Aluminum pedal set from Ultimate Pedals

I’ve installed a set of custom-made aluminum pedals from Ultimate Pedals. Unlike pre-manufactured pedal sets that many here have, everything through Ultimate Pedals is custom-made to your exact specifications with options like mix-and-matching surface finishes, adding a flange/extension, custom engraving, object pocketing, etc. My primary motivation for going through them is I wanted a flanged dead pedal/footrest cover, which isn’t available with pre-manufactured sets. There’s a strip of carpet to the right of the dead pedal that is extremely susceptible to wear (which is a stupid design on Toyota’s part) and the flanged design means the metal runs over to the side, which would completely prevent carpet wear.

After working closely with Rob Baylor of Ultimate Pedals and no fewer than 20 back-and-forth email correspondences to check paper templates, etc., I had them do custom-pocketing of my “Prius Goes Platinum” badge, a one-of-a-kind badge celebrating one million Prius sold of which only 1000 unique examples were produced that turned out to be very nice medallions, in the footrest cover (to break up the large area that it occupies). For surface finish, I selected frosted (satin) as it’s a better match to the finish on the steering wheel trim and door pulls than shiny (brushed). I also went with anti-slip without grip inserts for all the pedals. They manufactured the pedals in just three days after receiving the badge and my final confirmation (I changed my mind on surface finishes a couple of times after ordering).

They weren’t kidding when they bubble wrapped the pedals with a packaging tape that reads, in part, “Custom made Jewelry for your Car.”


The anti-slip surface is quite grippy making rubber nubs unnecessary, although you still have the option to add grip inserts if desired. Rob Baylor designed the parking brake pedal to be larger with 12 countersunk holes, as only four holes of which two are occupied by screws (if it were to be the same size as stock rubber cover) would look silly.


The pedal feels right at home with the aluminum iMac, keyboard and trackpad


The frosted finish (obtained by blasting with glass beads) goes well with the silver interior trim. It’s also their most popular finish.


The “Prius Goes Platinum” badge pocketed into the footrest cover. In hindsight, I should have fudged the mileage to get prettier graphics on the badge


The recess is deep enough so that the badge sits flush with the surface. The anti-slip finish, while not necessary for the footrest, provides a good contrast to the badge making it pop. They’ll allow you to mix and match surface finishes (e.g., smooth for gas and dead pedals, anti-slip for brake pedal, etc.)


Check out this sorry state of the footrest area with excessive carpet wear. I started noticing carpet wear after about 10K miles and trained myself not to touch the footrest area/use the dead pedal thereafter (until now) but the damage had already been done.


After thoroughly dry shampooing the area, the pedals were ready to be installed using the supplied screws (self-tapping screws in the plastic throttle pedal and footrest area; machine screws with washers and lock nuts in the brake and parking brake pedal sheet metals).


Installed


Stock Pedals


Ultimate Pedals


In all, I absolutely love how they turned out and I am immensely impressed with Ultimate Pedals' craftsmanship.

 

Sure, you just won't have to pay the one-time $25 setup/programming fee (primarily for the footrest work) as I've already eaten it.

 

Yes, it's not yet listed on the site because I'm the first one they've done, but they're priced the same as their Corolla pedals so all you have to do is order the Corolla set but specify your Prius and any engraving/emblem pocketing during the checkout process when you're asked to indicate year, make and model. Indicate that you want to use my footrest template (assuming you want the flanged design) and you won't have to pay the $25.

 

Deluxe set (which includes footrest pedal) ranges from $109 for the smooth finish to $179 for the most expensive option (anti-slip with grip inserts, which I didn't get). Mixing finishes (e.g., smooth for gas and dead pedals, anti-slip for brake) can reduce the overall cost and Rob can tell you the exact price. If you want to reduce the cost even further, you can wait for a group buy to happen in a forum and the nice thing about their group buys is they'll allow you to include any cars, not just the ones the forum is intended for. Just google "Ultimate Pedals group buy 2013" and there was one on a BMW forum that recently ended on July 1st. Otherwise, you'll get your pedals quickly (preferably before your footrest carpet gets shot to hell ) or you can just order the dead pedal cover alone if you don't care for the complete set.

Emblem pocketing cost is $15 per pedal and they can pocket anything you can think of, including:

HSD badge
Persona or Prius Plus badge (if you have the Persona or any of the Prius Plus parts)
Prius badge (with the letters separated and recessed vertically into the footrest)
etc.

 

The Prius is now listed on Ultimate Pedals website for direct ordering.

I believe all mods on priuschat should be accompanied with step-by-step instructions and this is no exception, so here goes.

Tools needed:

• Philips screwdriver (preferably a stubby one)
• 8mm open end wrench (or better, 8mm socket with thumb wheel ratchet)
• 1/8” and 7/32” drill bits (preferably stronger titanium or cobalt-coated for drilling through metal)
• Small electric drill (I borrowed my father’s 30-year-old corded drill rather than use my oversized cordless one)
• Automatic center punch (a great tool for “etching” a starter hole)
• Pencil
• Masking or painter’s tape
• Level
• Small mirror (borrow from your kid or wife)
• Block of wood
• Towel or blanket (to catch the many shards of metal that will fall to the ground)

Item not needed:

• Degreasing spray

Tips:

- Keep the drill bit moving before you hit the etched starter hole. This makes it less likely for it to walk away out of position on metal. It also helps to use the center punch 3 or 4 times to etch deeper dimples.
- Align the left edge of the alum gas pedal so that it is nearly flush with the left edge of the factory gas pedal and do likewise with the right edge of the alum brake pedal to be flush with the right edge of the factory brake pedal sheet metal. This will provide maximum clearance between the two pedals.
- I didn’t realize until after I drilled the four holes in the brake pedal sheet metal that it actually hangs crooked relative to the floor. This is where the level comes in handy. I had to re-drill three of the holes slightly shifted to position the alum brake pedal so it sits more evenly (easily done as it’s a bit larger than the sheet metal).
- The small mirror and thumb wheel ratchet are helpful for tightening the lock nuts in the limited space under the metal pedals. You just hold the Philips screwdriver in place and turn the thumb wheel.

 

Yes, it does. It isn't advertised as not all vehicles come with foot e-brake. The Prius comes with one so it is included.

 

It has the 12 holes by default. The only thing the deluxe set doesn't have by default is the flange on the footrest/dead pedal cover and you have to pay extra for that (as well as for any emblem pocketing you want done).