how to put draft pad on

[maddawg308]

I have to put a new draft pad on my clutch pedal. CGarbee told me to boil the draft pad to get it pliable, I did that for 10 minutes and the pad had NO stretchability to it.

How the hell do you get this pad on the truck? The hole is too small to get over the knuckle on the bottom, or the pedal face on the top!

[Lifer]

Use the SEARCH feature. This question has been covered extensively in the past with numerous "this worked for me" responses.

[m-37Bruce]

Water just hot enough (and a few drops of mineral oil, or what ever you have handy) to make them pliable. I did this a couple o' few years ago, need to do it again. They don't last but a couple years anyway.
MadDawg, are you coming south this weekend?

[MSeriesRebuild]

The boiling method worked great on the old pads, however it does not work on the new manufacture reproduction pads that sellers claim are made of stretchy rubber. Maybe you should contact the folks you got it from for instructions. We've tried everything it seems with these new ones with no luck. I wish someone would tell me how to install them. The old tricks do not work.

I don't usually push NOS stuff, but I'd rather have a NOS draft pad 10 to 1 over these new ones that are being sold now. I'd quickly change my mind if we could install them, (the new ones) I'm anxiously awaiting that answer also.

[rixm37]

How about Midwest Military? John has been advertising new mfg pads. He claims his are like the old ones and can be stretched over the pedal.
I agree the new ones I got a couple of years ago were impossible to install.

[vtdeucedriver]

OK all here is the secret!!!!!! Go to your autoparts store and purchase a can of CRC Electromotive cleaner. Take your draft pad and a small container and soak it!!!!!! Get it nice and wet and then put it on. The CRC swells rubber for about 3 minutes, then it will contract back to normal size. I did mine this way YEARS AGO!!!! Just a little aviation trick

Still on there and working great!!!!

Dont all pat me on the back all at once!!

[MSeriesRebuild]

OK all here is the secret!!!!!! Go to your autoparts store and purchase a can of CRC Electromotive cleaner. Take your draft pad and a small container and soak it!!!!!! Get it nice and wet and then put it on. The CRC swells rubber for about 3 minutes, then it will contract back to normal size. I did mine this way YEARS AGO!!!! Just a little aviation trick

Still on there and working great!!!!

Dont all pat me on the back all at once!!

A few years ago, still on there and working great, don't all pat me on the back at once. Careful now, you might get surprised by a kick in the seat of the pants rather than a pat on the back by some. I can understand your theory with older NOS pads, BUT, the material these new ones are made of is a different animal. I'm not talking about the older pads of years ago. Again this was another trick in our bag that worked well on the old pad material; however the new pad material simply does not respond to the old tricks, hot water, various chemicals, etc. We have tried the new so called stretchy rubber pads that are supposed to be fool proof to install, NOT. Even sellers offered no installation tips. One seller just said well they had not tried to install any. Another said cut them open, install them and then glue them back together if you can believe that one.

I'll give you an "at a boy" if you can PROVE this works with the new material these reproduction pads are made of, but until you purchase some of these new $12 each pads and prove that you have an installation method that works without fail, I don't think I would crow too loud just yet.

[m-37Bruce]

OK all here is the secret!!!!!! Go to your autoparts store and purchase a can of CRC Electromotive cleaner. Take your draft pad and a small container and soak it!!!!!! Get it nice and wet and then put it on. The CRC swells rubber for about 3 minutes, then it will contract back to normal size. I did mine this way YEARS AGO!!!! Just a little aviation trick

Still on there and working great!!!!

Dont all pat me on the back all at once!!

One seller just said well they had not tried to install any. Another said cut them open, install them and then glue them back together if you can believe that one.

I'd like to see the results of this install............glue, my big ol' fat hairy..... chin!

[MSeriesRebuild]

OK all here is the secret!!!!!! Go to your autoparts store and purchase a can of CRC Electromotive cleaner. Take your draft pad and a small container and soak it!!!!!! Get it nice and wet and then put it on. The CRC swells rubber for about 3 minutes, then it will contract back to normal size. I did mine this way YEARS AGO!!!! Just a little aviation trick

Still on there and working great!!!!

Dont all pat me on the back all at once!!

One seller just said well they had not tried to install any. Another said cut them open, install them and then glue them back together if you can believe that one.

I'd like to see the results of this install............glue, my big ol' fat hairy..... chin!

Like you said Bruce; I think we know what that result would be, I know I do. I could hardly believe my ears when the guy told me that, but it's the whole truth so help me God!!

[m-37Bruce]

I read the same advice a while ago, I think we both had the same response, horse-hocky fer sure!

[Glenn]

I think they left out the rubber part when they made the new rubber pads. Boiling the ones I got from John didn't them stretch much so I just ended up making a slice to make the hole bigger then strategically placed a black plastic tie wrap around them. You can't see them from under the fender and it isn't noticeable from inside the cab either.

[MSeriesRebuild]

I think they left out the rubber part when they made the new rubber pads. Boiling the ones I got from John didn't them stretch much so I just ended up making a slice to make the hole bigger then strategically placed a black plastic tie wrap around them. You can't see them from under the fender and it isn't noticeable from inside the cab either.

That might make you happy and satisfied; quite frankly my customers would frown quickly upon such a thought. That just won't work here. I don't blame them, I wouldn't have it either. My guess is the new ones were simply made from the wrong material for the application. Looks like this run was a flop to me at this point.

[vtdeucedriver]

Well I had the NOS ones on in 5 min with my trick. I got another set of pedals to do so maybe I will try a NEW set and see what I come up with.

[Lifer]

Ya know, I don't remember when the first cars came out with "hanging" pedals, but I sure can remember when all cars and trucks had pedals coming up through the floorboards. Some trucks still had 'em that way well into the '60s, even. Of course, all these vehicles had draft pads installed at the factory. Of course, these draft pads wore out eventually. I don't recall anyone actually taking their car or truck in to the dealer for new draft pads, though. When they wore out, that was pretty much it. We just drove without 'em! Our shoes and pants cuffs got a little dusty while driving down the dirt and gravel roads of the day, but it would shake/brush off pretty easily.

[Glenn]

I think they left out the rubber part when they made the new rubber pads. Boiling the ones I got from John didn't them stretch much so I just ended up making a slice to make the hole bigger then strategically placed a black plastic tie wrap around them. You can't see them from under the fender and it isn't noticeable from inside the cab either.

That might make you happy and satisfied; quite frankly my customers would frown quickly upon such a thought. That just won't work here. I don't blame them, I wouldn't have it either. My guess is the new ones were simply made from the wrong material for the application. Looks like this run was a flop to me at this point.

Nope, not happy or satisfied, just a last ditch effort to get them on there even if it's a half arsed fix. I definitely wasn't recommending it, rather adding to the conversation about them not stretching. Someday, somehow I'll get some more and get them on correctly. For now what I have is better than nothing.