Update: To see all of TTAC’s related articles on the subject of Toyota gas pedals, go here:
In yesterday’s post , we offered a bounty for anyone to open up both the CTS (bottom) and Denso (top) Toyota gas pedal assemblies. No one took us up, and no one anywhere else has done it, so we took it upon ourselves . Here they are, both e-pedal assemblies taken apart and examined, in our quest to understand if and what the significant differences are, and how Toyota’s possible “shim” fix would work. On initial observation, it appears that the CTS may be perceived as being the more solidly engineered/built unit, in that the pedal pivots on a traditional and solid steel axle whose bearings are brass or bronze sleeves. The Denso’s whole pivot and bearing surfaces are relatively flimsy-feeling plastic. But that can be deceptive, and we’re not qualified to judge properly if it is indeed inferior or superior. So the question that goes beyond the analysis of these e-pedals is this: are these units really the full source of the problem, or are they scape goats for an electronics and/or software glitch? Pictures and tear down examination and analysis follows:
Update #2: It’s clear to me now that the CTS unit I took apart already had the side cover plates (sheet metal) removed before I examined it. One can see where they fit, and are obviously intended to protect the exposed axle pivot and bushing seen above and below:
(Update #3: Also see our follow-up stories on Toyota’s fix and our replication of the fix and its results)
Tagged as Analysis of toyota gas pedals, CTS, cts gas pedal, cts gas pedal analyzed, cts gas pedal taken apart, CTS pedal, CTS pedal insides, CTS pedal taken apart, Denso, denso gas pedal, Denso pedal taken apart, gas pedal, gas pedal design, gas pedal engineering, gas pedal taken apart, how a gas pedal works, Paul Niedermeyer, Recall, toyota e-pedal, toyota gas pedal fix, toyota gas pedal recall, toyota gas pedal torn apart, toyota recall, toyota recall fix, toyota shim fix for gas pedal, toyota sudden acceleration, toyta pedal recall
Recent Comments
amca - Such a shame. Victor Mueller really understood Saab, I think. Remember when he ran a vintage rally car, identical...
TW4 - Except for the vaunted American small-block V8, which is an enduring engineering marvel, I’m not particularly concerned with the number of cylinders. To...
danio3834 - “Even with airbags it mentions broken pelvis and so on, not so good for many old folk who often drive these cars.” That’s...
Lorenzo - I just knew the Saab story wasn’t over. Do Youngman and Pang Da get their money back?
bigtruckseriesreview @ Youtube - When are we gonna face facts… FOSSIL FUELS are at the BASE of EVERYTHING WE DO. All the energy on Earth...
Lorenzo - How does Japan weakening the Yen affect China’s fundamentals? Is Abenomics a potential problem? BTW, Carthage used sea sand and sea...
mkirk - She likes the 80 better than the 100 series (we have had this discussion) but really wants a car. we both like the LS400…not sure when the 430 started. If the...
HerrKaLeun - BMW used to have a 7-series running in a modified gasoline engine. they could switch between hydrogen and gasoline use. But now you...
mkirk - I hope you are right about Tesla. It is a good story and I am glad when American companies are successful, especially when they build here in the...
HerrKaLeun - Maybe people should read up in the NEC (National Electrical code) what they require you to do if you just have lead-acid batteries...