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How to Reduce Brake Lockups in Iracing

Learn how to reduce brake lockups in iRacing with step-by-step fixes for pedal calibration, bias, and technique—iRacing drivers: fix this issue fast and stop losing laps.

If you’re asking how to reduce brake lockups in iRacing, the quick answer is: calibrate your pedals, soften the brake input curve, move brake bias slightly rearward, and clean up your braking technique. You’re in the right place to fix it fast.

How to Reduce Brake Lockups in iRacing (Quick Answer)

Most lockups come from too much braking force arriving too quickly at the contact patch. Calibrate your pedal, adjust the pedal curve or linearity so initial travel is less aggressive, nudge brake bias rearward by 1–3%, and practice smoother, earlier braking.

What’s really going on

A lockup happens when a wheel’s braking force exceeds the tire’s grip and the wheel stops rotating. In iRacing this shows up as a locked front or rear wheel, flat spots on tires, unstable steering, and lost time. Causes are either setup/settings (pedal calibration, bias, brake curve), driver inputs (sudden, full-force braking), or hardware issues (bad pedal mapping, worn virtual tires). Fixing the control path from your foot to the tire is the fastest way to stop it.

Step-by-step fix

1. Calibrate your brake pedal in iRacing: Options → Controls → select device → follow the calibrate prompts. Make sure the pedal reads smoothly from 0–100% with no early clipping.
2. Set deadzone and saturation: Reduce deadzone to near zero, but increase saturation if you hit 100% too early so you have more usable travel before full brake.
3. Soften the pedal curve/linearity: Change the brake input curve so the first half of pedal travel gives less braking force; this prevents abrupt bite. If you have hardware software (load cell/hydraulic), do the same there.
4. Move brake bias rearward slightly: Reduce front bias by 1–3% (move toward the rear) and test. This reduces front lock propensity; adjust in small steps.
5. Change technique: Aim for progressive pressure — get to your initial braking point earlier, then add pressure smoothly. Avoid stomping full force at the last millimeter. Practice braking zones in test sessions.
6. Check car-specific items: If the car has ABS, confirm ABS settings; if not, avoid aggressive initial inputs. Also ensure tires are warmed and pressures are correct — cold tires can behave unpredictably.

Extra tips / checklist

• Make one change at a time and test a few laps; that tells you what worked.
• Move bias in small steps (1% or 2%) — big jumps hide other problems.
• If you use a load-cell or hydraulic pedal, check the pressure curve in the vendor software.
• Watch replay for wheel lock visuals or listen for tire screech — they tell whether front or rear is locking.
• If lockups only happen on entry, work on earlier trail-off; if they happen under brake-hold, bias or pedal travel is the likely culprit.

FAQs

Q: Does ABS exist in iRacing and will it prevent lockups?
A: Some iRacing cars include ABS; when present it helps prevent lockups, but you still need correct pedal feel and technique. Check the car’s option list.

Q: Should I always move bias rearward to stop front lockups?
A: Move bias only a little at a time. Too far rearward hurts braking performance and stability. Test in short runs.

Q: My pedals feel twitchy after calibration — what then?
A: Recalibrate, then check device drivers and vendor software. Increase smoothing or filter options in hardware software if available.

Q: Can tire temp cause lockups?
A: Yes — cold tires have different grip. Warm tires before pushing and monitor pressures/temps.

Short wrap-up

Fixing lockups is methodical: calibrate your hardware, soften the input curve, tweak bias, and adjust your braking style. Make one change per test run and you’ll quickly find the sweet spot. Next session: try one small bias change and focus on smoother initial pedal pressure.