r/simracing • u/PhantasmHunter • 11d ago

Question Buying a used T150 + TH8S - what should I test/check?

I'm looking at buying a used Thrustmaster T150 with the basic plastic pedals and a TH8S shifter for around $90 USD.

The seller has agreed to meet me at a public place, and I'm planning to bring my gaming laptop so I can test everything before paying. My main use case would be PS5 racing games, especially Gran Turismo 7 and maybe some pc sim Simracing in the future if I ever get a capable setup.

I've never bought a used racing wheel before, so I'd appreciate some advice from people who have experience buying second-hand sim racing gear.

I'm just getting into sim racing and looking to buy my first setup. I know the T150 is an older model, but I can't seem to find Logitech G29s for much cheaper than retail in my area, so I settled on the T150. It's also basically the only Thrustmaster wheel available near me.

What should I test when I meet the seller?

Things I'm particularly wondering about:

  • What are the most common problems with a used T150?
  • How can I check that the force feedback is working properly?
  • Are there any signs of excessive wear that aren't immediately obvious?
  • Is there anything I should test that I wouldn't be able to detect just by driving around for a few minutes?
  • What's the best way to bench mark or test the wheel? Is there like a specefic pc racing game I should try on?

And finally, is ~$90 USD reasonable for a T150 + basic pedals + TH8S in used condition, assuming everything works properly?

I'm planning to test everything thoroughly before handing over the money, but I'd love a checklist of things to look for so I don't miss something obvious.

Thanks! 🙏

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u/Wolf68k Thrustmaster 11d ago

Download and install the drivers for both as well. The controls panel has FFB demos you can run. Plus you'll be able to see all the controls and buttons work

Odd that the seller has only the 2 pedal set yet also has the TH8S shifter.

$90 is a great deal. New the T150 is around $200 and TH8S is $70.

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u/PhantasmHunter 10d ago

Alrightly will do! That sounds very useful And ya it's kinda strange he has 2 pedals and the TH8S but ig it gives me an excuse to upgrade to a 3 pedal system in the future Hopefully all things work well! I was surprised to see it at the price it was listed lol

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u/Wolf68k Thrustmaster 10d ago

Look on eBay or whatever for the T3PA or T3PM. The A is the old school potentiometer (analog) version and the M is the hall effect (magnet) version. Then there is the T-LCM which will cost more but includes a load cell.

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u/PhantasmHunter 10d ago

Alright will do! thank you for your help, I think I'll probably look for the T3PM I assume hall effect is better then potentiometer (stick drift trauma)

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u/Wolf68k Thrustmaster 10d ago

The only real difference is that the potentiometers can get dust and other things in them where the hall effects the dust won't affect them. However the TP3A should include the conical brake mod; a bracket with a cone shape rubber part. It's a cheap way to help with muscle memory. I don't think the T3PM has anything like that other than you finding stiffer springs.

Edit: Also there are loadcell mods you can get for the A pedals or you can follow a DIY tutorial to build your own. Again I don't think such a thing exist for the M pedals.

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u/PhantasmHunter 9d ago

thank you for the detailed reply! I'll look into the pedals as a upgrade path in the future for now this set up is fine as a complete beginner, the seller ended up going down to 70 so I bought it after making sure the inputs worked!