Hey guys -

No big post this weekend, but I have a quick one for you.

The stock drilled aluminum brake and clutch pedals are one of the way cool things on the FD. They're light, look good, and are one of those things you can point to as to why the FD is such a cool car.

But, as time goes on they get dirty and crappy looking. Good thing is it's SUPER easy to get them looking like new again.

You'll need a steel wire brush, preferably a big one for cleaning metal before welding. I got one at Pep Boys for a few bucks, I've seen them at Harbor Freight and most any parts store.

It's about as easy at it gets - just scrub the hell out of the pedals with the brush. Takes about 20 seconds to have them looking brand new. If you have some gunk built up in there you may have to get a sharp implement and dig it out some then work with the brush.

BTW, this trick works for pretty much ANY cast aluminum - upper intake manifolds, water pump housings, you name it.

I've seen some pedals that were MUCH worse than these pictured that came out looking new. Not the best examples, but I was doing it and figured I'd make some pics .

Dale

 

nice work....but i have mine covered with Grip tape...lol. Shame Mazda didnt match our gas pedal to the other two...really what were they thinking?

 

Well, if nothing else the gas pedal is VERY light being plastic. Aluminum would have been cool but would have weighed more .

Dale

 

That who'd be a hot seller...

If someone weeded to make a cast aluminum gas pedal, that matched the brake & clutch.

Put some news paper down before, so your not knocking crap onto the carpet.

 

I think there was actually a factory option to have a metal gas pedal cover. Heath was thinking about having them re-created but we haven't looked into it much yet.

Nice little writeup Dale. I never really considered cleaning my pedals hahaha.

 

good post dale! i always think about doing this, but forget when i'm around my car. that gas pedal is looking a little dirty though.

 

Yeah, hadn't cleaned it yet .

Dale

 

Yeah, I have one of those. I always assumed it was after market. I prefer it now I know its standard

I could prob remove mine and send it over if you needed one to look at.....As I have to send Heath some bulbs (Sorry Heath, only remembered about these today! Will get them out asap).

My pedals are looking pretty tatty, I will take your advice and give them a scrub Dale

 

It would be much nicer to all aluminum gas pedal vs. a cover that doesn't even match the others.

That may be factory, but it looks like an after thought to me. (band-aid)

also, while your down there, champfer the sharp edges on the pedal posts.

I accidently cut myself on the pedals on my '95. I ran a
de-burring tool over them, now they are rounded edges.

 

There is just no need for the pedal to be aluminum, the only purpose it serves is the rotate the throttle It's just added weight for a piece that never breaks (and the spring would have to be replaced as well to return the pedal). I have "FD Pedal Covers" for my miata... ill snap some pics. It's kinda cool, someone sand cast FD pedals to work with the miata and made a gas pedal cover that looks like the FD one.

Either way, I think the cover looks great, and actually if you think about it, you WANT the gas pedal to be slick so your foot doesnt get caught on it as you slide over to the gas. You dont want to catch your shoe tread on one w/ "grips"

 

Yeap its a stock piece (i believe off the RZ and spirit R's). I have the gas and dead pedal cover (they are a set... both stamped RX7). The dead pedal cover is RHD only, and would have to be replicated for LHD.

No rush on the bulbs, lemme know what we owe you for shipping and your time !

 

The wire brush doesnt scratch the hell out of the pedals?