5speed swap, airbag pedals help, rant

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • NightKid
    Advanced Member
    • Sep 2007
    • 114

    #1

    5speed swap, airbag pedals help, rant

    Im 2/3 through my 5speed swap and I get to the pedals. I was told that could merely yank the pin the pedals pivot on and viola.

    Reality is this

    See that little shit? Hes not on any of the airbag assembly pedal boxes, according to real OEM. Theres only one pedal assembly P/N so where did the clutch pedal spring rest on airbag cars?


    So i just wasted my f*cking time going the easy route I was told would work to find out I have to saw that little sh*t tab off the old box and WELD it onto the airbag car's? Anyone out there have a manual airbag pedal box with that tab on?

    Any ideas?

    (thanks M42 sport for the pics)
    sigpic
    Mein E30 ist so langsam es schmerzt.
  • nando
    Moderator
    • Nov 2003
    • 34827

    #2
    as I said in my PM, that tab is only on early 5 speed pedal boxes. :)
    Build thread

    Bimmerlabs

    Comment

    • NightKid
      Advanced Member
      • Sep 2007
      • 114

      #3
      Originally posted by nando
      as I said in my PM, that tab is only on early 5 speed pedal boxes. :)
      :bow:
      sigpic
      Mein E30 ist so langsam es schmerzt.

      Comment

      • Teaguer
        R3V OG
        • Sep 2004
        • 6167

        #4
        You're welcome for using my pics .


        Yes later cars used a return spring mounted directly to the upper clutch arm and was connected to the crossbrace under the dash above the pedals .
        The area for the spring to sit is on all cars already .

        Also some very late cars that used the plastic clutch pedal don't even use a return spring at all .

        E30 M3 / E30 325is / E34 525iT / E34 535i

        Comment

        • nando
          Moderator
          • Nov 2003
          • 34827

          #5
          yeah, some of the 318is's I've seen had the cheesball plastic pedals. mine thankfully does not.
          Build thread

          Bimmerlabs

          Comment

          • Teaguer
            R3V OG
            • Sep 2004
            • 6167

            #6
            Originally posted by nando
            yeah, some of the 318is's I've seen had the cheesball plastic pedals. mine thankfully does not.
            I think they look pretty cool with the internal bracing/webbing and all but I'd rather not run one on my cars .


            Also what the big deal with that tab ? If you now know that you can grind it off and weld it on your airbag assemble what is the problem with doing so ?

            Just as I side note I will mention that those pics above are of my first air-bag auto-manual swap and I did just that ...welded the tab onto the airbag assembly .
            Short while later I realized this was an unneeded step and have done others with the return spring mounted above .

            Also M42Sport tells me that about 1.5 years later the spring has jumped out of the notch on the clutch pedal and his car has driven normally without any return spring for quite some time . :D

            E30 M3 / E30 325is / E34 525iT / E34 535i

            Comment

            • nando
              Moderator
              • Nov 2003
              • 34827

              #7
              I don't think it's even worth it. it's much easier to hook a return spring from the top than trying to weld inside your interior (or even worse, removing the airbag pedal box).

              with one little pedal return spring, mine is plenty stiff - probably 2-3x as much as my GF's Sentra. I'm sure the sachs race PP has something to do with that though :p
              Build thread

              Bimmerlabs

              Comment

              • Teaguer
                R3V OG
                • Sep 2004
                • 6167

                #8
                ^ Yes i agree that the top mounted spring is the way to go .....hell the last 4-5 swaps i've done have the top mounted springs and they are working as intended .

                E30 M3 / E30 325is / E34 525iT / E34 535i

                Comment

                • NightKid
                  Advanced Member
                  • Sep 2007
                  • 114

                  #9
                  Originally posted by nando
                  I don't think it's even worth it. it's much easier to hook a return spring from the top than trying to weld inside your interior (or even worse, removing the airbag pedal box).
                  Exactly. I didnt want to either.

                  Can anyone snap a pic of the spring mounted from above? I know its cramped in there but it'd be much appreciated.
                  sigpic
                  Mein E30 ist so langsam es schmerzt.

                  Comment

                  • nando
                    Moderator
                    • Nov 2003
                    • 34827

                    #10
                    I will try to tonight - car is going up on jackstands as soon as I get home for a suspension overhaul. :)
                    Build thread

                    Bimmerlabs

                    Comment

                    • NightKid
                      Advanced Member
                      • Sep 2007
                      • 114

                      #11


                      Vundersexxx!
                      sigpic
                      Mein E30 ist so langsam es schmerzt.

                      Comment

                      • ///M42 sport
                        No R3VLimiter
                        • Oct 2003
                        • 3952

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Teaguer
                        Also M42Sport tells me that about 1.5 years later the spring has jumped out of the notch on the clutch pedal and his car has driven normally without any return spring for quite some time . :D
                        Haha, I even took my car on the track 2wks ago and its been fine. Interested in where to attach the spring on top though.
                        Renting my rear wheel bearing tool kit. SIR
                        http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ps6debf0b0.jpg

                        Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

                        Comment

                        • nando
                          Moderator
                          • Nov 2003
                          • 34827

                          #13
                          sorry guys, got a bit caught up in my coilover installation - didn't get a chance to remove the knee bolster. I'll try to get to it tomorrow, time allowing.
                          Build thread

                          Bimmerlabs

                          Comment

                          • NightKid
                            Advanced Member
                            • Sep 2007
                            • 114

                            #14
                            Time tonight?
                            sigpic
                            Mein E30 ist so langsam es schmerzt.

                            Comment

                            • Teaguer
                              R3V OG
                              • Sep 2004
                              • 6167

                              #15
                              Originally posted by NightKid
                              Time tonight?
                              Seriously both of you guys can manage/figure this out without pics .
                              Just remove the kne bolsters and look up from the clutch pedal area, you'll see the cross brace that runs under the dash (its what the top of the pedal box bolts to) and there is a little spot with a hole in it for the end of the return spring to mount in .

                              Heres another one of my pics :


                              See the little lever/arm/tab that i just circled ?
                              That is where you mount the lower end of the spring .
                              Now I have noticed that some years/models don't have that lever/arm/tab on the clutch pedal and that some cars have it it but without a hole for the spring .
                              In that case just drill a hole in it for the spring or I have even just hooked into the upper end of the clutch pedal arm on the one case where there was no lever/arm/tab .

                              Seriously you need like almost noreturn force to have it working as intended , if you system is bled you can even run without NO spring like already stated .

                              And David , don't bother with doing it yourself, whenever you get your head out of your ass and head down here I'll do the reverse light and the spring . ;)
                              Last edited by Teaguer; 05-06-2008, 05:41 PM.

                              E30 M3 / E30 325is / E34 525iT / E34 535i

                              Comment

                              Working...