Paddle shift - Your opinions please.

[Beastlee]

Was watching Fifth Gear last night , the Lexus ISF episode, and it was paddles on the steering wheel. This got me thinking about it and I realised that that is the best method because you taught to keep your hands in the 10 to 3 position, no feeding, when racing and therefore the paddles are always in the best place for a flick, as Mike has mentioned.

[Turbo_Steve]

Those of you worried about changing gear mid-corner....
A properly setup tip-tronic box (and ours is included) will match the revs on shifts. So you can change gear up and down all you want without disturbing the balance of the car (unless you're relying on the torque to hold you in the corner....which means you're already scrubbing off speed anyway as you have lateral wheel movement) (tarmac only, of course)

I've driven a Ferrari F430, and I've driven the VR-4, and believe it or not the INVECS II does it better in my opinion!

[Mark 4]

OOPS, posted in the wrong thread.

[Kieran]

OOPS, posted in the wrong thread.

Sorted!

[pitslayer]

on the way home, i was thinking about the paddle shift on the wheel. and i personally found the following issues.
if you mount them at 10-2. they really isnt enough gap between the stalks, and could hinder normal driving.
mount them lower, harder to reach,
mount them higher the top corners of the airbag, get in the way and you cant grip the steering wheel enough, to change gears safely.
now thats just me personally.
now this is with the nardi steering wheel, the evo wheel might be different?

[Mark 4]

So move the stalks - Now what's the problem ?

[pitslayer]

i forgot to add on the end. paddles mounted on the wheel i think would be out of the question, if you wanted wheel mounted then go for buttons. i dont think relocating the stalks is going to be a viable option, for me. your asking for alternatives, or for ideas that might help, im just saying things that you might run into. you do it your way, im only trying to give you my opinion and input on the subject, which 3 of us have been looking into for a few months now.

All opinions gratefully received.

[Mark 4]

I've done it.

[zentac]

Ive got a set of paddles here for the FTO, had them 12 months never got round to fitting them. They have a small radio transmitter that sits inside the column and a reciever what sits in the center console to save wires getting too tangled. Ive seen it in action and it worked really well. Its designed for a standard steering wheel so does quite fit my aftermarket one, need modify it.

[Kenneth]

To get the paddles onto the steering wheel, would probably be best to use the clock spring. there should be at least 2 spare wires available, one for each paddle. (IIRC there are 5 wires in the clock spring, 2 are used for the airbag and one for the horn)

As previously said, steering wheel mounted of a decent size so you don't have to go looking for them if your hands move a little (or someone else drives with a different hand position)

If you have the steering wheel at more than 90 degrees rotation, then you probably don't want to change gear. If you do, perhaps you should NOT and instead work on getting the correct gear on corner entry. (ie: come in with a higher gear which will make the accelerator more forgiving and let you exit with the correct RPM)

[Nick Mann]

I've done it.

Indeed? The plot thickens.....

Kenneth - the clock spring theory is interesting. If I ever have one to mess with I will investigate.

Still on the steering wheel for me - on track I don't let go of the steering wheel (except to change gear!) so wouldn't expect to be changing gear wih the wrong paddle whilst doing a J-turn. It is interesting to see that a few people are changing their opinions - this must be a good debate!

[Mark 4]

Ken you have a very keen mind. That is exactly what I have done. Am surprised thet no-one picked up on something obvious though. If the wheel is turned and the paddles are out of reach then you still have the existing method of changing. ie the gear stick.

On a serious point though I will not be posting a "How to" as messing with the SRS Clock Spring is potentially very dangerous. Anyone who PM's me for info may or may not get a reply.

My setup is working perfectly with 2 buttons at the moment. I have the paddle design in my head and will be getting something made later this week.

[d i c k i e s]

i like the idea of paddle shift, but i think i would prefer a real gearbox better.
what about what they use in the rally cars and the v8 supercars.
press up or down on the gearbox. (im keen on those)

[d i c k i e s]

Ken you have a very keen mind. That is exactly what I have done. Am surprised thet no-one picked up on something obvious though. If the wheel is turned and the paddles are out of reach then you still have the existing method of changing. ie the gear stick.

On a serious point though I will not be posting a "How to" as messing with the SRS Clock Spring is potentially very dangerous. Anyone who PM's me for info may or may not get a reply.

My setup is working perfectly with 2 buttons at the moment. I have the paddle design in my head and will be getting something made later this week.

pictures?

[pitslayer]

Ttiwwop!!!!

[Beastlee]

Can the paddles be bi-directional? ie. both can move in either direction? That way as long as it's push to go down and pull to go up(or vice versa) it wouldn't matter where the wheel was positioned as both sides can do up and down and it's just a flick to chang gear.

[Mark 4]

Thay would be perfectly do-able Lee but I haven't. I use left for down and right for up. Anything else just use the gearstick.

[Mark 4]

Scaglietti.

[Mark 4]

Only took 13 months

[elnevio]

Nice!


But I think that your car's broke!

Fuel gauge is on F!