Pedal Setup - Heal / Toe

[OppoLock]

It is true that heel-toe in this car is easier under harder braking. But at the track obviously this would be a non-issue.

There are two ways to heel-toe: (i) have the left side of the ball of your foot on the brake and roll your foot on an axis parallel with the long axis of your foot to blip the throttle with the right side of the ball of your foot (or just below). Your heel may or may not rest on the floor. This works if your feet/shoes are wide enough, but won't work if you have narrow shoes (like Piloti's, Sparco's, or Puma driving shoes) or if the pedals are too far apart (either width or depth). (ii) the second method, which seems to work better in cars with top-hinged accelerators, is to plant the ball of your foot square on the brake pedal, then swing your ankle on an axis parallel to your shin and centred on the ball of your foot, and blip the throttle with the side of your foot or even down closer to the heel. I find this second method works great on the Mustang, and I find I can have better control of throttle blipping and a lot more stable connection between my foot and the brake pedal (which is the most important thing, street or track). I will use both methods in my Mustang, depending on how hard I am braking and what shoes/boots I am wearing (real Canadians can heel-toe in mukluks).

Here is a vid of a fine driver in an RX-8, which I was driving at the time I found the vid and learned the technique.

I tried both ways. I have no idea how you guys can use the upright rolling technique unless your foot is shaped like a ping pong paddle... I'm wearing wide Ecco dress shoes more often than not and I just can't get anything going. :(

This hasn't been an issue in past cars I've driven either.

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[Boff]

^if they have a heel, that can be an issue. Try a pair of Pumas.

BTW you can see that the pedal design on the RX-8 is specifically set up for the second method...the throttle even has a folded down edge on the lower left. The RX was beyond a doubt the easiest car to heel-toe - at any speed - that I've ever driven.

 

[BmacIL]

I'm sure the placement is optimized for track duty. It'd be very unnerving to have the accelerator pedal too high on the track when you're actually braking hard.

 

[OppoLock]

^if they have a heel, that can be an issue. Try a pair of Pumas.

BTW you can see that the pedal design on the RX-8 is specifically set up for the second method...the throttle even has a folded down edge on the lower left. The RX was beyond a doubt the easiest car to heel-toe - at any speed - that I've ever driven.

Huh, yeah they definitely do have a heel... a big one at that. I was hoping they'd help out since they have a wide base with a decent heel to reach the pedal. Thanks for the tip, I'll look into Pumas.

And I just looked at that RX-8 pedal setup, looks so much better than this. What this photo doesn't show is the staggered depth too.

I just wish it came with something like this (from a Veloster of all things, thanks google images):

 

[Norm Peterson]

It is true that heel-toe in this car is easier under harder braking. But at the track obviously this would be a non-issue.

It sounds like the S550 isn't particularly better for H-T than the S197. The big difficulty I see is in getting enough practice before you get to the track to where you aren't putting yourself at risk trying to do something unfamiliar when you're ON the track.


Norm

 

[David@Steeda]

I am relatively new around here. I have a GT with PP, Recaros and all the goodies set to be built at the end of January. It's a gift from my wife! :eyebulge: She wants me to get back to my hobby of 'road racing' and getting on the track. She chose the Mustang for sentimental reasons… (long story, but I had an '89 GT when we started dating)

Honestly, it's not the first car I would have chosen for a track car, even with the new IRS, but now, after reading and doing more research, I'm very excited about it. My previous track cars have been Euros (996 Turbo & Elise), so the Mustang is going to be quite an experience relatively speaking. I'm looking forward to tossing it around!

In my few test drives, I really like it. The long hood will take some getting used to, but I love the over all feel considering the car's weight. The interior is fantastic. It's on par with much more expensive cars. Ford hit a home run with this Mustang!

My concern is the pedal setup. I know there has been discussion of the accelerator not coming from the floor, and that is a small concern, but my bigger concern is in regards to their reachability for heel-toe shifting.
With my foot on the brake, it's tough to roll and blip the accelerator unless I'm under very hard braking. I'd like the accelerator to be a bit higher because the Brembos really grab and to get a proper throttle blip, I have to brake hard enough to make it slightly uncomfortable my passengers or enough to sling the coffee from its mug! :lol:
Do you guys have this same issue?

I've had other cars where I actually blipped with the bottom of my ankle or the full side of my foot towards the top of my shoe. I can't figure out how this will work. I'm sure I can adjust to learn it, but wondering if there is any experience out there with adjusting the pedals at all to help this?

I too have issues with the PP brakes and being able to heel toe cause the gas pedal is about an inch too low. I PMed Steeda about making a gas pedal extension like their clutch pedal to bring it about 3/4" higher cause I use the inner and outer balls of my feet to heel toe instead of the traditional foot sideways deal. Steeda said they would send it to the product developement dept and see what they could come up with.

