The Differences Between Two-Step, Anti-Lag, & Flat-Foot Shifting:

When to Use Them for Turbocharged Cars

When it comes to power, boost is your best friend. An engine is most simply an air pump, and boost increases its air-compressing capacity to yield more power effectively. So since boost is your best friend, you may be asking, "How do you keep boost throughout the whole RPM range?" You might also ask, "How do I fix turbo lag?" Maintaining turbo speed is the answer, a feat that can be done in many ways to suit various scenarios. Two-step, anti-lag, and flat-foot shifting are all methods for maintaining boost levels and reducing lag. While they achieve a similar function, each is a unique method of keeping boost pressure up that's best in different applications. Here's what each does in brief:

Feature	Helps with…
Two-Step	Launching from a dead stop.
Anti-Lag	Maintaining boost during deceleration.
Flat-Foot Shift	Maintaining boost during shifts.

What Is 2-Step?

Simply put, brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that transfers your braking input to the wheels. The keyword here is hydraulic. Hydraulic fluids are non-compressible, meaning they can't be squeezed into a smaller space. So, when it comes to your car's brakes, the process works like this: you push on the brake pedal, applying pressure to the brake fluid, the brake fluid then puts pressure on the brake pads, and the friction between the brake pads and rotors (or brake shoes and drums) slows your vehicle.

How 2-Step Works

A fuel cut is programmed into the tune to prevent the engine rpm from raising beyond the predetermined RPM. That RPM is determined on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis depending on the available traction. For some systems, when the vehicle speed is 0 mph, 2-step activates and enables the secondary rev limit, allowing you to have a controlled launch. Other systems might include an activation switch or program.

Where Can You Get a 2-Step Tune?

2-step tunes are incredibly popular and common; some vehicles now come from the factory with "2-step" functionality. If yours didn't, you can either get an aftermarket ECU with 2-step built-in or get it tuned by a professional tuner (all depending on the vehicle you drive). Visit us at Boostin Performance in Hoffman Estates, IL for a 2-step tune.

What Is Anti-Lag?

Anti-lag keeps your car's turbocharger spinning by causing detonation in the exhaust manifold ahead of the turbocharger, keeping the exhaust gas flowing (and thus the turbo spinning) even when you're off the throttle. It's worth noting that you won't be spending much time off-throttle if you're drag racing your car, so anti-lag wouldn't be particularly useful for you. Instead, you'll want to consider the viability of flat-foot shifting for your application.

Where Can You Get Anti-Lag Installed?

We at Boostin Performance have the knowledge and experience to get your vehicle equipped with anti-lag, so give us a call today to see what we can do for you.

What Is Flat-Foot Shifting?

In a manual transmission vehicle, flat-foot shifting is when you don't lift off the throttle to shift gears. While you might be physically able to do this in just about any car with a manual trans, let's break into the specifics to see why you might not want to do it without taking the proper precautions.

How Flat-Foot Shifting Works

Let's say you have a turbocharged car with a manual transmission. When you shift normally, you let off the gas pedal when you press down the clutch. That closes the throttle plate, meaning there's nowhere for the boosted air to go other than out the blow-off valve or back into the turbo, both of which effectively slow down the turbo. With flat-foot shifting, you keep the throttle plate open during shifts, meaning the boosted air keeps flowing through the engine and the turbo speed stays up. While less intense than anti-lag, this can put incredible stress on your clutch, transmission, and driveline in general. A way to mitigate this stress and improve reliability is to get a flat-foot shifting tune.

Where Can You Get a Flat-Foot Shifting Tune?

A special tune for flat-foot shifting can help ensure your car maintains some reliably to consistently put down great numbers at the track. Boostin Performance is your local tuning shop that can get your car outfitted with a flat-foot shifting tune unique to your build. Give us a call today and let's talk about how Boostin Performance can make your aspirations for your car a reality.

Boostin Performance Is Your Local Performance Shop

No matter if you're looking to get your car equipped with 2-step, anti-lag, or flat-foot shift capability, Boostin Performance is your local destination in Hoffman Estates, IL, to get the job done right. Not only can we get your car set up with the proper tune, but we can assist with the necessary supporting mods and component checks to ensure your car can put the power down reliably. Entrust your boost to Boostin Performance; it's in the name, after all.