Toe-heel braking

[Julianb]

I recently bought a 2000 NSX and am completely thrilled by the car. It is certainly the best-designed and best-engineered car I have owned. This is the reason that I am mystified by the fact that I have difficulty using toe-heel braking with the brake and accelerator pedals being so close together. The only way I've found to blip the throttle while braking is to use the ball of my foot on the brake and the right front on the accelerator. But this isn't nearly as comfortable as the old toe-heel.


Given that the car is so beautifully designed and executed I assume that either I'm doing something wrong or I'll learn to use toe-toe braking!

Comments?

[gatdamn]

I have a size 12 shoe, and it's pretty easy for me. I also drive with more flexible shoes.

[Edd]

Julian -

I find the NSX to be particularly easy to "heel and toe" BECAUSE the brake and throttle pedals are so close together. I haven't ever driven a car that I could actually use my heel and toe on; I have always had to use the ball of my right foot on the brake pedal and the outside of my right foot on the throttle pedal.

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by Edd (edited 29 March 2003).]

[ChopsJazz]

My answer to that question was to go with Momo pedals. Remove your pedal covers and position the Momos where they best suit you.

[Daria]

You may try to adjust the brake height position and lower it slighly to an even level with the throttle pedal. This may make things slightly easier for you.

[NSX Maven]

You are having trouble because the phrase 'heel and toe' is a misnomer. Done properly it is actually 'ball of foot and right side of foot' braking. But that is just too long to roll off of the tongue.

You do not put your heel on the brake pedal and your toe on the gas pedal. Your heel is not sensitive enough to allow accurate modulation of the pedal pressure. When properly done your foot is only slightly off of vertical, not horizontal (which you would have to do if you take the phrase literally) and you operate both pedals with the middle to top (not the heel) of your foot. A wide foot is a benefit but in fact the NSX's pedals are too far apart to properly heel and toe. I had to install OMP pedals before I could do it properly. BMW 3 series have pedals that are well positioned for heel and toeing. Even better than my NSX with the OMP pedals.


If you look at racing shoes or boots you will see that the sole wraps up and around the right side of the shoe to prevent wear. This is because that is where the throttle is when you 'blip' it on your downshift.

[docjohn]

There seems to be a lot of latitude in the interp of heel-toe.Actualy the topic starter has it right.In the ol days car controlls were alot different.pedels were hinged from the floor(porsche)and indeed the heel was on gas while top of foot(ball,toes) was on brake,thats heel-toe.I agree that the nsx pedels are not great for this(the s2000 is) I decided to make the nsx pedels even closer together with covers or extensions to aid in covering both pedels with the top of the foot,toes1-2,brake,toes3-5 gas,you get the idea.That is not heel and toe but seems like we all are calling it that.

[CiaoBoy]

Originally posted by NSX Maven
You do not put your heel on the brake pedal and your toe on the gas pedal. Your heel is not sensitive enough to allow accurate modulation of the pedal pressure. When properly done your foot is only slightly off of vertical, not horizontal (which you would have to do if you take the phrase literally) and you operate both pedals with the middle to top (not the heel) of your foot. A wide foot is a benefit but in fact the NSX's pedals are too far apart to properly heel and toe. I had to install OMP pedals before I could do it properly. BMW 3 series have pedals that are well positioned for heel and toeing. Even better than my NSX with the OMP pedals.

I definitely agree with NSX Maven. The brake pedal and gas pedal on my M3 is close enough that it's VERY easy to heel-and-toe (literally though with the ball of the foot and the right side of the foot as NSX Maven describes). The brake pedal's depth when braking is also coincidentally perfect for this technique.

I have found that the NSX pedals are too far apart, but it is still possible to use the same technique. One has to be careful not to slip off the brake pedal since there's usually not enough of your shoe's surface being applied to it. The depth when braking is also not ideal. Braking could be deeper and then the depth would match the gas pedal's starting position.

-CiaoBoy

[kenjiMR]

I installed a different shape gas pedal cover on which made it slightly easier to toe-heal. Since then, I have had no problems toe-healing on the track. I rarely find it necessary for street driving.

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by kenjiMR
I installed a different shape gas pedal cover on which made it slightly easier to toe-heal. Since then, I have had no problems toe-healing on the track. I rarely find it necessary for street driving.

I hurt my toe once, but fortunately, it was able to toe-heal. Since then, when I go to the track, I can practice how to toe-heel (or heel-toe, as it's usually called).

[POWERED by HONDA]

I think the NSX is perfectly spaced for heel-to-toe footwork.

[Dan H]

Just curious, about how many inches is the gapping between the brake and gas pedal?

[kenjiMR]

All the Japanese videos I used watch called it 'Tou Ando Heelu', so I always say "Toe & Heel" now.
I don't really think it matters exactly how you do this technique as long as the end result is the same and consistent on the racetrack.

[Jimbo]

The Autovation pedals might help some who are having trouble toe-heeling...

http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showt...threadid=11728

(Vendors forum)..

-Jim

[JPS Europa]

The only cars I have ever drinen where you actully did heel-toe were old Porsches and VW's. Lot's of room between pedals and floor hinged gas pedal. Every other car has been side of the foot on the gas. BTW, The NSX is easy for me in just about any shoe. Size 10 1/2 foot. In the Lotus I have to wear narrow shoes to keep from hitting the gas under hard braking.

[POWERED by HONDA]

Originally posted by kenjiMR
All the Japanese videos I used watch called it 'Tou Ando Heelu', so I always say "Toe & Heel" now.

So when you miss a shift you say "Crap! I Shift a Missed?" (or something like that)

[kenjiMR]

You mean: "Kuso! Shifto Missu Shita!"

I speak Japanese as a psuedo second language.

Originally posted by POWERED by HONDA
So when you miss a shift you say "Crap! I Shift a Missed?" (or something like that)

[Zanardi 50]

Originally posted by POWERED by HONDA
So when you miss a shift you say "Crap! I Shift a Missed?" (or something like that)

Precisely what Kenji said!

Great thread BTW. I too find the NSX pedals too close for what I consider proper heel-and-toe (at least for me). I wear size 8 1/2 to 9 and I find the pedal gap of my daily-driven S2000 more suitably (ie., widely) spaced for my liking. I suppose driving the NSX daily would probably cure me of that annoyance.