BeamNG.drive: How to Set Up a Steering Wheel and Force Feedback

Check the wheel and PC mode

Start with a wheel that supports PC and follow its manufacturer’s wiring, driver and software instructions. A controller being usable on a console does not by itself establish PC force-feedback support. Check its mode selector before changing BeamNG settings. [1]

Many listed devices have existing control presets. Once the manufacturer’s drivers are installed, try those basic controls before creating duplicate bindings. [1]

Steps

1. If the wheel has both console and PC modes, select PC mode for force feedback. A console-only wheel cannot gain PC force feedback simply through a BeamNG setting. [1]

Create steering and pedal bindings

Steps

1. Install current manufacturer drivers and firmware. Set the wheel’s steering angle in its configuration tool and use the same angle in BeamNG. [2]
2. Open Options → Controls → Bindings → Vehicle. For an unconfigured device, use the plus button to bind steering, throttle and brake. [2]
3. For combined pedals, use Throttle and Brake; for separate pedal axes, use separate Throttle and Brake bindings. [3]
4. Bind the wheel axis to Steering rather than adding wheel axes to Steer Left or Steer Right. [3]

Tune feedback while driving a stock car

Steps

1. Use a stock official rear-wheel-drive car such as K-series Kc6, with mods disabled and no custom vehicle setup. [2]
2. Start with maximum Smoothing. Drive normally and adjust Strength until the force is comfortable; disregard parked forces. [2]
3. Then reduce Smoothing gradually for detail. Increase it again if rattling or vibration becomes uncomfortable. [2]
4. Enable Reduce Strength at Low Speeds to limit parked oscillations. [2]

Confirm input direction and diagnose a failure

Detection and working bindings are separate checks. If BeamNG lists the device but the car ignores it, review the bindings rather than assuming detection completed setup. [3]

Steps

1. If the car steers in the opposite direction, open Steering, select Inverted Axis and Apply. [3]
2. For direct-drive feedback that stops or never starts, configure and enable FFB, then try Update Type Full and Apply. [3]
3. If pressing the brake is required before the car accelerates, try Inverted Axis on the brake binding and apply it. This is a different binding from steering, so changing steering inversion does not substitute for the pedal correction. [3]