Subaru DBW aluminum pedals! Kicking those pedals up a notch!
Hey!... Welcome to this week's #modmonday, where we delve into what it takes and how it works on a modification on one of my Subarus. This week's mod will be Wrx/STi/FXT sports pedals in a 03-08 Forester.
The 04-08 Forester XT doesn't differentiate itself from much from the standard models of Forester, except for the Forester Sports version. The same exterior and interior are used throughout all models,where STi's and WRX will get just a few extra touches. One of those touches for me is the raised rubber on aluminum pedals.
The factory pedals are very uninspiring. But we can fix that up!
After driving my 04 Wrx for 3+ years and my STi for 4 years I grew accustomed to the feel and always thought they were a nice added touch. With this became the search for the proper pedals. Any 5/6 speed brake and clutch pedals from an 02-07 Wrx/STi will fit and get the job done.
A little bit of cleaning and look what is behind those rubber pedal covers?…. Ok maybe this is a bit of photo magic.
I choose to buy used with both parts, which in my experience was a less than fun idea on the clutch and brake pedal. The rubber portion of the pedal had seen many miles and heat cycles leaving it very stiff. Trying to pry it over the pedals was one of the most challenging parts I have installed coupled with being in a hard to access area made it quite difficult. Soaking them in hot water and copious amounts of force ended up doing the trick.
These old pedal covers needed a bit of coercing to go on. The heat and time had taken away the malleability.
Hot hot water revives them like a fountain of youth..
The accelerator pedal being the confusing one, would any Wrx or STi DBW pedal do the trick? I assumed it would but in the end I stumbled across a cheap drive by wire Forester Sports pedal assembly which I knew would fit. With the plug disconnected and two bolts removed it was just a bolt in affair.
New and old! Much easier on the eyes.
Two bolts and you are in! Snap in the connector and put the pedal down!
Obviously there aren't really any performance gains, but having a nice feel to items you touch everyday can make your car feel that much more enjoyable. I like to think of this as something Subaru should have installed from the factory to make the Forester XTs feel just a bit more special.
Used and a bit roughed up but they get the job done!
Questions, comments, thoughts? Leave them below.
Amazon Links
Full set of clutch brake and gas from Subaru (Trimming of the gas pedal necessary.)
Subaru Automatic set. (Gas and brake)
Subaru gas pedal cover (Trimming for DBW might be needed.)
Factory DBW Forester Sport pedal part number: 36010FE040