Passat R36 Brake Pedal Height - Can it be changed

[Elmura]

Hi all.

I find the brakes on the R36 need a couple changes. First of all, the brake pedal sits about 5cm higher than the throttle pedal (I measured it). I find this quite uncomfortable and potentially dangerous because I adjust my seat distance for full control of the throttle, with my heel at the base. Whether I left foot brake or right foot brake, I have to lift either leg to reach the pedal (I'm below average height).

Second annoyance is the extremely touchy pedal. I don't daily drive the R36 so when I do jump in, I cause my occupants to nearly hit the windscreen. The range of motion is too short and too high so I have to baby the pedal.

Both of these issues (for me) make driving it fast somewhat daunting.

I've been looking for solutions. I called Race Brakes in Sydney and he only suggested some low dust Ceramic pads to reduce the pad bite.

Since many VAG parts are cross shared, I was wondering if there was a different brake pedal I could fit that would lower the height.

Another idea I have is to change the push rod to a shorter one. And to possibly reduce the amount of brake boosting.

Please help if you have knowledge or experience, or can point me in the right direction.

Cheers

[Umai Naa!!]

The brake pedal itself is specific to the Passat, but the mounting bracket on the firewall is a Golf part, so it is possible to fit a Golf pedal.

Whether it still allows sufficient travel without fouling on the floor, is something that you'll no doubt need to invest some time and money into finding out. Any adjustment available would be minimal, and probably detrimental to the braking system's effectiveness.

Perhaps refining your seating position, particularly adjusting the height and angle of the base, might make some difference. Also worth noting that the DSG transmission does not function correctly when left-foot braking is used. I've always found that resting my heel on the carpet a few inches before the accelerator pedal worked best for me, for being able to sufficiently operate both pedals.

A change of pads to a different brand or material should make a difference with regards to them grabbing when cold, which the standard pads always do.

Also bare in mind that the pedals and footrests have been optimised for driver safety in a crash, as everything is plastic and designed to break away or deform on impact. I suspect that this is the reason why the Passat uses a specific pedal to work with the contours of the floor.

[Preen59]

Hi, mate.

Umai has addressed your issues quite well. Another suggestion is to fit braided brake lines. This gives the pedal a harder feel and therefore more feel, so you don't feel like you're pushing your foot on a sponge and still getting quite a lot of brake force.

Frando sport pads I have found to reduce the amount of bite and therefore make the pedal less touchy. If you're interested I can supply them.

[Elmura]

Thanks for the responses.

Umai - a mechanic friend of mine suggested I fix pads on the accelerator pedal to raise it to match the brake pedal. As my feet are small (size 8.5), I find having my foot a few cm back means I don't have proper reach and control of both pedals. With left foot braking - something I've been doing most my driving life, I don't accelerate at the same time so no harm is done to the DSG.

Chris - I've never heard of Frando pads. Can you supply product link / info and price.

[Guest001]

Resting your foot on the brake pedal with a DSG is fraught with danger as the ECU will sense it and start to disengage the clutches causing slip.
Just because you have done it forever doesnt make it the thing to do with new technology

Could become very expensive.

[ASR36]

Left foot braking... Seems like you need to go back to driving school.


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[Guest001]

Left foot braking... Seems like you need to go back to driving school.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is nothing wrong with it in an older tech car Nothing happens except you heat the brakes up if you rest on the pedal too hard. Also I hate the idiots who hold it down a bit and bring the brake lights on all the time.

However in a VW the ECU will sense the pressure and set the car up to begin to stop It will start to disengage the clutches enabling them to slip.

Same with creeping in traffic by lifting foot on the brake pedal, result burnt out clutch plates.

You will get the same results as in a manual car if held on the clutch on a hill. Eventual burning smell, lack of forward progress and a VERY large hole in your wallet.

[Elmura]

Left foot braking... Seems like you need to go back to driving school.

Hillbilly

Resting your foot on the brake pedal with a DSG is fraught with danger as the ECU will sense it and start to disengage the clutches causing slip.
Just because you have done it forever doesnt make it the thing to do with new technology
....
Also I hate the idiots who hold it down a bit and bring the brake lights on all the time.

Ummm. Maybe you both should read my post properly before condescending me. I do not brake at the same time as accelerating! I do not rest my foot on the brake pedal! I use the right foot for throttle, and the left foot for braking.

