Here is the Stock set of pedals that we all know, i never liked them actually not only for the vertical stripes

 

 

 

but mainly for the huge gap beside the clutch. In the first months was ''acceptable'' but after a while start causing me problems, was not convenient for my style plus looks ugly with the Universal floor mats.

 

 

 

 

My left leg was stretched and this although looks something good in action it wasn't.

In Highways with steady speed was ''OK", in City was ''adequate" but ion Mountain roads trying to drive Sport style was the biggest nightmare.

 

 

 

Every time i had to make this awkward move, from bottom to bring it up-push pedal-let it retreat-pull it up again etc.

After few minutes i start get tired and become very nervous, every fast gear change was taking far more time than it should be, that was uncomfortable so i had to do something BUT no internet those years (around 2002) and of course no other Felicia driver to ask and advise.

Thank (Motorsport) God the Tuning magazines show-up and one day i saw something very interesting and my mind started to make thoughts to improvise..

Another problem that i forgot to mention was the emergency or any strong brake procedure.

My left foot was not in the same level with my right, when the body was coming front (while braking) due to momentum i had to push the left leg in a weird way and not only the brake wasn't proper but after a while was causing a fatigue to my back.

 

 

I was envy those guys with the 4th (rest) factory pedal but i thought couldn't do anything at that time.

I was very unhappy but one day i saw an advertisement of Foliatec set of 4 Alloy pedals and call it ''Universal" so could fit in many models.

 

Imagine something like this with a big rest pedal on the left.

 

 

 

 

The main problem was how to support that 4th pedal since from the factory there was no position? Could work or not? what could happen if i was failed?

Those years every pedal (except the 4th) had 2 pieces of metal (one up and one down with two holes with thread on them) like this

 

 

so you put the new alloy pedal above the factory and with allen screws you were pushing it creating a ''sandwich''

consisting of: 2 metal parts-factory rubber pedal surface-alloy pedal.

I took another piece of metal longer that than those of the Foliatec set, heat and bent it to give it the proper inclination (here is an example)

 

 

and after some tests to found the proper angle i attach it with a screw in the 4th pedal.

The top of that pedal was supported in the factory carpet (beneath was the car's body) and the top on the factory carpet with a screw and a nut beneath it.

Here is how the set looks today after about 21-22 years of use.

 

 

 

Look used and dusty, the photo is not from the proper angle but still serving as they should be offering A' class assistance.

Now i can drive my Felicia no matter what i am wearing: athletic shoes-casual-boots (duty, low, cowboy) even with slippers in some occasions when i had to move the car few meters, they don't slip, looks far better that the factory but the most helpful think (and i bless my inspirations for this) is the 4th pedal.

I can drive in Sport style far more easy than before, more positive movements, not more lost time in gear changes, less body fatigue, i can brake more hard and if there is a negative thing in all this is that i Highways after 1,5 hour i start feel in the left leg a small numbness because is not moving but i can easily deal with it removing and stretch it the gap beside the clutch pedal when in am in steady speed.

Tomorrow i will show you with photos as proof how good this 4th pedals works plus i will explain a small patent that i have done with the clutch pedal for more positive pushing.

There are too many designs in the market but i don't like them, for example:

 

https://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00fobgLEjnghkz/Car-Foot-Rest-Fuel-Brake-Pedal-Pad-Set-Nonslip.webp

 

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/Hc67b3c67e2f7480e8c9498b92aea1d68o/Carmilla-Car-Pedals-fKit-Parts-Gas-Brake-Pedal.jpg

 

https://i5.walmartimages.com/seo/LNKOO-3pcs-Nonslip-MT-Car-Pedal-Pads-Auto-Sports

 

I love specific that design and i don't want to change it, thankfully there are still in the market although not as Foliatec but as other brand but this is not a problem.

 

 

Can be found in ebay too, an example:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166179143850

 

 

Here are few random photos (not my car) which shows the problem that i had with my left leg and the gap that exists beside the clutch pedal.

 

 

 

For sure this was not a solution

 

 

 

 

that's why i wanted to make a modification and install a 4th pedal.

Now my legs are in the same position, the pedals are not in a 100% in straight line because the clutch after all these years is a bit worn and has one click difference but this is not an issue.

I manage to take some photos with my service boots which are a bit difficult to drive with them but i must, without the 4th pedal and the existing gap i always had a problem and felt uncomfortable.

Well look I would like a dead pedal.

But I manage without it no problem.

Here is how easy my foot can go from one pedal to the other.

 

 

 

My right foot is posed in purpose in low position, looks reckless but is just for the photo i don't drive this way.

 

 

 

 

You can see that even with service boots i can drive without wasting time an extra effort, for sure in a travel i wear athletic shoes which are more comfortable but you can take an idea how convenient is this 4th pedal.

Now can drive in Sport style far more easy than before, more positive movements, not more wasting time in gear changes, less body fatigue, i can brake harder plus some say that is a Safety Future too, in case of a crash your left leg won't trapped but i don't want to think about it.

There is no need to move my foot whole any more, the new car floor mats are a bit ''snaggy" so all i need to do is a V style movement from one pedal to the other.

 

After i install these pedals i noticed that the clutch pedal isn't in an convenient position when i am wearing boots.

 

 

In the end of the pedal-travelling was a gap between it's surface and the (hard) sole of the boot and that wasn't good for the health of the gear box, i can not draw it put the pedal in the end let's say was | and the sole was \

So i made a panted, placed a small piece of plastic beneath the after market pedal and this cause a small change of it's angle, now it's parallel to the sole of the boot when it's pressed all the way (imagine something like \\ style)

so the gear changes are as they should be even with service or cowboy boots.

 

 

 

The combination of the after market pedals, the 4th pedal and the clutch pedal modification works fine all these years.

 

 

 

What? 😲

 

On 25/10/2024 at 22:08, Thefeliciahacker said:

Felicia's pedal box is quite well-engineered. 
but spacing, angles, dimensions, curvature, and pedal staggering are quite well managed.

 

The gad petal design must be the worst in the history of car manufacturing, even 70-80's car have much better than this.

It's ugly, ridiculous, non-precision, slacken and every single time you press-release it produces a ''clangy'' noise like a tin, especially in Mountain roads it's a torture and makes me maddened by nerves.

It's the WORST part in the whole Felicia, every time i hear that repeated ''clang-clang'' noise i heavily slander and curse not only for the useless who design it but for that incompetent manager who allow it to go to production.

The first must lose his degree, get fired, disqualified working in Automotive industry and to be condemned to design sledgehammers, the second must lose his degree, get fired, disqualified working in Automotive industry and hired to work in a stone quarry using the tools that the first moron designed.

 

The first Felicia recall must be for replacement of that dumpiest mechanism in acceleration pedal

 

 

 

although the vertical design in the rubber paddles

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vocAAOSwhlddjgrS/s-l960.png

is wrong, must be horizontal.

What's wrong with Felicia's throttle pedal. It's soft comfortable staggered and very precise. 

Yeah, only supecars have something similar.

Also was an A' class desing like this: