake fine with right foot. only time you may lose is transition from gas to brake pedal.

This is a great answer, it makes a lot of sense of why you would need a harness.

Racing harness and harness bar was actually going to be part of the plan before I go bc I want to wear a HANS (have some cervical issues).

How do you left foot brake in your car?

 

[damnsupra]

i've been left foot braking in my supra for 2 years and it has never crossed my mind once that i need a bigger pedal, wait until you drive actual japanese cars on track like an s2k where theres not even enough space to heel toe with sticks and somehow people manage!

 

[i3igpete]

while its true that you will lose the ability to use the dead pedal while braking in an automatic, this is no different than a manual where the left foot is busy clutching in and out during downshifts (and therefore, can't brace either).

 

[nibble]

This is a great answer, it makes a lot of sense of why you would need a harness.

Racing harness and harness bar was actually going to be part of the plan before I go bc I want to wear a HANS (have some cervical issues).

How do you left foot brake in your car?

The racing harness works with proper racing seat. if you have proper racing seat, reach to brake pedal with left foot should not be an issue because seat would be a bit narrower than stock. currently, I gave up on left foot braking /w supra on track because I don't plan on installing 6pt harness and racing seat. But when I build my race car /w automatic, left foot braking will be part of the plan. On highway, I do get cramp on my right leg time to time and when I do, I use left foot and no extension is needed.. well.. you are going to crunch your ball a bit but you will manage.

 

[bk5]

I’m glad I’m not the only person who left foot brakes autos. I was getting shit on YouTube in a video and I was like “explain to me how it’s an issue” and of course no response

Left-foot braking on the track is fine.

We teach people to use only the right foot with an automatic under normal driving because...

1. the driver might rest their foot on the brake pedal, keeping their brake lights constantly illuminated.
2. The left foot provides stability during emergency braking/maneuvering. The driver could press both pedals during an emergency situation - due to lack of stability. If you're pushing as hard as you can with only your left leg, then it's going to push your body to the right, and your natural instinct will be to use your right leg to stabilize, which means pressing the accelerator.

I drive with both feet in a racing simulator, but not on the street.

You have to keep in mind that most people are terrible drivers, so conventional advice intended to keep Altima drivers from being even more accident prone might not apply to you.

I'm not aware of any studies on this subject, but auto makers have been adding mechanisms that prevent the accelerator from responding when the brake pedal has also been pressed. This makes me think they've been looking at telemetry data from the cars that have been in accidents and found that two-foot drivers are more accident prone.

 

[Levophed]

i've been left foot braking in my supra for 2 years and it has never crossed my mind once that i need a bigger pedal, wait until you drive actual japanese cars on track like an s2k where theres not even enough space to heel toe with sticks and somehow people manage!

If others are capable of left foot braking then I will probably just end up trying to get used to the limited space. Just don’t want my balls to keep getting crushed during the session ?

 

[lucky phil]

The OP wants a "clip on" device to extend the brake pedal pad.......umm.

Phil

 

[Levophed]

The OP wants a "clip on" device to extend the brake pedal pad.......umm.

Phil

I know it sounds dangerous and stupid just probing and seeing if anyone has a similar problem or if a product like that exists

 

[Rensuhlo]

Simple l bracket / braces with a sheet of steel or what have you to cover and extend the pedal. Throw some grip tape on there.

That's the redneck solution.


Real solution is exactly what Nipple recommended. I installed a bucket seat and harness into the car and have zero issues LFB. Size 10.5 with a not so narrow foot.

 

[digatron]

I don’t have any issues left foot braking in the current pedal configuration of the 8AT. But I’m also 5’8 and have a bucket seat, harnesses etc. I also came from massive amounts of the sim that eventually just carried over left foot braking in every day driving, on the track, and even in my daily commuter. It helps just driving manual for a long time so I I’m always on the dead pedal when not need to brake.

 

[rwense]

This is a great answer, it makes a lot of sense of why you would need a harness.

Racing harness and harness bar was actually going to be part of the plan before I go bc I want to wear a HANS (have some cervical issues).

How do you left foot brake in your car?

I would really caution you before getting a harness bar. There are only 2 on the market right now, Cusco and USR. The Cusco bar imo (and many others) probably isn't your safest bet. It mounts to VERY thin sheet metal in 2 spots. The USR bar had a similar mounting method but has w extra points where it mounts. I haven't seen one up close so I can't comment on it. If you want to get a 6pt/HANS/seat, I would really recommend getting a proper rollbar. Walker Pro Motorsport and Dashbuilt are the only 2 I would recommend personally.

Also, as for an extension to the pedal, your best bet would be to 3d print something. I've printed extensions for accelerator pedals on my ND miata and my honda fit. One in PETG and the other in a carbon-nylon filament and both have held up perfectly fine!

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