This was taught to me on the race circuit many years ago as a safer and more efficient control of the car. Think about it. Everyone should learn this. By the time you lift your right foot and move it across to the brake pedal at speed or in an emergency, you travel many metres.

Instead, have your left foot ready before the corner, and the right foot ready to pounce back out of the corner. It equates to faster, safer, and more efficient driving...

Just because you haven't done it before, doesn't mean you've been driving the best way.

[Guest001]

From what I have seen of the left foot brakers in my area they seem to use the pedal for a footrest and drive along blissfully unaware of their brakelights flicking on and off constantly.

If you are expert enough not to do that maybe you wont have any trouble.

I am aware of the supposed benefits of doing it but it seems it is not the norm even in the racing fraternity as the only left foot braker in the V8's was Greg Murphy.
Your car do what you like. Was just pointing out what could happen in a VW if its not done carefully.

[wai]

There is nothing wrong with left foot braking, just do not drive with your foot on it, as if the brake switch activates, you will go nowhere fast (or should be slow). You will find there is Brake Throttle Override. If you have some throttle position and touch the brake so that the switch is triggered, the ECU will cut all input from the throttle, and it will be like you have lifted off the throttle. After you come off the brake it can be up to 2 seconds before control is handed back to the throttle, so if you keep pressing it in the hope that it will pick up, you suddenly get whatever throttle position you are on.

The relativity of brake and throttle height is set so that on "bottoming" out of the brake, it is no lower than a throttle where you have lifted off, and preferably a little higher. This is to stop accidental throttle activation with the brake.

My advice is to take some time to become accustomed to it. If you want, take up left foot braking, however it will take time to get used to. I have had to take up left foot braking for other reasons (severe arthritis resulting from a road accident).

[Umai Naa!!]

The relativity of brake and throttle height is set so that on "bottoming" out of the brake, it is no lower than a throttle where you have lifted off, and preferably a little higher. This is to stop accidental throttle activation with the brake.

Audi 5000 springs to mind.

[3C4M Guy]

This thread started off well but was side-tracked into a debate about the merits or otherwise of left foot braking. Returning to the content of the original post, Elmura made two points about the R36 brakes - (1) pedal height, and (2) a touchy pedal.

I have no issue with the pedal height but I agree that the pedal is touchy. I also have a tendency to unintentionally throw passengers forward in their seats. For me this possibly comes from too many years driving a car that required enormous force on the brake pedal. One of my first impressions of my V6 Passat was the brakes seemed overly 'assisted'. I'm not sure what sort of 'power assistance' is used, but I'm wondering if it's possible to reduce this?

[Guest001]

When I first drove a VW I found the pedal touchy also but I just got used to it. All the VW models are similar first the Golf then the Polo and now the Passat.

It may well be illegal to play with the brake system on any car, would certainly pay to find out before doing anything.

Biggest fright I ever got was in a Bedford bus which were famous for having to stand on the pedal for it to stop.

First time I drove it gave them a real normal bash and nearly broke my ribs on the steering wheel.

The boss laughed Oh forgot to tell you it has a Commer front end. Lesson learned, Dab them first time LOL

[Umai Naa!!]

This thread started off well but was side-tracked into a debate about the merits or otherwise of left foot braking. Returning to the content of the original post, Elmura made two points about the R36 brakes - (1) pedal height, and (2) a touchy pedal.

I have no issue with the pedal height but I agree that the pedal is touchy. I also have a tendency to unintentionally throw passengers forward in their seats. For me this possibly comes from too many years driving a car that required enormous force on the brake pedal. One of my first impressions of my V6 Passat was the brakes seemed overly 'assisted'. I'm not sure what sort of 'power assistance' is used, but I'm wondering if it's possible to reduce this?

As mentioned early on in the thread, try a different pad, such as the brand mentioned when it's time to replace them, and see how you go.

[Elmura]

I ended up making a custom solution that fixed both issues. I unscrewed the accelerator pedal and the nearby carpet hold down screws. I cut a piece of MDF (from am old shelf) and forced it behind the pedal base but under the carpet.
I routed the cable and fitted a longer screw (cut to the length needed) and refit the carpet screws.
You can't see the mod at all! It's hidden.
This brings the top half of the pedal in alignment with the brake pedal. I adjusted seat back a few cm and steering wheel to match. Test drove over a few days and it's AWESOME...
Interestingly, it reduced my jerky braking as well. I think it's because both pedals are same height which makes pedal modulation easier. ie. You're making small movements to move your foot from one pedal to the other.