INTRODUCTION:
Sim racing thrives on realism and immersion. Quality pedals ensure precise control, immersion, and a competitive edge. Among these, the brake pedal is vital. A loadcell brake pedal stands out for its direct pressure measurement, offering a more realistic and consistent braking feel compared to traditional pedals.
This enhances precision and allows drivers to adjust brake pressure accurately, mimicking real-world driving dynamics. Whether navigating tight corners or executing smooth decelerations, a loadcell brake pedal can significantly improve lap times and overall performance by implementing braking techniques like trail braking.
In the fast-paced world of sim racing, where split-second decisions matter, investing in quality pedals, especially those with a loadcell brake, is essential for both casual enthusiasts and serious competitors.
CSL PEDALS
The Pros and Cons of the CSL pedals.
Pros:
- Budget-Friendly Entry: The most affordable entry-level pedals, making sim racing accessible to enthusiasts on a budget.
- Robust All-Metal Construction: Built with an extremely sturdy all-metal construction, ensuring longevity and durability.
- Fully Adjustable: Pedals are fully adjustable, allowing you to find the most comfortable and ergonomic position for your racing style.
- Hall-Effect Sensors: Both pedals feature hall-effect sensors that measure pedal position using magnets, providing precise and consistent input.
- Versatile Design: The design allows for use on a designated sim rig or placement on the floor, braced against a wall, enhancing flexibility in setup.
Cons:
- Loadcell Upgrade Required: To achieve a more complete and realistic setup, an upgrade to loadcell pedals may be necessary, incurring additional costs.
- Clutch Pedal Not Included: As with many 2-pedal sets, a separate clutch pedal would need to be added if your preferred racing style or game requires it.
Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S
CSL UPGRADE OPTIONS
CSL LOADCELL PEDALS
The Pros and Cons of the CSL loadcell pedals.
Pros:
- Shared Base Construction: These pedals maintain the same base construction as the CSL pedals, ensuring durability and reliability.
- Loadcell Brake Measurement: The loadcell pedal measures braking pressure instead of brake pedal travel, providing a more realistic and immersive braking experience.
- Progressive Braking Feel: Thanks to the loadcell elastomers, you’ll experience a strong and progressive braking feel, enhancing control and precision.
- Manual Calibration: Upgraded electronics enable manual calibration of all three pedals, allowing for fine-tuning to match your preferences and racing style.
Cons:
- Newer CSL Elite Version Available: A newer version of the CSL pedals, the CSL Elite V2, is now available, potentially offering enhanced features or improvements.
- Elastomer Upgrades: Fanatec does not offer the option to upgrade the elastomers, but third-party elastomers are available if you desire additional customization.
Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S
Race Sim Engineering Upgrades.
Throttle upgrade:
I’ve always found the CSL throttle pedal to be abit too light for my liking. This lightness often led to errors on corner exits because I wasn’t fully lifting off the throttle as intended.
To address this issue, I went searching for solutions and stumbled upon Race Sim Engineering and their throttle upgrade.
The upgrade kit offers two different springs with varying levels of stiffness. The lighter spring provides around 60% more resistance than the standard setup, which improved the feel but left me wanting more control.
Then, I tried the harder spring, which offers a substantial 120% increase in stiffness. This provided a much nicer sensation underfoot, allowing me to feel the pedal resistance as I lifted off the throttle.
The throttle upgrade kit is impeccably crafted and can be easily installed onto the CSL pedals in just 5-10 minutes. Plus, all the necessary tools are included in the package for added convenience.
Brake upgrade:
The Fanatec CSL Load Cell Pedal is a big improvement over the CSL Brake Pedal. But, the load cell elastomers are very stiff, giving little pedal movement. I prefer a bit of pedal motion while braking, as it helps with trail braking, making it feel more natural.
Now, let’s talk about the Race Sim Engineering Upgrade Kit. It offers more pedal travel without losing the accuracy of the load cell pedal. They’ve added a yellow, lighter spring which creates a two-stage braking system. This is great for users who don’t have a dedicated sim rig, whether they’re on the floor or using a wheel stand. However, I found the resistance of the yellow spring too light for my taste.
On the flip side, there’s the blue spring. It gives less pedal travel than the yellow one but more than the standard elastomers. When I tried the blue spring, I noticed improved precision and consistency in my trail braking. The extra pedal travel made it easier to finely adjust the braking force, leading to smoother transitions between braking stages. This upgrade brings the CSL pedals up to the performance level of the CSL Elite V2 pedals.
