If you have ever experienced stick drift on a game controller, you know how annoying it is to watch your character make those micro-steps in a random direction or the camera start drifting away from the action when you move your thumb momentarily away to push another button on the pad.

When your T-LCM pedals develop load-cell drift, the consequences can be far more serious. It might slow you down on the straights if the brake is applied by 1–2%, or it might annoy the driver chasing you, watching your brake lights flicker on and off, initially wondering whether you are brake-checking them with Senna-like nano-brake stabs.

The stabbing technique might be useful on the throttle but not on the brake pedal. In this entry, we will help teach the ghost in your pedals better manners by presenting a few ways to fix the issue. Let’s get started on helping you get stopped the proper way!

Solution 1: Deadzone Adjustment

A simple software solution can often resolve what appears to be a hardware issue, making it a worthwhile first step before considering any physical adjustments or third-party replacement parts. 

If you haven’t downloaded the accompanying software for the T-LCM pedals yet, you can download it from Thrustmaster’s support page for the pedals. The initial goal is to increase the “Bottom Deadzone”. This parameter is often adjusted by most people to prevent unintended braking from slight pressure on the brake pedal, such as when resting your foot on it while left-foot braking. By the same principle, it can also mask small ghost inputs that occur even when the pedal is completely untouched.

Image by Thrustmaster

In the Thrustmaster Calibration Tool, watch the brake input graph while keeping your foot completely off the pedal. If the brake input flickers above 0%, you have identified the ghost input. Increase the Bottom Deadzone until the indicator extends approximately 1–2 points above the highest flicker. Any fluctuations that remain within the yellow deadzone will be ignored by the software, preventing unintended brake input.

Solution 2: Elastomer Re-stacking

The T-LCM pedals are still to this day a great entry-level set of pedals, especially since they use load-cell technology, which is essential for any sim racer who takes the hobby seriously. The T-LCM pedals are designed as an affordable entry point into load-cell pedals, and like any mechanical pedal set, they can develop some “wobbliness” or “play” in the assembly over time. While this may not necessarily be the direct cause of ghost inputs, it can contribute to inconsistent pedal feel or behaviour. Fortunately, the T-LCM pedals offer a high degree of customisation, and each pedal’s springs can be replaced with a variety of springs included in the box or with third-party alternatives. 

Should you, after trying the OEM springs in different combinations, not resolve your issue, high-durometer elastomers may be worth considering if you are looking for a hardware-based solution. 3DRap offers different parts for the T-LCM pedals: a single-stage elastomer that replaces the lower OEM spring, an extension elastomer that replaces the upper spring, or a complete replacement of both springs (single-stage elastomer + extension). This offers multiple configurations, including street and race setups that, as their names suggest, replicate the brake feel of their real-life counterparts.

Images by 3DRap

Should you be interested in how this replacement is done and how it works, Random Callsign has made a video explaining the 3DRap parts used with the T-LCM pedals, which demonstrates the installation and reports that the modification could essentially eliminate pedal play in the assembly.

Remember, after working on the pedals, ensure that the preload nut is not over-tightened, as excessive preload keeps the load cell in a constant state of high-voltage output.

When to Call SimRigSupport

Before you call those guys in the Cadillac to evict the ghost from your pedals, consider calling SimRigSupport instead if you hit a dead end in your troubleshooting. 

While the T-LCM pedals are among the older pedal sets on the market and have therefore built up a large community knowledge base of troubleshooting fixes over the years, newer hardware often doesn’t have that same wealth of documented user experience. That can become a challenge later down the line if you decide to upgrade your gear. Likewise, you may encounter a unique software or hardware issue, or a combination of both, that simply hasn’t been documented before. That is where our own troubleshooting experience and support knowledge can make the difference.

Whether you need on-site or remote support, SimRigSupport is here to help you spend less time troubleshooting and more time behind the wheel. Reach out to us here to learn more.