Pedal Box Removal in Airbag Car

[Dirty e30]

The bracket that holds the master cylinder on my clutch broke a few days ago.
I spent about half of yesterday upside-down underneath my dash trying to get the pedal box out, but it looks like the only way to do it is to drop the steering column, which sounds like a PITA.

Is there a write up on how to remove the pedal box? I looked on every forum and checked out a bunch of auto to 5sp swap write ups, but found nothing.

I managed to MIG weld the bracket while it was in the car (stupid, I know) but I'm not confident about how long it's going to last and want a more permanent fix.

[nando]

you don't. I mean, not unless you have to. You'll have to tear apart 90% of the dash to get to it, and break the sheer bolts that hold it to the column. People doing 5 speed swaps on airbag cars are (hopefully) swapping pedals and leaving the bracket alone.

must have been some rust down there?

[StereoInstaller1]

you don't. I mean, not unless you have to. You'll have to tear apart 90% of the dash to get to it, and break the sheer bolts that hold it to the column. People doing 5 speed swaps on airbag cars are (hopefully) swapping pedals and leaving the bracket alone.

must have been some rust down there?

Use a dremel on those shear bolts...cut a slot, then use a screwdriver to remove them.

[Dirty e30]

There wasn't any rust (from what I could see). I have a pucked clutch, so maybe that added more stress?
I was going to swap boxes for a non-airbag one, but the one out of my friends part car was starting to crack as well.
I'll just leave it in there for now haha. thanks!

[Jean]

Dude, buy a new one IIRC they are under $50 :) 35111157719 non airbag or 35111157720 airbag . Hit up blunt on the forum

[Dirty e30]

If Luke's plan will make the pedal box removal easy, I'll do that for sure.
Wouldn't mind a little peace of mind haha

[rede30]

you don't. I mean, not unless you have to. You'll have to tear apart 90% of the dash to get to it, and break the sheer bolts that hold it to the column. People doing 5 speed swaps on airbag cars are (hopefully) swapping pedals and leaving the bracket alone.

Can you get away with this? Does the automatic,airbag pedal box have the tab to hold the clutch return spring? I have done many swaps but I have always done it in non airbag cars and if I use airbag brackets they are from 5spd cars (and I make sure to cut off the extra length so it is the size of a non airbag bracket)

[nando]

there is no clutch return spring on airbag cars (you don't really need it anyway, the PP will push the clutch back by itself, or use a smaller spring hooked up somewhere). everything about automatic and manual pedal boxes in airbag cars is 100% the same, only the pedals are different.

[StereoInstaller1]

If Luke's plan will make the pedal box removal easy, I'll do that for sure.
Wouldn't mind a little peace of mind haha

Use the cutting wheels. It is easy stuff, and very little torque to remove the screws.

Give it a shot. I was surprised how easy it was, after trying for quite some time to get them off with vise grips.

[dollarbill425]

Not to bring up old posts but, am I correct that the only way to install a 5 speed in an airbag car is to keep the stock pedal cluster and just add the pedals and fab a clutch ear for the spring or make something work like a spring or something? Besides buying a airbag 5 speed steering wheel... I didn't know this and now the last thing to put in my car is the cluster and the master and slave,

[whodwho]

Don't know it is the only way but definitely the easiest way and you don't need the spring Assembly.

[nando]

you don't need to fab anything. get a set of airbag pedals and bolt them in. airbag cars don't have that giant spring.

[CabbE30]

Bump!
I need help removing the sheer bolts. I cut a slot but the screwdriver isn't turning it. It's pretty tight.

[davem]

Bump!
I need help removing the sheer bolts. I cut a slot but the screwdriver isn't turning it. It's pretty tight.

I used a stone bit on a cheap $20 dremel/rotary tool. Makes a lot of sparks and it's not exactly a quick way of doing it but it worked - the rotary tool can fit in that tight space.

[CabbE30]

^^You cut the heads off, extracted, & replaced them with regular bolts?