CSL ELITE V2 PEDALS
The Pros and Cons of the CSL Elite V2 pedals.
Pros:
- Improved Loadcell and Sensors: The pedal set has undergone significant upgrades to the loadcell pedal and hall-effect sensors, enhancing performance and accuracy.
- Stylish Aluminum Design: Featuring a new stylish design, the pedals are constructed from cast and machined aluminum, all finished with a durable powder coat finish for added aesthetics and durability.
- Enhanced Stability: Additional rear support has been added to the pedals, providing extra stability, especially during demanding racing conditions.
- Dual Stage Brake Action: The upgraded loadcell pedal now offers a dual-stage brake action with a coil spring to simulate the brake pad’s initial movement towards the disc, offering a more realistic braking experience.
- Customizable Stiffness: Fanatec includes adjustable elastomers and springs, allowing you to customize the stiffness to match your personal preference.
Cons:
- Limited Pedal Plate Customization: There are no customizable options for pedal plates, potentially limiting personalization.
- Close Pricing to Upgradable Options: The price of these pedals is very close to the next pedal set that offers more upgradable options, making it a critical consideration for potential buyers.
Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S
CLUBSPORT V3 PEDALS
The Pros and Cons of the ClubSport V3 pedals.
Pros:
- Exceptional Build Quality: Crafted with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, ensuring longevity and performance.
- Advanced 90kg Loadcell Pedal: Features an advanced 90kg loadcell pedal that offers extreme durability and the highest level of precision in pedal inputs.
- Customizable Pedal Plate and Arm Adjustments: The pedal plate and arms provide multiple adjustment options, allowing you to tailor them to your specific preferences.
- Tool-Free Brake Adjustment: Brake pedal adjustments can be made without the need for tools, providing convenience and ease of setup.
- Immersive Vibration Motors: Both the brake and accelerator pedals are equipped with in-built vibration motors, enhancing immersion by allowing you to feel ABS and tire slip feedback on a whole new level, giving you greater control over your inputs.
Cons:
- Recommended Damper Kit: To fully optimize the brake pedal’s performance, an optional damper kit can be purchased separately, and it is highly recommended for a more complete experience.
- Optional Damper Kit for Throttle: The same damper kit can also be purchased for the throttle pedal if desired, adding to the cost of the setup.
Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S
CLUBSPORT V3 INVERTED PEDALS
The Pros and Cons of the ClubSport V3 pedals.
Pros:
- Ultimate Realism: These pedals provide an unparalleled level of realism in sim racing, seamlessly bridging the gap between the real and virtual worlds.
- Included Damper Kit: The inverted pedals come with the upgraded damper kit included, enhancing the feel and performance right out of the box.
- Full Feature Set: They incorporate all the exceptional features of the standard ClubSport V3 pedals, ensuring a comprehensive and immersive sim racing experience.
- Top-of-the-Line Quality: Considered as the best pedals in Fanatec’s lineup, they are designed to deliver the highest level of quality and performance.
Cons:
- High Price Tag: These feature-rich pedals come with a premium price, potentially dissuading casual racers due to the substantial investment required.
Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X/S
CONCLUSION:
In the world of sim racing, the choice of pedals can make all the difference in your racing experience. Fanatec offers a diverse range of pedal sets, each with its own unique features and advantages. Each pedal set has its own strengths and characteristics, catering to different budgets and levels of commitment to sim racing. Whether you’re just starting your sim racing journey or you’re a seasoned pro seeking the utmost realism, Fanatec’s pedal options provide a wide range of choices to suit your needs.
However, it’s important to note that while the CSL Pedals offer an accessible entry point, the CSL Pedals with Loadcell, ClubSport V3 Pedals, and ClubSport V3 Inverted Pedals are progressively more feature-rich and immersive. Keep in mind that with increased features and realism often comes a higher price tag, which may influence your decision based on your level of dedication to sim racing.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and Fanatec’s range of pedals ensures that no matter which set you choose, you’re in for an exciting and immersive sim racing experience that will keep you coming back for more laps, races, and thrilling moments on the virtual track. Happy racing!
Check out my review on Fanatec WHEEL RIMS, CSL DD, GT DD PRO and DD1/DD2 wheel bases.
Disclaimer: Please note that these are affiliate links, and I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.