stiff gas pedal

[DRobb's_85]

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?

[westie 666]

I would check the cable, it could just be flogged out

[Benelli]

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.

[GMC Guy]

check the accelerator cable, and maybe change the throttle return spring to one with a little less tension

[old Rusty C10]

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

[FLEET72]

Lube the cable. Makes a world of difference.

[78 Chevyrado]

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.

[spinem]

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.

[Dooley Dude]

You got a floor mat jammed up under there?

[thirdstreettito]

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.

[qu1cks1lver56]

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.

[Damien]

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.

[DRobb's_85]

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.

[FLEET72]

Originally Posted by 78 Chevyrado

(don't lube with oil or it will soon self destruct the inside of the outer casing)

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?

[blazer2007]

I bought a new cable ,works fine now.Was always stiff or would get get caught at a certain point

[79gmcc15]

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.

[Vbjunker]

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!
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[Zach B]

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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[StarDust]

i love my gas pedal stiff i can not stand the newer cars super sensitive type pedal

[INSIDIOUS '86]

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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[Vbjunker]

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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[slotard]

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?

[StarDust]

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 don't know the problem of there is one

[v30crewcab]

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.

[beamn7]

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)