Sim Racing Pedal Spacing and Angle: Heel-and-Toe Setup
By SimXPro l Sim Racing Shop | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
Set pedal spacing and angle for clean heel-and-toe downshifts in your sim rig. A step-by-step guide to plate adjustment, brake and throttle gap, and left foot braking.
Quick answer
Set the brake pedal roughly 5–10 mm closer to you than the throttle, with the brake face 10–20 mm higher, so the ball of your foot covers the brake while your heel rolls onto the throttle. Aim for a brake and throttle gap of about 60–80 mm center-to-center, then adjust plate angle until you can blip without lifting your knee. Fine-tune in 5 mm steps and re-test with the engine off.
Measure your foot and your rig before you touch a bolt
Sit in your cockpit with your normal driving shoes or socks. Measure from the ball of your foot to the outside edge of your heel; that distance tells you how much pedal face you need under the ball and how far your heel must travel to reach the throttle. A short foot usually needs the throttle closer to the brake; a long foot can tolerate a wider brake and throttle gap. Write the number down before adjusting anything.
Set the brake and throttle gap first
Loosen the pedal plate bolts just enough to slide the throttle. Start with 70 mm between the brake and throttle centers and adjust in 5 mm increments. The goal is to cover the brake with the ball of your foot while your heel rests naturally on the throttle without twisting your ankle. If you have to lift your knee to blip, the gap is too wide. If your heel catches the brake, it is too narrow.
Dial in pedal angle setup for ankle travel
Tilt the brake face so the top edge is 10–20 mm further from you than the bottom edge. That angle lets your ankle roll instead of your whole leg moving. The throttle should sit slightly flatter than the brake so your heel can slide across it without catching. If your pedals are mounted on a plate, use the plate slots to set the angle before tightening the pedal bolts. Check that the pedal faces do not touch each other at full travel.
Left foot braking setup: a separate position
If you left foot brake, move the brake pedal left so your left foot rests on it with your knee slightly bent, and keep the throttle where your right foot can still reach it for heel-and-toe. You may need a wider brake and throttle gap to avoid clipping the throttle with your left foot. Test both techniques before final tightening; switching between them is easier if the brake sits in a neutral position between your two feet.
Check flex and mounting before you judge the setup
A pedal plate that flexes under braking changes your spacing every time you press hard. Grab the top of the brake pedal and push; if the plate moves more than a few millimeters, fix the mounting first. On an aluminium profile cockpit, use corner brackets and check that the plate is supported at both ends. Rigid mounting makes small spacing changes repeatable.
Step-by-step heel-and-toe pedal setup
- Measure and record your foot position: Sit in the rig and mark where the ball of your foot sits on the brake and where your heel lands on the throttle. Measure the brake and throttle gap center-to-center and write it down. Checkpoint: your heel should reach the throttle without your knee lifting.
- Set the brake and throttle gap: Loosen the throttle bolts and slide it to about 70 mm from the brake center. Adjust in 5 mm steps until the ball of your foot covers the brake and your heel rests on the throttle. Common mistake: setting the gap by eye instead of measuring; a 10 mm error is enough to make blipping unreliable.
- Adjust pedal angle setup: Tilt the brake face so the top edge is 10–20 mm further from you than the bottom. Keep the throttle slightly flatter so your heel slides across it without catching. Checkpoint: with the engine off, roll your ankle from brake to throttle ten times; it should feel smooth, not like a stretch.
- Torque the pedal plate bolts: Tighten the plate and pedal bolts in a cross pattern so the plate does not twist. Push hard on the brake and watch for movement at the plate edges. Common mistake: tightening one side first, which tilts the plate and changes your carefully set angle.
- Test left foot braking and heel-and-toe: With the car stationary, practice left foot braking, then switch to heel-and-toe. If your left foot clips the throttle, widen the brake and throttle gap by 5 mm and retest. Checkpoint: you can switch between techniques without moving your seat or adjusting the pedals.
- Refine over three sessions: Drive a familiar car and track for three short sessions. Note any missed blips or ankle strain. Adjust one variable at a time, starting with the gap, then the brake angle, then the throttle angle. Next step: once the setup feels repeatable, leave it alone for a week so your muscle memory can settle.
Parts that help you lock in the setup
- SimXPro AlphaTecRacing Touchscreen Dashboard Formula V2: SimXPro AlphaTecRacing Touchscreen Dashboard Formula V2 is a solid screen mount for aluminium profile cockpits that supports a stable monitor position and helps you fine tune height and angle. A stable screen position lets you keep your eyes on the road while your feet learn the new pedal spacing, so you can judge heel-and-toe timing without a moving display.
- SimXPro 4040 Angle - Black: SimXPro 4040 Angle - Black is designed for cockpit and rig builds and provides clean mounting and practical fitment as a useful upgrade for racing simulator setups. Use it to brace a flexing pedal plate or reinforce the frame around your pedals so your spacing and angle settings stay repeatable under hard braking.
- SimXPro Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake mount: SimXPro Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake mount supports a tidy shifter or handbrake installation on aluminium profile cockpits and helps keep your controls consistent. If you use a handbrake alongside heel-and-toe, mounting it cleanly keeps your right hand from interfering with the pedal timing you are trying to build.
