DIY: Installing aftermarket aluminum pedals....
 

For those of us with the standard and sport options, the pedals are nothing to write home about. A little dowdy and a little plain. To upgrade to the Touring aluminum "trimmed" pedals costs almost $300 (yikes!) A better way for real pedals was to have some custom designed for the Z. I worked with SRP Racing - Custom Aluminum Racing Pedals To come up with something a bit more serious. Here's the final product in the "Grip" finish:

http://images41.fotki.com/v1580/phot.../pedals-vi.jpg

First, place the Gas pedal over the stock part and mark the attachment holes. Drill some pilots and attach with the supplied screws:

http://images108.fotki.com/v1583/pho...MG_2088-vi.jpg

For the brake and clutch, remove the rubber pads, align the new pedals and again mark for drilling:
http://images110.fotki.com/v1582/pho...MG_2090-vi.jpg

Drilling the top holes(s) is a little trickier due to clearances. I used a 90 degree drill adapter, but you could also have someone hold the pedals down with the edge of their foot to get a better angle:
http://images51.fotki.com/v174/photo...MG_2091-vi.jpg

Final drill 11/64th holes and attach with included hardware:
http://images44.fotki.com/v1581/phot...MG_2092-vi.jpg

On the footrest, I don't have pictures, but you can do this several ways. There are 6 plastic pins that go through the carpet and are attached with metal push on clips. Using a trim tool you can pop this off from the outside, or remove the 2 Plastic nuts at the top edge of the carpet and pull the whole thing back and pop the clips off from the rear. Attaching the footrest required longer screws than supplied due to the carpet thickness and the Styrofoam base underneath. I used 3 1" stainless screws through the carpet and into the Styrofoam. Seems plenty sturdy:
http://images110.fotki.com/v1582/pho...MG_2097-vi.jpg

Done! Serious grip and a serious look for about $69-$139 depending on Options and finish work...:tup:

http://images18.fotki.com/v17/photos...MG_2100-vi.jpg

Great write up.

Very nice! I wonder how these would look in a charcoal grey finish. But I wonder how long the anodized finish would last with day in and day out use.

nice write-up!

Nice!

nice job.

i got one of these guys. :p

http://www.northerntool.com/images/p...s/15343_lg.gif

Great stuff Mod!

I just ordered a set, so you should get your commission check shortly.
:happydance:

Seriously nice work! I wonder if they have a finish thats closer to the stock aluminum ones from nissan?

I liked the machined finish better, so I went with those...

http://www.srpracing.com/prod_images...B23681CBA1.jpg

LOL...I guess you could say my assist with SRP has been passed along to you with the current "sale" pricing. Hope you like em...I do!

Mine arrived yesterday, and will be installed this weekend.
Thought I'd put up a pic so folks can see the difference in Mod's finish and mine which is "machined".


http://www.the370z.com/members/zcott...32-pedals1.jpg

Different!

Very nice!

Mind putting up a pic with them installed too? Thanks!

I'll post some pics as soon as I get them in.
Between bad weather, and some family stuff coming up I haven't had time to do the work yet...

Finally got mine installed.
Very tight fit under there, I recommend getting something like Mod used.

http://www.the370z.com/members/zcott...ish-pedals.jpg

Quick question for Modshack:
~Did you remove the dead pedal cover that came with the car or just add over it?

Dreamer....I removed it....Described in the DIY text above!

:owned:
Yep, totally missed that part, sorry mate.

So I am a bit confused. It looks like for the gas pedal, there is nothing to remove, you just mark the pilot holes over the existing pedal?

Should that be "For the brake and clutch" instead?

Correct.
Remove the covers for brake and clutch... just drill and cover the accelerator.

Cool, thanks. I think I'm going to go ahead and order the grid design ones. Now I just need to buy one of these:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/p...s/15343_lg.gif
Do you think this one would have enough torque to drill through the brake pedal?

edit: Nevermind I didn't realize that was $120. I guess I'll try one of those smaller angled drills instead. Maybe something like this http://www.amazon.com/Professional-G...5307352&sr=1-1

Doh! Yes and Yes. I fixed in Post #1....Thanks!

Harbor freight had one advertised last weel for $29.....either would be Good enough for limited use!

And yeah onthe torque.....The pedals are regular steel and drill relatively easily. When I did this on a Hardened steel pedal on my Audi years ago I had much more trouble. The Z is cake..

Nice, thanks Mod.

Very Nice MODSHACK! I like it a lot. Something to think about when my OEM padels gets worn out! :tup:

On a note for the torque made from the millwaukee angle drill... Uh yeah that'll do it. We had a guy at work catch the one we have in some .25 mild steel with a .375 dill bit and it twisted his wrist when it caught so bad it swole up. Hold on to your angle drills tight people.

nice man. i think im gonna get them

How does the brake and gas pedal match up for heel toe. OEM set is a little bit of a strecth, though you can do it but with a little discomfort.

I have not tested it, but with the extended part of the gas pedal I would say it helps, plus you can also pick where you mount the gas pedal. So if you want to push it left just a 1/8 of an inch you can do that to create a better connection between gas/brake.

Modshack

The question I asked before about heel tow should have been by leaving the rubber on the gas pedal does that help in raising the pedal higher so that you do not have to roll your right foot as much to engage both break and blip the gas pedal. I am looking to get the gas pedal higher in order to do an easier heel toe.

Rubber on the gas pedal? Sorry, not on mine....Just flat Plastic. Sandwich a spacer plate between the pedal and the aluminum to raise as much as you want. Should be simple..

http://images108.fotki.com/v1583/pho...MG_2088-vi.jpg

Question:

Does it feel different from the rubber and how about performance when driving, how is it different ?? (question from a noob at manual car)

Yes it does...Feel is very direct and grip (at least with this finish) is absolutely no slip. There's a lot of rubber on the stock pads. Think Sex with or without a condom......:tup:

I just ordered the Man trans Machined set, but I also got the foot rest. I'll post pics after install.

Nice. :)

I think I'm going to end up ordering these as I'm tired of the lack of grip on the OEM pedals (especially with dress shoes on)... just not sure which surface I am going to go with.

I went with the ones Modshack got, the others are cheaper but these are the best.
I still need to install my dead pedal one of these days, just been lazy.

I bought these pedals off of Modshack and installed them this weekend. They are very nice!

Much better than the Touring steel/rubber pedals. These have more grip, the brake and clutch surfaces are a little bit bigger, and because you get rid of the rubberized pedal cover you have a more direct feel with the pedal. Pedal vibrations aren't lessened like they are with the OEM rubber pedal covers. It's very nice and just one of those little things that helps to enhance the driving experience!

Also, my dress shoes don't slip off of these pedals!

Glad you like em Steve! I notice a big difference going back to the rubber ones...

I have had mine awhile, I'm just going to have my audio guy do it when I leave him my car soon for installs. Pics coming sometime soon! :tup: