I bought my first Camaro a few weeks ago, a 2002 35th Anniversary Z-28 with the LS1 engine and automatic transmission, and only 34k miles. So hopefully, this is the correct section to post my very first question which concerns the accelerator petal.

I've owned a wide variety of GM cars over the years, more recently Cadillac Eldorados ranging from '85, '89, '95, to my present '01 ETC. The accelerator pedals in these vehicles are relatively soft, i.e., do not take much effort to depress from start, acceleration, or to maintain a constant, steady speed, therefor, does not make the foot positions a tiresome task.

However, my new Z-28 requires a much harder pedal, and I find that I must lay my foot directly on the pedal to get the desired response rather than off the right side, which is a lazy, comfortable habit of some years standing.

So, my questions: Is the stiff pedal on my new Z-28 a normal thing for this car (a safety feature), or could a connecting spring or throttle cable be out of adjustment? And, if normal, can it be adjusted to permit a less heavy touch?

Thanks in advance for responding to these very lightweight questions from a newbe.

Jack M.

 

normal

 

Thanks for your response that a hard accelerator pedal is normal.

Can you tell me:

- Why it is normal?

- Are adjustments possible to lighten it?

 

This is gonna sound stupid, but make sure the right side of your foot isn't dragging on the carpet. The pedal is a little close the the tranny hump on the floor. I found myself doing that when i first got the car and it made it feel a lot stiffer than it really is.

 

I'll check that out as it could be part of my problem. I have a wide shoe and it could be dragging on the tranny hump. Thanks for your suggestion.

I still think the pedal is unnaturally stiff, however, and will get my dealer to check it out, along with the steering, which seems much harder than my Cadillac.

 

Could you explain to us exactly how you would do that?? With the return spring being wound around the throttle shaft you can't loosen it there.

 

So I have a 35th LE and the accelerator pedal hits the carpet 1/2 way down then you have to push down with pressure from the top of the pedal which is way too high for normal use. So what is the mod needed to adjust this?

Rich

 

i would clean the throttle body blades firsts with carb cleaner, then ck your cable by unhooking it at the throttle body to see if it binds. When you have it unhooked from the throttle shaft the pedel should fall to the floor, otherwise you have a sticky issue!

 

Normal, These cars were biult for people with Heavy Feet...

 

Yeah, I for one love the heavy pedal. It helps to not gun it all the time, and is ont of hte major factors in people seeing great gas milage out of these cars. They just get used to tapping the pedal, because in regular driving thats all thats needed..

 

I also think that 50% Gas doesn't Equal 50% Power... I think 75% Throttle and up is where the Camaro's REAL power starts to show... Meaning to get Half Power and more, you REALLY have to have your foot into it...

 

Thanks for all the input, guys.

 

The power steering on most luxury cars is over boosted cause the buyers of those cars typically want very easy steering. Performance vehicles use much less boost and a lower steering ratio for better road feel, feedback, & quicker steering response.

 

Plus the actual steering gear ratio is very quick compared to most cars, which requires even more effort.