Wheel Mod: Joystic (Shifter) Gas/Brake Control

[Solid Lifters]

As some of you know, I have limited mobility. I cannot move my lower legs and feet very well. So, normal gas and brake pedals are out for me. What I need is a joystic gas and brake control to replace the foot pedals. With a basic G25 or G27 package, I think I can perform a mod to get what I need.

Since I have no idea what's included with the wheel, no how it works, I would like to ask the following modders in this forum if what I want to do even possible.

I'd like to take the electronics or wires of the pedals and attach them to the shifter control. I don't need the shifter for changing gears since I always use a automatic transmission. Not sure if this is possible.

I'd like to use the shifter for gas and brake. Full throttle at all time for shifting into first, or full brake shifting into the second. Also, with the 'progressive' throttle response as well as brake control with use of the shifter. That means I can use 'adjustable' levels of throttle or brake with the shifter. Not sure if switching wires around would give them option, or not. Or, I would need to purchase a new analog joystick for use as a throttle/brake.

Or, is there a better option? I don't know, since I don't currently own any pedal and don't know what's possible with them.

If you have an idea, or good with mods, let me know, please. I'd like to start using a wheel for GT5.

Here's how I would use it.

Game: GT5 only
Options: Automatic cars only (no shifter needed)
No foot pedals
Sits on my lap or upper right leg
Willing to shut off FFB

If you know of a good modder from another forum, or good place to visit with good modders, let me know.

Thank you.

 

[noriel]

I come across two thoughts. First, don't now if it is possible to map a throttle and brake to another controller. If so, disassemble a dual shock controller and attach analogs to the wheel, somewhere near those red buttons. You can then manipulate them with your thumbs.
Second one.
Modify paddles to work as throttle and brake. This would be difficult but doable.
Biggest issue would be to make the paddles rotate with the wheel.
Sorry for my english and I hope I was helpfull.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I see more of an option to include a Logitech aviation joystick and use if for throttle and brake controls. I emailed Logitech several days ago if something like this was even possible, and I never got a response. Looks like I have to ask at websites I visit.

 

[dzidza]

Hi,

There is a Thrustmaster's F1 wheel with ffb, that has a throttle and brake on the wheel, below shifter paddles, same as the normal pedals, so you can always have two hands on the wheel and even shift manually. Problem is that I don't know whether it will work with gt5. Maybe you could contact them.

http://www.google.hr/images?hl=hr&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENZZ307&q=thrustmaster+f1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=eIWtTLGLAoaWswbjg8zSDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCAQsAQwAA&biw=1175&bih=222

Maybe you can find it second hand on sale.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I spoke with gaming representative Cindy from Logitech and she gave me some bad news. Though she was very nice and very friendly, it appears I'm 'SOL.'

It appears all buttons are digital and are not progressive. That means, all buttons function with on or off. No throttle or brake input controls that are progressive. Only the foot pedals can do that.

So, looks like I hit a wall. I'll have to use the foot pedals with my hands, which unfortunately is not an option for me. I need to take appart the foot pedals and arrange them so they can fit my needs.

I asked Cindy if she let her designers know that I have a special need for a solution to my wheel problem. She said she pass it along, but I don't have a solid hope of getting any solutions from Logitech.

Looks like I need to have somebody who has some knowledge of these wheel units and maybe design something for me that will work.

So, if there are any of you out there, and like a good challenge, contact me via PM. I can give you some details of what I like or need.

Thanks. 👍

 

[Teh_Loserer]

I'm no good with electronics and soldering and such, but perhaps it might be possible to rig the paddle shifters with pots instead of switches? Maybe even with a longer range of motion?

Or maybe get a DFGT and mod the shifter buttons with triggers from a DS3, since you don't need the clutch and H-gate?

I'm just tossin' ideas out, hopefully someone with more technical know how can make it work for ya.

**edit** D'oh! I scrolled right past noriel's post. But pretty much the same idea.
I think the time difference is greater than just "tree'd"
I think I was asleep at the lights

 

[OAB4nd1t]

Hi,
when i passed my driving test, the automatic car was fitted with hand controls for accelerator and brake.
Perhaps you could contact a motability garage who carries out conversions to fabricate a hand contol for your g25.
worth a try

 

[Flerbizky]

I could swear I had a wheel, before I got the DFGT, that had both shifter paddles, as well as well as progressive paddles, that could be mapped to gas / brake - but I'll be damned if I can remember what it was. Maybe those paddles could be modded to fit the G25..

