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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Rowlett,Tx
Posts: 64
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stiff gas pedal
Is everybody's gas pedal stiff compared to newer cars and trucks? Everytime I drive my dads 04 f150, or any newer car for that matter, the pedal is usually way easier to depress than my 85's. In turn, it makes my truck feel slow and unresponsive, even though I'm sure its just from having to put more pressure on the pedal to depress it. I just love how easy it is to summon downshifts and to get up to speed compared to mine. I know that theres a huge difference with the newer cars being fuel injected, and throttle by wire, but still, maybe I just have a stiff throttle return spring?
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: AUCKLAND NZ
Posts: 264
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Re: stiff gas pedal
I would check the cable, it could just be flogged out
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77 Cheyenne no longer in bits ![]() |
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#3 |
Watchin the rust grow
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 950
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Re: stiff gas pedal
I have the same thing, my friends call mine the cinder-block gas pedal.
I've tried dousing the throttle return spring in WD-40 and it didn't help. I'm not sure what really to say, though.
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1979 Chevy K10 (H/D Front end) - 350 w/ Holley Truck Avenger, Weinald Intake manifold, headers, bored .060 over, mild cam, Built up TH350 (TranStar Shift kit) with a part-timed NP203 t-case SOLD ($3,000) 1997 Chevy Silverado 1500 - 4.3 vortec, extended cab, 21 highway MPG, stock. "Red" SOLD ($3,000) 1987 Toyota 4wd Pick-up - work in progress, future DD SOLD ($1,850) 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins 5spd Quad cab - old 12 valve with some work done ![]() 2004 Chevy Silverado - Black, 4x4, 5.3L, stock for now Underneath that rust is a heart of gold
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sparks, NV
Posts: 913
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Re: stiff gas pedal
check the accelerator cable, and maybe change the throttle return spring to one with a little less tension
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Greg 1974 GMC 1/2 Ton SWB Fleetside L33 5.3/4l65e .................__
............._____l __\__ ..............l_(O)_ l___(O)] |
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#5 |
Robert Olson Transport
![]() Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: recent transplant to NC USA
Posts: 20,287
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Re: stiff gas pedal
i agree with GMC Guy the spring could be too tight... if there are two on there you can pop one off usually the tighter the sprng the harder the pedal
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Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!! |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sonoma, CA
Posts: 521
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Re: stiff gas pedal
Lube the cable. Makes a world of difference.
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Oscar '72 Shortbed Fleetside '95 Jimmy 4X4 '69 GMC Custom Camper |
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#7 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville
Posts: 2,079
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Re: stiff gas pedal
to test the cable (with engine off) unhook both cable and then see if it moves freely. if it doesn't it's the cable (don't lube with oil or it will soon self destruct the inside of the outer casing) if the cable is free then you have too tight a spring. a lot of people take one of the springs off, but if you do and one breaks the engine will be floored possibly causing a crash.
I have the lighter spring off of mine, but i keep it in the glove box in case i need one to get home on. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sonoma, CA
Posts: 521
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Re: stiff gas pedal
Really? Tell me more, inquiring minds want to know. Is this one more reason GM is having trouble. Don't they know they should use chemical resistant materials when putting it in the engine bay?
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Oscar '72 Shortbed Fleetside '95 Jimmy 4X4 '69 GMC Custom Camper |
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#9 |
haha, ford guys...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 576
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Re: stiff gas pedal
on the stock quadrabogg carbs there are 2 spots to connect the accelerator cable to, one being longer throw, eaiser press, the other being shorter throw, harder press.
check urs out, play with the positions and lube the cable with cable lube, NOT WD-40... wd40 is an grease and oil dissolver and will evaporate quickly. EDIT: i will not be monitoring this thread, pm me for more info. Last edited by spinem; 02-16-2010 at 03:13 AM. Reason: see edit |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 53
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Re: stiff gas pedal
You got a floor mat jammed up under there?
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#11 |
Resident of Here
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA
Posts: 7,716
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Re: stiff gas pedal
6.2 diesels are like that. I've driven a bunch of them and they all take a cinder block. It doesnt bother me. But it doesn bother anyone who wants to drive my truck. I like it, it deters people from driving my truck.
