Quote from J.B. :

This brings up a question that IMO hasn't been considered enough: Why do LFS cars need so much forward brake bias and so much diff coast locking? (A typical brake balance value for a Formula Renault might be around 55%, in LFS some WR sets have up to 70% + locked diff).

I wouldn't compare brake Bias from a real car to the one in LFS.
In LFS, brake bias refers to the ratio off braking force applied to front wheels compared to the rear.
On a race car / sport car, brake bias reffers to the ratio of pressure that goes to the rear calipers compared to the front. But the calipers and discs (size) may be different!!!

As an exemple, the Lotus Elise don't have any brake bias so the same pressure goes to the front calipers and to the rears. Discs are the same but calipers are different: 2 pistons front, 1 piston rear. Even the brake pads are different in shape.

Last edited by Heph, Mon, 5 Nov 2007 14:11.

Quote from J.B. :

Thx, I found a short clip here. . Looks interesting, would you say it's worth ordering even if you don't a real car to apply the techniques yourself?

Is this DVD worth ordering? If your aim is to decrease your LFS time then No!! That is unless you have a G25 and drive like in a real car: Heel and Toe, LFB ...
Now if you want to learn about driving techniques and cars physics then yes it's worth it. Steering / braking technics are rather basic but Traction circle and slip angles are less commun. There's also laps done with the different technics with hand and feets filmed. The only complain I have about this DVD is that it might have been longer...

There's also books out there that are full of infos but keep in mind all those technics are for real world driving. IMHO, LFS is as close as it gets but there's still a lot of difference.

BTW, thanks for the video editing tips

Quote from J.B. :

If it works in real life then show me one video clip of a racing driver using it to correct oversteer.

If you want a video showing this technique (and others), try "Bending the Rules". It can get boring but is very informative and was made by english driving instructor (Andrew Walsh) who used to be a F1 test driver...

I might post a short extract from this video but right now I'm moving so my DVDs are packed... And I never tried cutting a short extract out of a DVD

Quote from J.B. :

IMO using LFB to catch oversteer only works in LFS because the setups all have unrealistically far forward brake balance.

LFB alone won't catch any oversteer (not with the set I use anyway).
We were talking LFB + some throttle. This will indeed move the brake bias far forward .

Beside, trust me, it works IRL

LFB is not so hard to use in LFS, I expect most driver to LFB, at least the one who don't have clutch... I agree that using LFB on a setup with the clutch is more difficult because you end up using the brake pedal with both foot.
It becomes even more complicated when you shift down with heel & toe, and then get your left foot on the brake to free the right foot for throttle. It helps controlling the stance of the car during the transition between brake and throttle and eliminate the time lost between braking and accelerating...

The problem with the FOX (and most mid engined cars) is not to catch the slide, but to get the wheels back fast enough to avoid the car snapping back the other way ("coup de raquette" in french) ...

I drive a Lotus Elise IRL and have had this problem quite a few times (on track hopefully ). You've got to feel when you loose rotationnal speed, then it's time to get the wheels straight or else it'll snap back.
As for the gaz pedal, you shouldn't floor it (you'll loose any grip) nor lift off (you might loose grip and regain grip too abruptly) just ease off the throttle a little (you had too much obviously :razz and use the steering to catch the slide.

IRL, you can brake while keeping some throttle (left foot braking), that way you'll move the brake bias much forward and the front wheels will start to slide. It works surpinsingly well but it's not natural. I haven't tried that yet on LFS... Might try it tonight