Razo pedals and Heel-toe
 

One of the reasons why I elected to go with a FRS manual transmission over the AT was so I can get good at heel-toe downshifting (plus my friends would have never let me hear the end of me buying an automatic 4-cylinder sports car). It feels a bit like chasing the dragon right now as I find heel-toe downshifting very difficult. The blip action is not very intuitive to me as I don't feel I have the finesse to just tap the accelerator the right amount. Some people have told me having the right set of aftermarket pedals should help some, but I may just be retarded and may never get it.

I was on Amazon checking these RAZO pedals out. Anyone have experience with these? How was the install? Do you help with Heel-toe downshifting?

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/RAZO-RP82A-Sport-Accelerator-Large/dp/B000CPCQHS/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1361928230&sr=8-15&keywords=razo+pedals"]http://www.amazon.com/RAZO-RP82A-Sport-Accelerator-Large/dp/B000CPCQHS/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1361928230&sr=8-15&keywords=razo+pedals[/ame]

Pedals can help a bit by making the gas pedal a little easier to catch with the side of your foot or heel, (or making the brake pedal a slight bit wider to close the gap). Mounting them may be a bit of a project, most aftermarket pedals aren't a quick bolt on, might need to drill holes, etc. I've made custom gas pedals in the past that have a small flange on the lower left edge, but I don't feel this car needs it and my feet are on the large side (US 11/12).

Regardless, it just takes time to learn the muscle memory. It's easier the harder you're braking, but mastering it at light foot pressures makes it usable all the time and helps you be smoother overall because your feet become more sensitive to what's going on.

If you're having trouble getting the blip punched/timed effectively, are you able to do it smoothly without braking at the same time? What kind of shoes are you using? How are you placing your foot? Where is your knee when you attempt the motion?

Cusco offers a pedal that bolts over the stock pedal. It's about as uncomplicated as it gets from what I've seen.

As you can see from the pics, it goes over your existing pedal. I had a set of these when I was like 17. Worst decision of my life. It's essentially a sticky pad behind the Razo, and strapped from the back, over time it gets loose. I'm not sure how removable the stock aluminum pedals are but if it's going to be metal on metal you're going to have a bad time. When I had these on before, i took the rubber pedal cover off the brake and clutch these things will feel massive compare to stock. I wasn't ok with having oversized squares for pedals.

I'll tell you that the little adjustable panel that swings out to make the pedal wider is absolute garbage. These pedal covers are flimsy as shit and should be banned and illegal.

The stock FR-S pedals are already give very very good control and are spaced out very well compared to toyotas of the olden days.. If you can't heel and toe, don't. Do it some other way, toe on brake and then use any part of the side of your foot to blip the throttle. It's not rocket science. It's hitting the brake and hitting the throttle however you feel is comfortable.

I say save your money and work on improving with the stock pedals. But if you are dead set on getting these things, stay away from the dead pedal. They give you screws that have to go through your plastic dead pedal. Otherwise, you are mounting it with a sticky pad.

I have the Cusco throttle pedal and it's awesome.

it goes over the stock pedal and there is a rubber stick on thingy in between so it won't damage the stock pedal. it is held on by 2 brackets with 4 screws. a little hard to get the tools to the back to install tho.

it raises the throttle to about level with the brake when you are pressing it so it's much easier to heel and toe.

PS: If you are already used to your pedals now, you'll need to relearn your foot position as you might mash more than one pedal at the same time due to them being bigger than stock. If i remember correctly the brake and clutch are like 4"x4".

Stock 086A brake and accel pedal are positioned pretty good for heel toe downshifting. I would save the money towards other items.

Yeah appreciate your honest review of the RAZOs. I used to have RAZO pedals installed on my Civic EX when I was younger too and all I remember was they looked somewhat cool, but got slippery when it rained when my shoes got wet. Back then I had no idea what heel-to-toe downshifting really was. I remember they were a pain in the arse to install too. I also understand heel-to-toe is usually a misnomer since (depending on spacing, shoe size, angles, height, etc), a lot of times it is just left side of right foot on brakes and right side of right foot to blip. Guess I probably need to find some open roads outside the city to practice some more.

I got the Cusco cover, makes heel and toe much easier.

How long have you been practising heel-toeing? I find the pedal positions in the 86 to be quite good for heel toe compared to other manuals i've driven. Do the aftermarket pedals change only the pedal shape or pedal position as well?

I went with the SRP pedal. Looks OEM, and made heel/toe for me much easier. Install involves prying off the OEM pedal cover and then screwing in the new one with 2 screws. I would have preferred a longer pedal, but nobody seems to make one.

edit: Just took a look at the cusco pedal. I like the shape much better, I just wish it matched the other pedals...

http://imageshack.us/a/img163/3639/photoaft.jpg

I put in the SRP pedal and love it, especially after adjusting the height of clutch and brake pedals.
Heel/toe was doable before. However, I got used to the great pedals in my Integra and '87 Corolla. Those cars I can rev match using the outer edge of my right foot, instead of my actual heel. This is easier/ faster/ more intuitive for me.
If I had bigger feet The FR-S would probably be fine as-is.