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~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list ![]() Miss having a truck ![]() |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Milton, FL
Posts: 733
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Re: stiff gas pedal
I actually like a stiffer pedal. Mine feels perfect to me. I guess the dirt track taught me to like a stiff pedal, better pedal control with my big foot lol.
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Farmington, MN
Posts: 928
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Re: stiff gas pedal
Are the springs the stock ones or stock replacements or are they ones that someone found at the hardware store? If stock, are the hooked to the correct bracket? I don't have pictures, but maybe someone else could post one.
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I can still count my vehicles on two... wait three hands. |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Rowlett,Tx
Posts: 64
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Re: stiff gas pedal
I checked the cable and spring, and its all good. Its an edelbrock 1406 carb thats less than a year old. Its only got one throttle return spring on it. Nothing is jammed up and everything is hooked up correctly, Its just the way it is I guess. I guess my only option is a lighter spring. Its just so different than anything else I've driven, Im sure they are all like that, but I just prefer the lighter pedal.
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: vernon b.c.
Posts: 3,022
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Re: stiff gas pedal
I bought a new cable ,works fine now.Was always stiff or would get get caught at a certain point
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#16 |
Gettin It One Pice At A Time
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: everett, washington
Posts: 2,688
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Re: stiff gas pedal
How stretched is the spring with closed throttle? If it is already pretty stretched out and you stretch it out further more when opening it up it can feel harder. Atleast that's what I noticed when I switched to a different Carb and the stock location didn't work right.
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RIP ELJAY ![]() ![]() Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 131
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Re: stiff gas pedal
Old post I know, but the pedal on my '87 stepper would always stick for a moment when pressing down. Made low speed driving a pain, like I was gunning it. Parking garage was comical. I had the pedal assembly out of the truck before and lubed pivot point to no avail. Cable always felt free.
Tonight I removed the pedal assembly completely and slightly re-bent the rod in a vice, raising the pedal height a little and doing away with the initial crunchiness when first pressing down. Success! Posted via Mobile Device
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"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should..." 1987 GMC Stepside 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo 2006 KLR650 |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: El Dorado Springs Missouri
Posts: 246
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Re: stiff gas pedal
That's common on the mid to early 90s trucks. My grandfathers 88 is like that and my great grandfathers 84 is like that. The 70s cars are not bad and even the 40s cars are good. It's something about the way chevy made the trucks in the 80s that causes this.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston Tx
Posts: 218
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Re: stiff gas pedal
i love my gas pedal stiff i can not stand the newer cars super sensitive type pedal
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: washington
Posts: 4,178
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Re: stiff gas pedal
Gm uses two springs. A small OD long spring that's green and a short fat OD blue spring I think. Usually I pull the fat spring and run two of the thin green springs. Not light but not a brick house. Just right. Bending the throttle pedal gets rid of the slack in the cable rather well too.
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 131
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Re: stiff gas pedal
Off to drive to work in the rain now. Should be a good test of the fix. In rain or snow(!) I always end up spinning the tires at stop lights when I'd least like to.
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"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should..." 1987 GMC Stepside 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo 2006 KLR650 |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 877
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Re: stiff gas pedal
I know, ancient thread, but might as well ask here.
My truck has a throttle that takes a ton of effort to open. If I open the throttle at the carb itself it opens easily. Is it more likely to be the cable or the pedal? Where is access easiest?
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston Tx
Posts: 218
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Re: stiff gas pedal
My truck is the same it's real stiff most of the time but the weird thing is sometimes the pedal is super soft and responsive as if I had a completely new beast under the hood wish it would feel like that whole time
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Chatt Tn
Posts: 969
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Re: stiff gas pedal
my fix has always been a new throttle cable. they get a groove worn in them and get hard to move under tension. not always noticeable unhooked.
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#25 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Wildomar, CA
Posts: 466
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Re: stiff gas pedal
A bad throttle valve in the valve body of a 700R4 will also cause a stiff pedal. If pedal is not stiff with engine off and is stiff with engine running, then the throttle valve is most likely the culprit. (obviously only applies if you are running a 700R4)
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