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      04-30-2014, 08:01 AM   #1
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Left Foot Braking in the M5?

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Question: how many of any of you left foot brake in the M5 (or whatever M) on a daily basis? It may sound crazy, but I left foot brake as standard practice and it's awesome (as long as traffic is moving...or better yet on the open road). It works great with a DCT.

I know the 6MTs have no use for this, but given the ongoing move to DCTs, I think it makes sense for more people to left foot brake. It has already saved me from a few accidents where I had the unpredictable stopper/lane changer in front of me, improves general driving dynamics etc.

I told my wife that I wanted to teach my kids to left foot brake as standard practice and she laughed at me (as usual)!

Thoughts?

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      04-30-2014, 08:30 AM   #2
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The brake pedal position is not conducive for left foot braking in my opinion. Since I started go-karting, I have been wanting to switch over to left foot braking for all my street driving, but limited by this factor.
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      04-30-2014, 08:35 AM   #3
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The brake pedal is too tight to the accelerator pedal for my shoe size - tried it once and couldn't get smooth without tangling. Maybe with a different shoe it would work better.
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      04-30-2014, 09:51 AM   #4
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I have always had manual transmission and in occasions that I get to drive a car with automatic transmission or something like the DCT, though I have had the temptation to use my left foot to brake, I try not to do it as I have always held the opinion that it is bad practice. I definitely would not want to "like it" or get used to it. Braking with the left foot opens the door to your having your right foot on the accelerator while the left foot is on the brakes -- a practice that may lead to an accident. By using ones right foot either on the accelerator or the brakes will almost eliminate what may cause an accident. Anyway, try to avoid getting used to having your left foot on the brakes -- just my opinion and advice.
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      04-30-2014, 11:17 AM   #5
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I always done it from the time I can remember prob since 1983
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      04-30-2014, 11:24 AM   #6
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Have done it for probably five years (going back to my last car the E90 M3) and it has helped me avoid a number of potential accidents with ultra-quick braking. On-off right foot-left foot are so ingrained in me now that it's all I know. Plus the car feels a lot (!) more responsive under spirited driving.

I thought more track nuts would have integrated it into their normal driving, but maybe not...
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      04-30-2014, 11:26 AM   #7
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Boots, you da man!
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      04-30-2014, 01:07 PM   #8
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I too always thought it was a bad practice to 'two foot it'.
I have lightning fast reflexes so no reason to here.
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      05-01-2014, 03:02 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hockey Guy View Post
Boots, you da man!
Thanks bro back at ya. Lets all try heal toe gas/breaking but on the track. I remember watching the late great A Senna perform that while test driving a car and he was the master. Boy the races he had against Prost. Bad azz
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      05-01-2014, 11:13 AM   #10
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just sometimes, when i feel a bit racey! lol
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      05-01-2014, 04:35 PM   #11
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Well being a professional driver, I only left foot brake while racing, however on day to day with the m5, i right foot brake. my race car requires an initial hit of around 115 bars, therefore whenever i try left foot braking in the M5, I end up slamming the brakes.
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      05-01-2014, 04:46 PM   #12
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^ this

Targeted use on the track. Can be helpful balancing the car.

I don't do it on the street, though there's nothing wrong with that.
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      05-01-2014, 09:01 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhirm5 View Post
The brake pedal is too tight to the accelerator pedal. Maybe with a different shoe it would work better.
I always left foot brake, street and track, with the DCT. But, I agree that the pedal position isn't the best for this. If I find a well built after market brake pedal pad which extends it to the left a bit, that will solve the placement problem. I believe it is sometimes helpful on track to be able to tap the brake while maintaining throttle.
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      05-01-2014, 09:12 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoopumpers View Post
^ this

Targeted use on the track. Can be helpful balancing the car.

I don't do it on the street, though there's nothing wrong with that.

Took me a little while to get used to it. Now it is second nature. I don't even think about it and the reaction time is lightning fast (faster than I can do with my right foot)...and often milliseconds matter.

I actually think if it was taught going forward when people were learning to drive, there would be fewer accidents overall. I don't know why it has to be just for racers...especially as clutches (non-DCT) become less common. But hey, that's just me...and that's why I am asking!
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