A pedal that doesn't reach 100% costs you lap time: you never get full throttle, and you can't brake at the limit. A pedal that doesn't return to 0% is just as bad, since a brake that stays at 3% drags the car. The good news is that the cause is usually in software. Start with a measurement, then work through the list.
Measure first
Open the pedal tester, run the setup and press each pedal fully a few times. Note three values per pedal:
- Max: the deepest value reached. It should be 99–100%.
- Rest: the value with your foot off. It should be 0–1%.
- Spikes: sudden jumps that snap straight back. There should be none.
Then compare the result with what you see in a game. If the tester shows 100% but the game doesn't, the problem is in the game's settings. If the tester also stops short, the problem is in the driver, the calibration or the pedal itself.
Cause 1: Old calibration in Windows
Windows can store its own calibration for a game controller. If it was done with a foot resting on a pedal, or before a driver update, the stored range is wrong. Open joy.cpl, select the device, then go to Properties → Settings → Reset to default. Check the tester again. Calibrate again only if it's still needed. Our guide Calibrating a joystick in Windows explains the steps. They're the same for pedals.
Cause 2: Deadzone or saturation in the driver or game
Many drivers and games let you set an inner deadzone (the first part of the travel is ignored), an outer deadzone or saturation (the pedal reaches 100% before the end of its travel), and a response curve. A small inner deadzone is useful against noise. But if you set an outer value the wrong way round, the pedal can stop short. Check these in:
- the wheel or pedal software (G HUB, Thrustmaster control panel, Fanatec, MOZA Pit House or similar),
- the game's control settings, which usually include deadzone, saturation, linearity or gamma per pedal.
Set everything to neutral, then measure. Add back only what you need. Read more in deadzones explained.
Cause 3: Combined pedals
Some drivers can combine throttle and brake on one axis, a mode intended for old games. The axis then rests in the middle, so you can't press both pedals at once and neither pedal ever reaches a clean 0–100% on its own. The pedal tester shows a warning when it detects an axis that rests in the middle. Turn off “combined pedals” in the driver software.
Cause 4: Load cell brake force setting
A load cell brake measures force, not travel. If the maximum force is set high in the software, you may not be able to press hard enough to reach 100%. That's working as designed, not a fault. Lower the maximum force setting until 100% matches a firm but comfortable press.
Cause 5: Mechanical limits
A pedal can only send 100% if its sensor moves through its full range. Check for:
- a mat, rig plate or cable blocking the pedal from going all the way down,
- an aftermarket spring, elastomer or brake mod that shortens the travel,
- a sensor or magnet that has moved on its mount (on some pedals the position can be adjusted).
Cause 6: A dirty or worn potentiometer
Potentiometer pedals work with a sliding contact on a resistive track. Dust and wear cause spikes, an unsteady rest value, and sometimes a pedal that no longer reaches the ends of its range. Signs of this in the tester are spikes, noise above about ±0.5%, and a jagged line on the graph while you press smoothly.
Many users clean potentiometers with an electronics contact cleaner, while moving the pedal through its travel to spread it. Before doing this, check your warranty: opening the pedal housing may void it. Use only cleaner made for electronics, unplug the pedals first, and let them dry completely. If cleaning doesn't help, a replacement sensor or a Hall effect conversion kit (available for some popular pedals) is the long-term fix.
Checklist
| Symptom in the tester | Most likely cause | First thing to try |
|---|---|---|
| Max below 99%, smooth graph | Calibration or saturation setting | Reset calibration in joy.cpl, check driver settings |
| Rest above 1% | Calibration done with foot on pedal, weak spring | Reset calibration, check return spring |
| Axis rests at 50% | Combined pedals mode | Switch to separate axes in the driver |
| Spikes or jagged graph | Dirty or worn potentiometer | Check connector, then cleaning or replacement |
| Brake reaches 100% only with great force | Load cell force setting | Lower the maximum force in the software |