I haven't actually tried with this car yet, but my shoe math guesswork seems that we could use a pedal replacement that's maybe 1-2" longer and has a built in spacer of maybe 3/4 inch or something? I'll have to try it out later.

I was starting to wonder if it was just me. The Wife yelled at me the other night about jabbing the brakes too hard when I was downshifting trying to take a turn easy. She told me just to hammer down if that'd be easier.....:love:

I'll be on a preorder list if someone would come up with a spacer!!

Nice!

I have no problem rev matching my down shifts (ball of foot on the brake while the heel blips the accelerator) but the setup on my old 350Z was definitively better.

After a week and a half of trying to do this under moderate braking, I've found it physically impossible. I'm 6', normally proportioned with a size 12 shoe. In a normal driving position with my feet just close enough to the pedals that I can depress the clutch fully, and with the steering wheel all the way out pointed at my upper chest, it's impossible. I'd need an extra joint in my knee and ankle. I couldn't even practice a stab with the car off. The steering column is too obstructive and the pedals are too staggered with the throttle pedal being too short/high.

Unless my ankle literally pivots at 90° or unless my knee can detach and float underneath this chunky column, it's not happening. I'd also most likely need a pair of stilettos.

If they make an extension for the throttle pedal I'm totally in. I really miss floors mounted pedals.

Hi guys, our Steeda S550 heel/toe pedal is finally available!

Full announcement

Steeda S550 Heel/Toe Pedal (2015)

Steeda S550 Mustang Heel/Toe Pedal Kit - Manual (2015)

I'm here to help with any questions!

Thanks,
David

 

[Highwayman]

Nice to see proper posts on this car. Instead of the usual rants about poor mpg numbers and dirty PP wheels.

Yeah, I'm with OL. There's too much of a height difference with the pedals on my setup. The spacing is fine, just the height is too awkward to get right. Looking forward to see how Steeda's ideas work out.

 

[TNcoupe]

Thanks Steeda for listening to the customers and producing a truly useful product!!! Just ordered mine.

 

[Toofarfromjune]

I've only attempted actual heel toe downshifting a couple of times in the 800 miles ive driven so far and well... It was the first time I really missed my s2000 hahaha. Failed miserably. I rolled my foot over and it felt like the gas pedal was a mile away.

Usually around town I just do rev matching down shifts before braking or not at all because im lazy but I'll give it a few more attempts with variation in technique before ordering the kit. I do admit I am vertically challenged at 5'7"...
I figure the kit will be nice regardless because I'll take every fraction of an inch I can get, the further I can get away from the steering wheel the better.

 

[BmacIL]

Thank you Steeda! I have something just like this on my current car and it makes it A LOT easier to H-T.

 

[Rv-Junke]

I tried both ways. I have no idea how you guys can use the upright rolling technique unless your foot is shaped like a ping pong paddle... I'm wearing wide Ecco dress shoes more often than not and I just can't get anything going. :(

This hasn't been an issue in past cars I've driven either.

I have several pairs of racing shoes and I cannot heel to toe in this car with them. However with dress shoes or regular sneakers I can...

 

[Blacksheep]

Yeah its hard to heel toe in this car. I tried multiple times. The brakes bite hard and i cant reach the gas that i end up uneasing the car in the corner. I installed a gas pedal height and width extension before in my speed3 and that helped a lot. Im wondering how this Steeda kit install is like. Does it go over the exisitng pedal or it replaces the stock one?

 

[Rv-Junke]

Yeah its hard to heel toe in this car. I tried multiple times. The brakes bite hard and i cant reach the gas that i end up uneasing the car in the corner. I installed a gas pedal height and width extension before in my speed3 and that helped a lot. Im wondering how this Steeda kit install is like. Does it go over the exisitng pedal or it replaces the stock one?

I shot them a message to see if there are rubber inserts for some of the holes...The kit looks nice, and I like the placement of the extension on the accelerator. If they have solution to make somewhat gripper, I'll probably grab a set.

 

[SkapeGote]

I tried both ways. I have no idea how you guys can use the upright rolling technique unless your foot is shaped like a ping pong paddle... I'm wearing wide Ecco dress shoes more often than not and I just can't get anything going. :(

This hasn't been an issue in past cars I've driven either.

I don't own a 2015, but I have no issue with heal/toe on my friends 2015 5.0l. I wear a pair on 13 1/2 Doc Martin boots if that makes a difference. I am so jealous of his car.

Skape

 

[OVRKILL]

I'm having no trouble with heel/toe in this car. I position the arch of my foot on the brake and turn my toes 45 degrees outward to reach the throttle. I do have to be extremely ginger with the brake.
That Steeda pedal sure looks good though

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