I've posted this twice as I thought it would get lost in the CST forum and it might help some with there decision on whether to buy or not.
CST Pedals Review
This review covers the CST3-R with the Stiff Brake Upgrade, I also had the large brake pedal face added as one of my favourite forms of motorsport is Aussie V8 Supercars. I’ve been sim racing on the pc for about 6 years, before that a PS console racer and have owned nearly every mid priced wheel & pedal set sold, everything from a Jordan F1 wheel to a Logitech G27, including a set of Fanatec Clubsports. I’ve modded nearly every set I’ve owned as the brake was always a letdown, that ended today.
I opened the box to be met by huge mass of polystyrene squiggles, carefully I removed the heavily bubble wrapped package from the box and unwrapped about 10 layers of bubble wrap. So no worries with how they where packed. Still finding stray bits of packing now, warning it goes everywhere no matter how careful you are.
The CST pedals themselves are a work of art, solid steel, beautifully powder coated and bulletproof build quality with big fat shiny springs. I had the stiff brake upgrade as I wanted a firm brake and with some adjustment of the preload spring the feel I now have is amazing.
All of the pedals can be adjusted with both pedal face depth and width being a fairly simple operation. Undoing a nut for the depth and loosening the collars on the rods for spacing. Preload on the pedals can also be fully adjusted by tightening/loosening the nut at the back of the brass washer, again a simple operation. Adjusting the throw on the clutch/throttle is slightly more involved, but still fairly simple.
In the pics I had the pedals mounted completely straight I’ve since angled the back down so I’m pressing down more than away, this has given me even better feel with the brake. The brake uses a 30kg load cell, a 60kg is available as a High Pressure upgrade and as previously mentioned I had the stiff brake upgrade added which makes the pedal itself harder to press with less travel simulating a real race car.
So cockpit done (Had to make new front end as previous was 4mm to narrow) and pedals attached, I fired up the pc and did the calibration. This, when you first read it in the manual sounds confusing, once you start doing though it’s not that hard. Calibrating the clutch/throttle are the same with only a slight difference to doing the brake.
10mins later and I fire up rFactor, program the pedal inputs and hit the track. Leave the pits and floor it heading to my first corner, hit the brakes and a huge smile breaks across my face, OMG these things are amazing I hit the limit of traction and just backed off the pressure slightly and my car slowed up so quick I did a mirror, signal, manoeuvre round the corner, oops these thing are going to take a bit of getting used to as braking is so improved. Hitting full lock up and then releasing slightly to get max speed degradation is a lot easier with these than any other pedal set I have ever used.
It hasn’t made me quicker (yet) over a single lap but has given me a consistency over a race distance that before I could only dream of and a confidence in the virtual car I’m driving like never before. Paired up with my DIY BMW sequential shifter, G27 wheel and Eyefinity set up I think I’ve found sim racing nirvana and haven’t smiled so much sim racing in ages.
Pros
· Build Quality
· Load Cell Brake
· Upgrade Options
· Easy to Adjust
· Great Customer Support
· Best Pedals I’ve Owned
Cons
· The only con I have is that the rods that go across slightly flex when you brake, you don’t notice it when racing but you can see it.
So do I recommend these, you bet I do, would I recommend dealing with Todd at CST definitely. If you’ve been thinking about getting these hit the order button, you won’t regret it.
http://www.cannonsimulationtechnologies.com/category-1.htm
CST Pedals Review
This review covers the CST3-R with the Stiff Brake Upgrade, I also had the large brake pedal face added as one of my favourite forms of motorsport is Aussie V8 Supercars. I’ve been sim racing on the pc for about 6 years, before that a PS console racer and have owned nearly every mid priced wheel & pedal set sold, everything from a Jordan F1 wheel to a Logitech G27, including a set of Fanatec Clubsports. I’ve modded nearly every set I’ve owned as the brake was always a letdown, that ended today.
I opened the box to be met by huge mass of polystyrene squiggles, carefully I removed the heavily bubble wrapped package from the box and unwrapped about 10 layers of bubble wrap. So no worries with how they where packed. Still finding stray bits of packing now, warning it goes everywhere no matter how careful you are.
The CST pedals themselves are a work of art, solid steel, beautifully powder coated and bulletproof build quality with big fat shiny springs. I had the stiff brake upgrade as I wanted a firm brake and with some adjustment of the preload spring the feel I now have is amazing.
All of the pedals can be adjusted with both pedal face depth and width being a fairly simple operation. Undoing a nut for the depth and loosening the collars on the rods for spacing. Preload on the pedals can also be fully adjusted by tightening/loosening the nut at the back of the brass washer, again a simple operation. Adjusting the throw on the clutch/throttle is slightly more involved, but still fairly simple.
In the pics I had the pedals mounted completely straight I’ve since angled the back down so I’m pressing down more than away, this has given me even better feel with the brake. The brake uses a 30kg load cell, a 60kg is available as a High Pressure upgrade and as previously mentioned I had the stiff brake upgrade added which makes the pedal itself harder to press with less travel simulating a real race car.
So cockpit done (Had to make new front end as previous was 4mm to narrow) and pedals attached, I fired up the pc and did the calibration. This, when you first read it in the manual sounds confusing, once you start doing though it’s not that hard. Calibrating the clutch/throttle are the same with only a slight difference to doing the brake.
10mins later and I fire up rFactor, program the pedal inputs and hit the track. Leave the pits and floor it heading to my first corner, hit the brakes and a huge smile breaks across my face, OMG these things are amazing I hit the limit of traction and just backed off the pressure slightly and my car slowed up so quick I did a mirror, signal, manoeuvre round the corner, oops these thing are going to take a bit of getting used to as braking is so improved. Hitting full lock up and then releasing slightly to get max speed degradation is a lot easier with these than any other pedal set I have ever used.
It hasn’t made me quicker (yet) over a single lap but has given me a consistency over a race distance that before I could only dream of and a confidence in the virtual car I’m driving like never before. Paired up with my DIY BMW sequential shifter, G27 wheel and Eyefinity set up I think I’ve found sim racing nirvana and haven’t smiled so much sim racing in ages.
Pros
· Build Quality
· Load Cell Brake
· Upgrade Options
· Easy to Adjust
· Great Customer Support
· Best Pedals I’ve Owned
Cons
· The only con I have is that the rods that go across slightly flex when you brake, you don’t notice it when racing but you can see it.
So do I recommend these, you bet I do, would I recommend dealing with Todd at CST definitely. If you’ve been thinking about getting these hit the order button, you won’t regret it.
http://www.cannonsimulationtechnologies.com/category-1.htm
