what is left foot breaking?

Answer 1

This is done for several reasons, mainly used for racing applications. Some are, to keep the car in balance through the corner, you can keep the RPM's up during a slow rolling start.

Answer 2

Well now, just move aside folks, because I use left-foot braking all the time, and have done since the age of 17. (I'm now 58 by the way)

Consider this:-

What does traction control do on a slippery surface?

It prevents the driving wheels from spinning by applying the brakes and/or cutting the power of the engine.

Now answer this:-

What does ABS do?

It reduces the amount of braking, so that the wheels do not lock. (It actually replicates the technique of cadence braking)s

Think about that for a moment, and then read on.

Left-foot braking originated in Scandanavia, where driver like Stiq Blomqvist, Eric Carlsson, Hannu Mikkola (and the rest) drove in snow rallies predominantly, when the surface is very slippery or at best, very loose.

Left-foot braking effectively pre-dates both traction-control and ABS, but does much the same thing. It allows optimum grip under acceleration, by balancing brakes against throttle to stop the driving wheels spinning. It was first used in front-wheel drive rally cars such as the Lancia Fulvias and old Saab 96's. The reason is simple to understand. If too much power spins the front wheels of such vehicles, the driver not only loses traction, he loses all steering too. By left-foot braking, immediate and very small corrections can be made, which prevent the wheels spinning and losing grip and directional control.

They then discovered a further use, in that the same balance of throttle and brakes can prevent wheels locking under braking, just like ABS does nowadays. (No self-respecting rally-driver likes ABS)

A further development of this was the "balance-bar," which allowed the hydraulic brake system to operate differently. By screwing a knurled knob in and out, mounted on the dashboard or sometimes close the gear stick, more or less braking force could be fed to the rear wheels. This enabled the classic "Scandananvia flick" to be achieved, where the rear brakes lock when the pedal is pressed, thus unsettling the rear of the car and allowing it to scrub off speed by going sideways AND AT THE SAME TIME, allowing the front wheels enough grip to turn the car one way or the other through.

In other words, it amounts to the most sophisticated traction and anti-lock braking system ever devised, and all controlled from the most powerful computer of all; the human brain.

I once had the privilege to sit alongside a top rally driver on a frozen lake in Finland, and my initial reactio was to want to get out of the car. Then I started smiling at the raw ability and controlled finesse, as the car slid broadside into every corner, and stayed there under perfect control as power was fed into the front wheels. It was just an awesome experience.

There is a further advantage to left-foor braking, which can make a differnece of about a second a mile. Every time you lift off the throttle and move to the brake, you lose a fraction of a second, when the car is neither driving nor braking. With left foot braking, you are either accelerating or braking, and those fractions of a second add up to produce a real advantage. This is why Keke Rosberg used left-foot braking in a Formula One car for the first time.

For those who say it has no place in road driving, I would disagree; especially when the road is icy or covered in snow, because it gives additional control, additional feel and ultimately, a smoother, safer rate of progress.

Of course, everyone knows that left-foot braking means changing gear without a clutch (unless it is a modern rally car with electronic transmission). Well just for the record, my current car has now done 145,000 miles and refuses to die.

It is still on the original clutch and gearbox!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Some incorrect information here... in short, as most have answered, LFB is simply applying the brakes with the left foot. However, it is not a technique that is used to transfer weight to the front wheels... any braking or lifting of the throttle (with the following engine/driveline braking that comes with that) will shift the balance of the car forward.

LFB is used in situations where it is needed to brake as well as keep engine revs up (you see alot of examples of this with the early Turbo race and rally cars in the 70s and 80s; dropping the revs would cause a severe drop in power when it came time to exit the turn, so braking had to be done while keeping the engine rpms up).

The other case is where the car needs to be settled/slowed, but that you want to do it WITHOUT the level of weight transfer. By keeping the car on throttle, you contrinue to force the balance towards the rear of the car. In this case the LFB will slow the car, but not cause the same amount of forward weight transfer that you would get by simply braking.

In many cases there can be combination of reasons... the want to bleed a little speed to settle the car for a fast corner, but not wanting the engine to slow at all if it's right in it's power band.

Also the need to dramatically shift the weight back to front, quicker than a driver can move his feet between pedals (very common if driving on surfaces with little traction to help with throttle steering).

This type of technique really has no related application for street driving, since it only provides a gain when you are driving at the limits of a car and the tires grip (which is not something you'd want to do on public roads).

Answer 4

Obviously its braking with your left foot the reason for this is so you can keep the revs up with the normal braking foot at the same time, mainly used in rallying.

Bit dangerous for a beginner on the streets though you could end up driving into the back of someone.

Answer 5

Consider the car on edge like a snowboard. Ralliest use left foot breaking to pitch the car forward and transfer the weight of the car to the front wheels. This will lighten the rear of the car and allow the front tires to dig in for more traction while keeping the rpms up and setting the car up for a sudden pitch back.


You can use left foor breaking to set yourself up for the pendulem turn. Pitch the car forward and turn in the opposite direction with heavy grip up front. Then while your RPMs are up you "Blip" the throttle to pitch the car back and turn in the opposite direction. The car will pivot on the rear tire which makes for a quick turn.

Hooray!

Answer 6

basically its using your left foot to brake so that your right foot remains over the accelerator pedal.

If you try this in your road car, make sure it's a clear road as the first time you brake with your left foot you will apply too much pressure and nearly end up going through the windscreen

Answer 7

Applying the brakes with the left foot.

Answer 8

it is very risky. In emergency braking circumstances you recommendations does no longer react very as we communicate, and whats mopr is in the journey that your utilizing ur left foot, your recommendations can mistak your left foot fro your actual, And u ought to accidently strengthen up insted of braking. absolutely everyone who used their left foot for something as properly a grasp shud have their licence taken off them and banned from using for existence... in basic terms exception for utilizing tis technique is while doing problematic middle 4 wheel using

Answer 9

simply put it is using the gas with the right foot and all other pedals with the left foot.

Answer 10

it's what racing and rally drivers do using their left foot to toggle between the clutch and brake pedals