Technical Clutch, Brake pedals bracket movement (FIAT 500, 1.2, 2014)

[ZFDesign]

Hi, my wife complained that the car has developed an issue where when pressing the Brake pedal and engaging the Clutch subsequently it feels as if the Brake pedal is affected by the Clutch pedal move.

I tested and can confirm! As if the bracket attached to the firewall or the mechanism has some play. Those are important safety components and concerned of the occurrence

Has anyone else experienced similar? Is that a common issue? Any advise...

 

[jrkitching]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

The pedal box area is indeed safety critical.

Moreover, it's designed with a certain amount of 'built-in' weakness. This is to protect the driver's legs and feet in the event of a serious frontal collision. If the worst should happen, the pedal is supposed to break first.

On older cars without this feature, folks would quite frequently end up with a broken foot in a frontal collision. It's a sure sign to accident investigators that the driver was likely applying maximum braking effort at the moment of impact.

Its worth inspecting the same area on a different but similar car, (take a trip to a dealership, maybe) and see if it's doing the same thing. If it isn't, yours needs sorting. If there's a crack or fracture somewhere in the pedal assembly, then replace parts as necessary.

Don't try to repair a cracked brake pedal by welding, or you could end up with a broken foot in an accident.

 

[steveras57]

Think the comparison with a "good" car is a sound idea! If in doubt get into the footwell with a good torch and wiggle pull and poke everything to see if you can find any excess movement or flexing in places it should not be!.
Any issues then good used pedal boxes go on E-BAY and the like for around the £65 quid mark!
Do it sooner rather than later! cant be taking chances with the bosses safety now can we!!

 

[ZFDesign]

Thank you both for your replies. All very helpful advise, will find some time to inspect in the few days off around Christmas and report back.
Enjoy the festive season!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

The pedal box area is indeed safety critical.

Moreover, it's designed with a certain amount of 'built-in' weakness. This is to protect the driver's legs and feet in the event of a serious frontal collision. If the worst should happen, the pedal is supposed to break first.

On older cars without this feature, folks would quite frequently end up with a broken foot in a frontal collision. It's a sure sign to accident investigators that the driver was likely applying maximum braking effort at the moment of impact.

Its worth inspecting the same area on a different but similar car, (take a trip to a dealership, maybe) and see if it's doing the same thing. If it isn't, yours needs sorting. If there's a crack or fracture somewhere in the pedal assembly, then replace parts as necessary.

Don't try to repair a cracked brake pedal by welding, or you could end up with a broken foot in an accident.

I looked in the Haynes Manual and the only likely cause is a cracked part so I agree get it checked carefully straight away