Stiffer gas pedal springs?
11-05-2018, 08:45 AM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Stiffer gas pedal springs?
This may sound dumb, but has anyone swapped out their gas pedal springs to something stiffer? Coming from a '95 Camaro with a DBC setup and aftermarket TB, the stock C5 DBW has a REALLY light gas pedal. SO light that I feel I can barely feel it with the shoes I wear. When I race I use "racing shoes" but daily driving it's a tad annoying.
I looked and it seems to be three double ground end springs that you COULD just compress and out. Looks like they are only retained by a metal tab.
I looked and it seems to be three double ground end springs that you COULD just compress and out. Looks like they are only retained by a metal tab.
11-05-2018, 12:22 PM
#2
Racer
This is something I've thought about as well (my daily is a drive by cable mustang... also cable actuated clutch but thats another story LOL).
I'd be interested to hear from anyone whos tried something.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone whos tried something.
11-05-2018, 12:38 PM
#3
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I'm half tempted to take the pedal assembly out (couple bolts and electrical connector as far as I can tell). See what the dimensions of the springs are and order some from McMaster Carr.
11-06-2018, 08:02 AM
#4
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Took the large spring out and took it into work to measure it.
ID 9/16"(14.3mm)
Free Length 2 7/8" (73mm)
Install length in pedal 2.5"(63.5mm)
Compressed at WOT 2" (50.8mm)
At install length of 2.5"(63.5mm) Load is 4 lbf(17 N) and at WOT length of 2"(50.8mm) it is 10 lbf( 44N). So Rate is 11.5 lb/in(2 N/mm).
Time to see what McMaster Carr has...
ID 9/16"(14.3mm)
Free Length 2 7/8" (73mm)
Install length in pedal 2.5"(63.5mm)
Compressed at WOT 2" (50.8mm)
At install length of 2.5"(63.5mm) Load is 4 lbf(17 N) and at WOT length of 2"(50.8mm) it is 10 lbf( 44N). So Rate is 11.5 lb/in(2 N/mm).
Time to see what McMaster Carr has...
Last edited by smitty2919; 11-06-2018 at 10:54 AM. Reason: updated spring ID spec
11-06-2018, 08:17 AM
#5
Racer
Ooo I'm excited for this. I guess no one else gets it lol.
But seriously... the drive by wire is excellent on these cars, its just hard to feel the feedback from the pedal for rev matching and stuff. With these cars being out for over 20 years now I'd be kind of shocked if NO ONE had done this. I look forward to your results.
But seriously... the drive by wire is excellent on these cars, its just hard to feel the feedback from the pedal for rev matching and stuff. With these cars being out for over 20 years now I'd be kind of shocked if NO ONE had done this. I look forward to your results.
11-06-2018, 09:21 AM
#6
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Exactly. I prefer to have more feedback/pressure on my foot. I've noticed if I go over bumps and my foot moves the I hit the gas lol.
11-06-2018, 09:24 PM
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I have 2 different springs coming in tomorrow. Once should be 1.8x initial force to press the pedal (7.95lbs) and 1.6x the force at WOT (16lbs). The other one should be 2.2x times the force required to press the pedal (9.5lbs) and almost 3x the force to hold it at WOT (28.3lbs).
I will gladly share the PN's I ordered from McMaster once I know they "work". In the end it will all be what people like for feel. I can also let you know a way to determine the forces at initial press and WOT. It's simple calculation of change in height multiplied by advertised rate will give you a force at a given height.
To be continued...
I will gladly share the PN's I ordered from McMaster once I know they "work". In the end it will all be what people like for feel. I can also let you know a way to determine the forces at initial press and WOT. It's simple calculation of change in height multiplied by advertised rate will give you a force at a given height.
To be continued...
Last edited by smitty2919; 11-06-2018 at 09:27 PM.
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acuevo (11-06-2018)
11-07-2018, 06:43 PM
#8
Safety Car
Thread Starter
So, progress. I installed a McMaster Carr 9657K435 spring and initial thoughts are this will work well. Install is easy without much fuss but it does provide a little extra resistance to the pedal. I will see how it drives tomorrow.
It is a 3" long .516" ID 15.9 lb/in spring.
It is a 3" long .516" ID 15.9 lb/in spring.
11-08-2018, 05:09 AM
#10
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interesting 
11-08-2018, 10:58 AM
#11
Safety Car
Thread Starter
The spring I selected is slightly stiffer than stock which makes sense being 7.95lbf over 4lbf when you initially press the pedal. It's a step in the right direction but not night and day. I will use this for now and possibly play with a stiffer one, but as they get stiffer it gets more difficult to install them with the pedal in the car. I wasn't in the mood to remove the whole assembly lol
11-08-2018, 11:33 AM
#12
Racer
The spring I selected is slightly stiffer than stock which makes sense being 7.95lbf over 4lbf when you initially press the pedal. It's a step in the right direction but not night and day. I will use this for now and possibly play with a stiffer one, but as they get stiffer it gets more difficult to install them with the pedal in the car. I wasn't in the mood to remove the whole assembly lol
Last edited by acuevo; 11-08-2018 at 11:34 AM.
11-09-2018, 02:40 PM
#13
You may want a tool specifically designed for installing springs. I think there's probably a tool targeted towards drum brakes that might work for you? Basically you want something similar to channel lock pliers, except bigger and a little differently shaped.
Maybe if you google "Brake Spring Plier and Claw" that might do it.
Maybe if you google "Brake Spring Plier and Claw" that might do it.
Last edited by gimp; 11-09-2018 at 02:42 PM.
11-30-2018, 03:48 PM
#15
Safety Car
Thread Starter
It's not a HUGE change really. I was expecting more but oh well. I have not had the motivation to try the big boy spring...mostly because I couldn't easily get it in by hand. It just hit me recently I could slowly compress it in a vice then wrap zip-ties 180* apart in the body coils then place it in the pedal and cut the zip ties.
I'm sure there are more springs out there to choose from, I simply looked on McMaster. BUT my point of this was the potential for fine tuning the gas pedal feel IF one was so inclined. I like to tinker so it was a cheap interesting project.
And it's now becoming crappy weather so the C5 will no get driven AS much.
I'm sure there are more springs out there to choose from, I simply looked on McMaster. BUT my point of this was the potential for fine tuning the gas pedal feel IF one was so inclined. I like to tinker so it was a cheap interesting project.
And it's now becoming crappy weather so the C5 will no get driven AS much.
12-02-2018, 07:22 PM
#16
Racer
It's not a HUGE change really. I was expecting more but oh well. I have not had the motivation to try the big boy spring...mostly because I couldn't easily get it in by hand. It just hit me recently I could slowly compress it in a vice then wrap zip-ties 180* apart in the body coils then place it in the pedal and cut the zip ties.
I'm sure there are more springs out there to choose from, I simply looked on McMaster. BUT my point of this was the potential for fine tuning the gas pedal feel IF one was so inclined. I like to tinker so it was a cheap interesting project.
And it's now becoming crappy weather so the C5 will no get driven AS much.
I'm sure there are more springs out there to choose from, I simply looked on McMaster. BUT my point of this was the potential for fine tuning the gas pedal feel IF one was so inclined. I like to tinker so it was a cheap interesting project.
And it's now becoming crappy weather so the C5 will no get driven AS much.
Been rained out the last 3 or 4 times I wanted to take it out.