Pedal setup for Heel Toe racing

[heavypedal]

Looking to solve the problem with CTS-V pedal setup for heel/toe shifting. The problem being... brake and gas pedals are too far apart and have a little too much height difference. I plan on getting the autovation pedals to slim the spacing between the brake and gas pedal. However, looking to do something about the elevation difference.

I did a search...504Ever made a good point about when racing, you have the brake pedal pushed in further so blipping the gas is easier. But I want to practice when not doing full on racing (especially around the neighborhood....neighbors already "love" me). Trukk pointed out you could put a spacer between the gas pedal and the aftermarket pedal. Therefore, I guess I'm going to try the spacer thing unless ya'll have something else in mind (i.e. bending the pedal assembly, manually move pedal location somehow, etc.)

Thanks,

T

[HushH]

I'd go with the spacer because it's not something you want to do permanently. That way when you go for track days you can remove the spacer and the pedal height should be nearly spot on for heel toeing.

[Seattle CTS-V]

I originally thought bringing out the gas pedal would be a good idea as well. However, after a few track days, I actually like the current layout. Like you already mentioned, when you're coming into a turn hot after the front straight, you need to be able to STAND on the brake pedal while giving the car a moderate amount of gas for your rev-matched downshift. If the pedals were at the same height, I would easily over-rev the motor and that would lead to a surge when letting out the clutch. Obviously, not a good situation when you're setting up for the turn. I do understand wanting to do it on the street at normal speeds. Nothing feels or sounds cooler than a perfectly-matched downshift...though with today's SMG's running around it is kinda cheapening the whole effect.

[trukk]

Originally Posted by heavypedal

Trukk pointed out you could put a spacer between the gas pedal and the aftermarket pedal.

Just to pass on, I didn't end up using a spacer. I just practiced with the two big gaps. I am now used to it on both the street and track. It makes it more difficult to get used to it, but you eventually will.

-Chris

[BBV]

I would skip spacers etc. The difference in brake pedal height between full on braking, (at the threshold of activating ABS) and 50% is nil. Practice on the street. You do not need to be driving outside of the law to do fine heel / toe downshifts on the road.
Tweeter can tell you, it is the only way I downshift.

[heavypedal]

Thanks for the info fellas. Hush...that was exactly what I was thinking (change spacer for race vs DDing). However, I think I'll just throw on the Autovation pedals and tough it out. Therefore Trukk...it looks like I need to see more than what those headers sound like. Still going to slip, bang, boom every day until I get this thing right...but wouldn't mind seeing how its really done. Thinking VA and NC meet...details to come.

T

T

[Dennisscars]

Try a wide skater shoe and shift your heel far right and roll your foot at the ball hitting the whine pedal with the far right of your foot. Narrow "track" shoes are much too narrow. Takes a bit more practice at "normal" speeds but at threshold braking the pedals line up much better.

[Chef]

I find myself popin' the throttle and late brakin' without heel toe-in' in a lot of cases and have actually have gotten pretty fast doing it. Seems like a double pop on the throttle, down shift into a turn will have the same effect and actually will be at 4-6 plus rpms on the hit so a 3-2 or 4-3 or 4-2 won't have any clutch surge.

Chef

Dennisscars & BBV make good points.

[trukk]

Originally Posted by heavypedal

Thanks for the info fellas. Hush...that was exactly what I was thinking (change spacer for race vs DDing). However, I think I'll just throw on the Autovation pedals and tough it out. Therefore Trukk...it looks like I need to see more than what those headers sound like. Still going to slip, bang, boom every day until I get this thing right...but wouldn't mind seeing how its really done. Thinking VA and NC meet...details to come.

T

T

I'm waitlisted right now for the NASA event at VIR 31MAR/01APR. If I clear the waitlist, you should swing by the track and check it out. I think it's $10 bucks to enter. Definately worth it, just to see the GTx cars run (last time there were two ex-grand am CTS-V's there, one was racing. I posted about my last track day, and linked to a video of a Z06 and CTS-V going at it at that race. Worth a look:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...fter-dyno.html
Just post 14: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/997263-post14.html )


I'll PM you if I clear the list.

-Chris

[v-ape]

I agree with bbv. When you're braking real hard, the pedal heights are close. I fear that if you adjust them, they will be harder to reach. I wear a 9.5 shoe and dont have any problems with the pedal placement.

[The Tony Show]

Originally Posted by Chef

I find myself popin' the throttle and late brakin' without heel toe-in' in a lot of cases and have actually have gotten pretty fast doing it. Seems like a double pop on the throttle, down shift into a turn will have the same effect and actually will be at 4-6 plus rpms on the hit so a 3-2 or 4-3 or 4-2 won't have any clutch surge.

Chef

Dennisscars & BBV make good points.

I'm with you, Chef.

If I'm cruising up toward a corner in 5th, I just keep my foot on the gas and clutch in- the revs jump right up to where they need to be for 4th. Going to 3rd and 2nd, just a quick pop on the throttle while I'm shifting does the trick. I can't heel-toe to save my life, so it works great for me.

The most important thing (in my mind) is knowing where the revs needs to be at certain speeds.

[tweeter81]

BBV showed me how he manages the heel-to-toe downshift and after trying it (even on the street) let me tell you, it is really easy to do and works great with the stock setup.

A couple of caveats:

1) I wear a size 10 shoe. I believe that if your foot is much smaller or larger than this, you might have a tough time with this method.

2) You must be wearing a thin-soled medium, to wide shoe for it to work; that way you can feel and make sure that only your big toe is on the edge of the brake and at the right time you can roll your foot (think of it as your foot being at a 180 degree angle, or tangent to brake, at first and then once you roll the foot it will be at a 40-45 degree angle point downwards toward the gas) then you tap the gas pedal with the outside edge of the ball of your foot.

3) Keep in mind, like the video on the forums showed, it is not really heel-to-toe downshifting. It is more like ball of foot-to-big toe downshifting.

This is how I understand the process. I hope this didn't confuse anybody too much.