Gauging interest in a gas pedal spacer

Hi everyone! I've been a looooong time member on these forums, but have been more of a spectator. I'm on my third tacoma (two 1st gens) and have been enjoying it and working to make it even better! I daily my truck (~60mi/day) and participate in Socal LA traffic . One of the things that I hated was the significant gap between the brake and gas pedal and having to do dance between them. Searched the forums and sure enough, someone came up with a solution for the 2nd gen trucks. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything for the 3rd gens. I have a small 3d printer and love to create things with it on my spare time (between family and work, I don't have much of it). I thought this would be a great opportunity!

So throughout my research, I found that the 2nd gens use bolts to fasten the gas pedal to the firewall versus the 3rd gens that have studs and use a flanged nut to secure it. I measured the gap between the top of the brake pedal to the top of the gas pedal and got about 1.25 inches so that's what I designed against.

The firewall studs proved to be a small challenge, but I feel I've come up with a two piece design to work around it with hardware that's fairly easy to source.

Ultimately, the reason for me bringing this up is to see if there's enough demand to warrant making more. I've been printing these prototypes on ABS and it's plenty strong for what it's being used for, but it'll take too damn long if I were to make a large batch of them. I want to make them out of aluminum. I've made two designs- One as a straight spacer(32mm), and the other has offsets it 10mm down and left (closer to the brake pedal) for easier heal-toeing.

Two piece spacers will be a little bit more than the one piece spacer, but I'm hoping to keep the price around $60USD.

onward with the pictures:
Firewall


Two piece spacers


Mounted on the truck


Offset spacer


Offset mounted on to the truck (the original firewall studs do not interfere with the mounting of the gas pedal)

 

Wow. It amazes me how people find things to "fix".

I should say, good job on execution, though.

 

If u do start selling these, make sure u have some big disclaimers. Good job on a solution that works gor you!

 

I had a F150 and the gas and brake pedals was to close till I got used to it . 2 times I hit the brakes and had the gas too . About wrecked both times . It was like power braking , the harder I pushed the more the truck tried like hell to go and I was in a must stop situation . Learn not to do that pretty quick .

 

Thanks! This is definitely going to be a "use at your own risk" kinda thing.

Wow, I had that happened to me in a different car as well! So far, this hasn't happened to me with the Tacoma even with the gas pedal spaced closer. With the 6MT brake pedal pad being narrower than an automatic, maybe it's less of an issue...

 

They do put that gap there for a reason.

Every now and then you read the news where someone drove thru a store front saying “I thought I hit the brakes.”

 

@r3sistance

I know this thread didn't receive much attention but this is exactly what I'm looking for. For me, the spacing between the gas and brake pedals make heel/toe impossible.

 

@r3sistance

I have been looking for a solution to the pedal spacing ever since I bought the truck.

Any chance you're still making these? I'd absolutely love to finally put in a fix for the horrible stock spacing.

 

Yeah, I'd be interested in this. Tacoma has okayish spacing out of the box but nothing like my Saturn, and I like to heel-toe.

 

I feel it the most when slowing for a 90 degree turn. I hate clutching through the corner.

 

After 2.5 years, no issues and still loving it! I can still make them for anyone interested, just upon request. @DarkestCon, sent you a PM.

 

Interested; wondering if this fits a 2024……….

 

I forgot I have these spacers in my truck! I've been using them for a while and they're one of my favorite additions.

 

I would like to by a gas pedal spacer if you are still selling them.this is the first vehicle I have had that I can’t heal toe in and it’s disappointing lol.

 

What does it mean to "heel-toe"

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heel-and-toe_shifting

 

that was the whole Audi 5000 unintended acceleration issue in the 1980’s. Short people were hitting that gas instead of the brake. Several other car manufacturers had the same issue including Toyota.

 

The ribs on the back of the pedal have a raised point, intended to contact the floor as a travel stop at WOT for strength reasons. Toyota's 2010 pedal entrapment recall instructions specifically said not to trim away the raised point:



It may be easier to bolt two sheets of 3/8" UHMW (for 3/4" total thickness) to the pedal face.