I'll think really hard about what wheel that was and update once I remember..

 

[UK-Gamer]

I could swear I had a wheel, before I got the DFGT, that had both shifter paddles, as well as well as progressive paddles, that could be mapped to gas / brake - but I'll be damned if I can remember what it was. Maybe those paddles could be modded to fit the G25..

I'll think really hard about what wheel that was and update once I remember..

Might it be the Thrustmaster RGT?

 

[BudNC6721]

What about the Logitech Driving Force Wireless wheel? It already has gas and brake mapped to the paddles behind the wheel.

 

[No46_TheDoctor]

What about the Logitech Driving Force Wireless wheel? It already has gas and brake mapped to the paddles behind the wheel.

You would have thought the lady from Logitech would have mentioned that one !

Doesn't appear to be on their site though, but I have seen it in a bundle somewhere.

 

[BudNC6721]

I've seen them at Best Buy (almost bought it before I decided to spend the extra money and get a dfgt instead), amazon.com, and ebay. All 3 places had them between 40 and 50 dollars (US).

 

[Solid Lifters]

Hi,
when i passed my driving test, the automatic car was fitted with hand controls for accelerator and brake.
Perhaps you could contact a motability garage who carries out conversions to fabricate a hand contol for your g25.
worth a try

Thanks for the suggestion, but I already looked into it. They wanted $1,000-$2,000 to build something for me. No chance in that.

I could swear I had a wheel, before I got the DFGT, that had both shifter paddles, as well as well as progressive paddles, that could be mapped to gas / brake - but I'll be damned if I can remember what it was. Maybe those paddles could be modded to fit the G25..

I'll think really hard about what wheel that was and update once I remember..

Yeah, that wheel was suggested to me by OpelGT, I think his name was. He got his for $30 on a special sale. Best Buy has them for $60 right now.

Though, this does look like a solution to my needs, I wanted something a bit 'higher quality.' But, beggars can't be choosers, right? I'll go with this wheel around launch day if I have to. But, I don't want to, TBH.

What about the Logitech Driving Force Wireless wheel? It already has gas and brake mapped to the paddles behind the wheel.

That's the wheel I was just talking about. BB still has them. I will have to, not want to, get one when the game is here.

You would have thought the lady from Logitech would have mentioned that one !

Doesn't appear to be on their site though, but I have seen it in a bundle somewhere.

Cindy can only tell me what's on her screen. That's all these people are paid to do. Yes, the Logitech website only as the G27 and the GT wheel. I like both, but I see no need to get the G27 when all I'm going to use is the wheel.

And it's not really a bundle, I think. Only a wheel that you use gas and brake with the paddles. Not foot pedals, I think.

I've seen them at Best Buy (almost bought it before I decided to spend the extra money and get a dfgt instead), amazon.com, and ebay. All 3 places had them between 40 and 50 dollars (US).

Yeah, that's the one. I'll get one if I have no other options left. I cannot race well with the DS3 controler. It's time for a wheel. To bad it's not a great one, but oh well. If it suits my needs, my needs will be suited. Sounds like a solution to me.

Thanks for all your help, dudes! 👍

EDIT: Looks like Amazon has them for $40. I'll order one closer to launch day. I only have 30 days to report any problems for a complete refund, so I'll wait a while.

Logitech Playstation 3 Driving Force Wireless Force Feedback Wheel
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D1MG5W/?tag=gtplanet-20

 

[Solid Lifters]

Well, I bought the wheel in the link in the above post and I'm not that happy with it.

First off, I didn't have a game I could play with it. So, I downloaded GTHD again. That track is a PITA to begin with. I slide all over the place. I was hoping that the wheel would improve my time. It didn't. It made it worse. By about 4-5 seconds a lap!

But, I'll hold off judgement until I get GT5. But, so far, it's not looking good for this wheel. Ripping open my finger on the damn paddle shifters didn't improve my opinion of the thing, either.

The problem I have is simple. This wheel has the shifter paddles but they're used for gas and brake. Perfect for me, but it's not a good design. Whenever I need to turn the wheel in a hard fashion, I can't hold down gas or brake. So, of course I go slower. It happens to many times on this course, though. Hence 4-5 seconds slower time overall.

But does this wheel, or any other wheel, take long getting use to? I don't know if I should be so hasty to return it? I want to, since I do so much better with the regular controler. Don't know what I should do. Again, I'm going to wait for GT5 to show up.

What are your feelings about this course? Is it faster for you to use the controler or the wheel?