08-10 SS Turbocharged General Discussion Discuss the 2008 - 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbocharged. On sale since the second quarter of 2008.

Modding your gas pedal for heel-toe downshift?

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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 06:05 PM
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blrt's Avatar
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Modding your gas pedal for heel-toe downshift?

I couldn't find any info on this. Has anyone done this or is there a vendor that make brake/gas pedals for the track/auto cross crowd? I have no plan in autocrossing but occasionally I like to heel-toe downshift. The way the lnf pedals positioned is difficult to do the heel-toe. My Integra pedals are position perfectly for this.

From my observation, the gas pedal needs to be approximately .5" - 1" higher relatively to the brake pedal or the brake needs to be closer to the floor. Since the brake is a safety thing, I would be more comfortable modding the gas pedal instead.

The easiest thing to do is make somesort of block to be mounted with 4 screws on top of the existing optional pedal cover. I would make it 1/4" closer the the brake pedal as well. The good thing is I can easily convert back to stock. I thinking of using a phenolic block just because it's easiest for me to sand it to the same convex shape as the pedal. And they are super strong.

What you all think? Any ideas?
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by blrt
I couldn't find any info on this. Has anyone done this or is there a vendor that make brake/gas pedals for the track/auto cross crowd? I have no plan in autocrossing but occasionally I like to heel-toe downshift. The way the lnf pedals positioned is difficult to do the heel-toe. My Integra pedals are position perfectly for this.

From my observation, the gas pedal needs to be approximately .5" - 1" higher relatively to the brake pedal or the brake needs to be closer to the floor. Since the brake is a safety thing, I would be more comfortable modding the gas pedal instead.

The easiest thing to do is make somesort of block to be mounted with 4 screws on top of the existing optional pedal cover. I would make it 1/4" closer the the brake pedal as well. The good thing is I can easily convert back to stock. I thinking of using a phenolic block just because it's easiest for me to sand it to the same convex shape as the pedal. And they are super strong.

What you all think? Any ideas?
there a number of things wrong with the GM gas pedals in all their cars, you just have to look at the primo driving cars to see. BMW Porsche et all use bottom hinged gas pedals with pendant brake and clutch. So just the gas pedal needs to be fixed. You have to be cautious the Delta cars are drive by wire. This is my solution.

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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 06:47 PM
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i really don't find it hard to heel-toe at all..infact its close to the brake so it should be pretty easy ..again its my opinion..since i have no problems i don't ese the need to butcher it
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 07:41 PM
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Do ball-toe rather than heel toe. Thats what works well with the Cobalt. The gas and brake are positioned close enough together where you can keep the ball of your foot (Behind the big toe) on the brake while blipping the gas pedal with your small toe.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 10:31 PM
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I use the side of my foot on the gas and the left side for the brake kinda like this \ . The brake and gas are close enough that it works for me.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 10:47 PM
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qwik that is really nice
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 10:50 PM
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Originally Posted by rukkee
I use the side of my foot on the gas and the left side for the brake kinda like this \ . The brake and gas are close enough that it works for me.
same for me. I just kinda roll my foot to the right. took a LOT of practice in the cobalt.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by D4u2s0t
same for me. I just kinda roll my foot to the right. took a LOT of practice in the cobalt.
Exactly! ..... I roll my foot to the left to brake and can still have the right side to control the gas. It's second nature now but when i was trying to master it on my SS/SC ......I had my foot slip off the side of the brake pedal a time or two.


Qwik's solution is cool thou .
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by qwikredline
there a number of things wrong with the GM gas pedals in all their cars, you just have to look at the primo driving cars to see. BMW Porsche et all use bottom hinged gas pedals with pendant brake and clutch. So just the gas pedal needs to be fixed. You have to be cautious the Delta cars are drive by wire. This is my solution.


gotta do a how to, this is hot.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 11:29 PM
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Just like most of you, I don't do the conventional heel-toe thing but rather just used half of my right foot on the brake and other half on gas. I just find it is much more difficult to do in the SS than in my Integra and STi.

BTW, that's a very good idea John. Thanks for sharing.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 11:44 PM
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size 12 eee's no problems with stock pedals!
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 12:35 AM
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john thats a nice setup you got going there.
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by rukkee
I use the side of my foot on the gas and the left side for the brake kinda like this \ . The brake and gas are close enough that it works for me.
I do this as well. I wear a 13 tho, it helps LOL!!

I like that guy's setup posted above, very cool!
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by qwikredline
there a number of things wrong with the GM gas pedals in all their cars, you just have to look at the primo driving cars to see. BMW Porsche et all use bottom hinged gas pedals with pendant brake and clutch. So just the gas pedal needs to be fixed. You have to be cautious the Delta cars are drive by wire. This is my solution.

I like this, looks very track friendly.
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 05:19 PM
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Originally Posted by qwikredline
there a number of things wrong with the GM gas pedals in all their cars, you just have to look at the primo driving cars to see. BMW Porsche et all use bottom hinged gas pedals with pendant brake and clutch. So just the gas pedal needs to be fixed. You have to be cautious the Delta cars are drive by wire. This is my solution.

I really like that.I bought one of those pedal kits from autozone,and used only the thickest part on the gas pedal to bring it in line with the brake.I use heel brake/gas toe.That feels best to me.
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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 10:02 AM
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Put the ball of your foot on the brake pedal, and without moving the ball up or down, try to plant your heel in the lower right corner of the foot well. You'll hit the gas pedal.

That being said, I'll probably swap to SRP Pedals Pedals because I hate the feel of rubber covered clutch pedals when my shoes are wet.
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Old Jan 7, 2010 | 06:43 PM
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Thanks wangspeed.
Here I was being good and fiscally responsible and now precisely $141.71 has shot through the mighty Web from my AMEX to SRP at near light speed. Take it easy.
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Old Jan 7, 2010 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Wangspeed
Put the ball of your foot on the brake pedal, and without moving the ball up or down, try to plant your heel in the lower right corner of the foot well. You'll hit the gas pedal.

That being said, I'll probably swap to SRP Pedals Pedals because I hate the feel of rubber covered clutch pedals when my shoes are wet.
Thinking of picking up a set of these for Auto-X this summer aswell but $159 + Shipping (Set up the way I want them) is alot of money for pedals lol



dww257 Could you let us know how the install goes?
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Old Jan 7, 2010 | 07:06 PM
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Will do tom.g
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Old Jan 7, 2010 | 07:23 PM
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Saved for after work reading
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Old Jan 7, 2010 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by dww257
Will do tom.g
Awesome thanks
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Old Jan 7, 2010 | 09:24 PM
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I wonder if the SRP's has height adjustment? Besides of having wider gas pedal, I wanted a little higher away from the floor.
As for my mod, I made a gas pedal add-on from a piece of hardwood and clued 1/4" thick neoprene/rubber on top of the wood. On top of the rubber, I had 2 stripes anti skid tape for traction if it's been raining out side. The total height I'd gained was around 7/8" taller and 1/2" closer to the brake pedal. It will be fasten with 4 small #8 screw and 1.5" long. I will mount it and see how it works in the next few days.
If I don't like how this works, I may order the SRP in the summer.
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