Aluminum Dead Pedal Installation
Applicable Years: C5
Difficulty Level: 2
Tools: electric or cordless drill, 1/8-inch drill bit, 2mm Allen wrench, Vice-Grip clamp or Vice-Grip pliers or C-clamp, 10mm socket and ratchet or 10mm nut-driver
Time: 1 hour
Parts source: Mid America Motorworks
The aluminum brake pedal in my C5 looks cool, so I wanted to install a matching dead pedal (also known as a left footrest) and an aluminum accelerator pedal, so I gave Mid America Motorworks a shout to get the goodies. Installation isn't hard, but you'll be kneeling a lot to do this project, so a soft mat or knee protectors are items you'll be glad to have and use.
Here are the tools you'll...
Here are the tools you'll need for this installation. Don't be intimidated; it's not difficult at all.
Here's the aluminum C5 dead...
Here's the aluminum C5 dead pedal (left) covered in this project, and the aluminum C5 accelerator pedal covered in the next project. The four screws in the plastic bag are for securing the dead pedal. The different coloring of the aluminum in the two pedals occurs as a byproduct of the casting process and in no way effects the wear, durability, or functionality of the pedals; in fact, when the installation is complete, you'll see there is barely any perceptible difference in the pedal coloring.
While you can do this installation...
While you can do this installation with the factory plastic dead pedal still in the car, it's much easier to do it out of the car. Use a 10mm socket to remove the two nuts retaining the stock dead pedal, then pull off the pedal using a rocking motion. Be careful not to pull too briskly, however, lest you break the plastic mounting tabs on the pedal.
Center the aluminum pedal...
Center the aluminum pedal on the plastic one and clamp the two together to keep them from moving. Use a 1/8-inch drill bit to drill the four screw holes, using the holes in the aluminum pedal as a guide.
The four mounting screws supplied...
The four mounting screws supplied will easily tap into the soft plastic of the stock pedal. Use a 2mm Allen wrench to tighten them down once they're started. When all four are tight, you're ready to put the pedal back in the car and secure it with the two 10mm nuts you removed initially.
Aluminum Accelerator Pedal Installation
Applicable Years: C5
Difficulty Level: 1
Tools: flat-blade screwdriver, cable tie (optional)
Time: 30 minutes
Parts source: Mid America Motorworks
To match the aluminum brake pedal and the aluminum dead pedal I just installed in the previous project, an aluminum accelerator pedal was certainly in order. This is another project you'll be kneeling for, so knee protectors or a cushion/mat of some sort will make working a bit more comfortable. Also, I should tell you that this is one of those "blind" projects-you won't be able to see in back of the accelerator pedal, so you'll be working strictly by feel, but it's not really all that difficult in the final analysis.
The stock accelerator pedal...
The stock accelerator pedal is held in place with a pin. First, slip the tensioning spring over the accelerator arm to relax the tension on the pedal. Next, push on the pin from the passenger side of the arm; I found that using a flat-blade screwdriver on the driver side of the arm to pry the pin makes it come out quite a bit faster and easier. Be sure to note the orientation of the spring, as shown here on the right, with the retainer pin on the left and the disconnected stock pedal between them.
I used a cable tie to hold...
I used a cable tie to hold the spring in position (correctly oriented); that made positioning the new pedal and inserting the pin a bit easier. Once you push the pin all the way home, disconnect the cable tie and snap the spring back over the arm to re-establish tension on the pedal.
Here's the finished installation...
Here's the finished installation showing both the new, aluminum dead pedal and the accelerator pedal perfectly complementing the factory aluminum brake pedal. you'll notice there's no perceptible color difference either.