"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
09/25/2020 at 17:21 • Filed to: None
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"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
09/25/2020 at 17:21 • Filed to: None | 1
| 15 |
Noticed an interesting feature a while back, but I cant find any information regarding the what’s and whys. Namely, my gas pedal has an additional sprung hinge directly on the pedal itself:
The only thing I found was this consumer reports article
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Only two main theories: comfort, and ease of throttle control (rolling on and of f as is correct technique with high hp/trq cars). Being that I haven’t ever seen it on a racing car, somewhat rules out the second although it is what makes the most sense to me. It also hasn’t been on any other car I’ve owned, but I am honestly not sure I’d notice. It does seem more comfortable, but it is such a small detail. Thoughts? Great encyclopedic car knowledge? Why isn’t this a thing?
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> My bird IS the word
09/25/2020 at 17:29 |
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The race cars I've seen tend to have significantly smaller gas pedals, with a convex surface to take care of the moving contact point as you extend your foot.
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My bird IS the word
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/25/2020 at 17:38 |
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That would add a point to "performance feature" though.
PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
> My bird IS the word
09/25/2020 at 17:39 |
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The only reason I can think of for this is, no matter what the angle of the bottom of the driver’s foot is, the pedal will try and make maximum contact, to minimize slippage? Some drivers may have their foot further from the pedal with a more aggressive angle, which would limit the contact patch to the pedal.
I’ve driven many cars with and without this “feature” and I prefer the type of pedal that’s attached at the floor.
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My bird IS the word
> PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
09/25/2020 at 17:49 |
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Well the travel becomes a half circle instead of a direct s traight press, requiring you to change the angle of your foot to continue pressing the pedal. You can argue top vs bottom all you want.
just-a-scratch
> PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
09/25/2020 at 18:03 |
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This BMW layout makes heel and toe shifting much easier than the type where the accelerator is not connected to the floor. I can keep my heel on the floor and just rotate my foot to get to the brake and have good control over both pedals.
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just-a-scratch
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/25/2020 at 18:04 |
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I’ve driven a few cars like that and it works pretty well. It’s probably not as comfortable as the pivoting sort, but easier to control IMO.
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just-a-scratch
> My bird IS the word
09/25/2020 at 18:09 |
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T he possibility of a tilting pedal having an advantage to allow it be dislodged is a very small benefit. I think this is probably countered by the fact it has more moving parts and edges to snag on things making it more likely to get stuck in the first place.
Tilting pedal, to you I say, ‘No, thank you, and good day.’
old-busted-hotness-still-cant-comment
> PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
09/25/2020 at 18:38 |
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Also, high heels.
The Compromiser
> My bird IS the word
09/25/2020 at 18:59 |
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I used to make brake and throttle pedals. The pivot is to allow your foot to maximize contact and force as you push down with the ball area of your foot. As your leg straightens the ball theoretically rotates. It also accommodates long and short legs when they apply the throttle as additional force may require adjustment of the person’s relative position.
Mo dern design has simulated this with a fixed pad that is curved . Your pivot is around the pad now. This makes the part safer with less to go wrong. It also makes it way cheaper and as you aren’t actuati ng a cable you don’t need the force as before . They do build that back in though so you have the same feel. Like “ shift points” in a CVT transmission, so you feel something. Ford did this in the 500. And they put a clicky button that wasn’t wired to anything to simulate the kickdown feel as well.
Blah blah blah pedal go tippy blah blah faking it now.
Roadkilled
> My bird IS the word
09/25/2020 at 19:17 |
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A floor-mounted accelerator pedal lets you push it with just an ankle motion. You can rest your heel on the floor and press with your toes. This can be more comfortable for long drives if you don’t have cruise control.
A top-mounted pedal is harder to operate with your heel on the floor. As you push the pedal, the bottom moves away from your foot faster than the top. The ball of your foot would have to slide down the pedal as you accelerate.
A hinged top-mounted pedal that was close to the floor pan would let you rest your heel on the floor and operate the pedal more like a floor mounted pedal. You could push the top with ankle motion and the bottom wouldn’t necessarily move away from your foot.
This is pure conjecture and is most likely the wrong explanation . However, it may explain why hinged pedals disappeared as cruise control became common.
WilliamsSW
> My bird IS the word
09/25/2020 at 19:21 |
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Not scientific, but my recollection is that every American car I’ve owned (all built between 1964 and 1996) has a sprung hinge on the pedal itself, and I’m pretty sure my 2005 Pathfinder does too.
The two Germans I own are bottom hinged.
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WilliamsSW
> WilliamsSW
09/25/2020 at 19:29 |
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And Google suggests that at least the mid-60s cars I owned were bottom hinged like ze Germans, so apparently my memory isn't so good.
Urambo Tauro
> My bird IS the word
09/25/2020 at 19:59 |
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My first car, a squarebody Suburban, had a similar setup...
I remember that -for whatever reason- the pedal started to feel “weak”, sinking close to the floor without a corresponding response from the engine. I had to pull up on the pedal, bending it, so that I could press it down again to get any throttle. I soon discovered that the pedal arm was twisting, and it broke completely, right where that little roll pin secures it in the firewall bracket.
I ended up having a friend weld it back together, eliminating the roll pin that I viewed as a weak point. Looking back on it now, I never did figure out what was wrong with the (cable? throttle body?) for it to have so much resistance.
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My bird IS the word
> The Compromiser
09/25/2020 at 20:03 |
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Good to know. Makes sense.
sn4cktimes
> The Compromiser
09/25/2020 at 23:45 |
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The ol’ flippy pedals are nicer on the foot. Unless the pin or bushings are super worn out and it has a shitty rattle. Then that is the only thing I can focus on.