I like the fact that MINI included a dead pedal but, IMO, it is located wrong, it should be on the same plane as the brake and accelerator, not the two, or so, inches behind that plane. Has anyone come up with an attractive way to block the dead pedal to work effectively?

 

I personally don't want my left leg to rest at the same bent angle as my right. I like it extended more for comfort. Makes it much easier to brace myself in tight corners. I think the dead pedal is placed perfectly.

It might just be an issue of how long your legs are, though. I'm sure not everyone feels the same way I do.

 

I haven't had any problems w/ the dead pedal, so no adjustment tips from me. In fact, I use the dead pedal as a reference to set my seat position. Seems to work for me...if I set my seat so my left foot rests comfortably on the dead pedal, then I can operate the other pedals through their range of motion. People do have different builds/preferences though.

 

Chalk me up as one of those having no problem with the stock dead pedal placement. It's comfy, I can extend my leg, and it reminds me to not hover over or ride the clutch (because my left leg isn't locked in the same position as when clutching/declutching).

That being said, one of my coworkers disliked the dead pedal placement on his Mustang, so he bolstered it (can't remember with what) and grafted an aftermarket racing pedal on the top for grip and feel. Different strokes for different folks.

 

Dead pedal placement is at the wrong height, because of the need to access the fuse box. I have built mine out using a block of wood and velcro tape. Had a loaner car for two days and thought I would die from the pain in my left leg. Normal position for my seat is all the way back. Paint the block of wood black and your eye will never notice it after a while, but your leg will.

 

I was not happy with the dead pedal placment as well. I found it took too long to go from being braced to using the clutch and back to brace mode in the canyons. I had these done up by a local sheet metal shop for myself and a few friends and it is not a M7 product offering. It is simple but works for me. I can even leave my heel in the same place and just roll the tip of my foot off the brace onto the clutch pedal and back again without lifting my heel. It definatly makes for quicker operation of the controls and a more secure posistion in the car , not shifted off to one side, under hard cornering.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Is it aluminum? Stainless?


I find that to get my arms at the right position the dead pedal is too far away to be able to brace at all, so I sit closer and then my right leg isn't extended far enough to be comfortable on long drives.

 

Very nice. Any problem with access to the fuse panel ?

 

Those were made of aluminum plate. The fuse panel can still be accessed . I also use the stock mounting bolts and nuts. I was selling them to locals for $20 a pop but they can be made easily . It just takes a few cardboard templates to get the angles correct.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Check my gallery for photographs of the build out I did using a wood block and velcro tape. I've been looking for more ideas, and I'm gald to hear more drivers agree that foot rest is not very comfortable as it is.

 

I was looking for some hard plastic in a two by four dimension that I could bolt in place, for thickness, with a nice cover, factory or aftermarket, over it. Anyone know of such material and where it can be sourced?

 

I LOVE the stock position. Our new Beetle has it on plane, and my legs gets cramped from being too bent all the time!

 

I have one of Randy's dead pedals and its great. Your foot is always ready when you need it :-) Plus you can get better leverage to stay in the seat with it a little higher.

 

I'm tall, I don't need any more leverage

 

So I have recently come to the conclusion that I too would like to try a closer dead pedal postion.. However, I don't see an easy way to revomve the stainless steel "stock" plate to expose the mounting bolts..

Can you all share how you got the "stock" plate off?
Is it double sided tape? or a press fit? or something else...

Thanks for the help...

 

Just use a flat blade screwdrive to pry the plate up. It is only double sitck taped to the plastic base. The two nuts below it are 10 mm. Its a easy deal.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Randy,

Thanks for the details... I was trying that approach before and thought it was putting up a lot of resistance for double sided tape... I will try again and pull harder...

Once I get that off, I am looking into doing something similar to what you showed earlier in this thread..

I am just trying to see if this will be more comfortable for me to drive and better support in the turns...

Thanks,
Blair

 

No problem glad to help out . I think you will find it to be a big help with maintaining a proper body posistion as well as quicker footwork. It seems to help me most with autocross or quick canyon work.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

cool..Ive been thinkin about this since I got my mini. My Impreza had the dead pedal on plane with the clutch...and as soon as I drove the mini it felt awkward havin my foot fall way down like that..ha ive gotten used to it..but your right, footwork is alot quicker with it on plane.


DM