How to Add Sport Pedals to a Car

Many car enthusiasts add sport pedals to their vehicles in an effort to reduce weight and increase foot traction. Other sport pedals are designed for purely aesthetic purposes. With just a few tools and an hour or so of free time, you can add these pedals to your favorite car.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Torx screwdriver bits
• Nail set or punch tool
• Hammer

1. Determine whether the new sport pedals will work in your specific car before you add them. Measure the length of the pedal assembly to find out if there is enough clearance for the pedal to move in its natural arc without hitting the floor.
2. Remove the old pedal assemblies. In most cases, you will need to use a screwdriver with a Torx bit to remove the screws from the housing assembly. Remove the cover carefully, taking time to note the positioning of the lever and the spring so that you can add the new pedal arm correctly.
3. Take the pedal arm assembly out of its housing without disturbing the interior of the housing, such as the paddle lever and spring.
4. Knock out the pin that holds the pedal to the arm assembly. You may need to use a punch tool or nail set, coupled with a hammer, to free the pin from the assembly.
5. Add the new sport pedals to the arm assembly according to the manufacturer's specifications. With some sport pedals, you may need to install the rubber padding independently of the metal assembly. Reattach the pedal to the arm assembly using the old pin, knocking it back into place with the hammer.
6. Place the arm assembly with the new sport pedals back into the housing, ensuring that the paddle and spring are still in place. It should be fairly easy to reinsert the spring and paddle into the housing, since they fit only one way. Screw the housing cover back onto the main pedal assembly with the Torx screwdriver.
7. Test your new sport pedal assembly by repeatedly depressing it all the way to the floor. Note any unusual stiffness or squeaks that may indicate that the spring has become loose inside the main housing.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to remove the lower section of the dashboard to have more room to work. In most cases, this section is fastened with only screws or clips.