# Brake Pedal Return Sticking

**URL:** <https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719>\
**Category:** GEM Forum\
**Created:** [July 18, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719 "2022-07-18T14:28:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonbbrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@jonbbrew](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jonbbrew)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/1 "2022-07-18T14:28:54Z")

</div>

Hello,  
As others, my pedal is not returning well. I will be going in to lube it up and see if that fixes. I read other possible concerns with other parts that could be contributing too. Has there been a lot of folks who modified the pedal somehow, ie spring, etc. or does lube generally fix the common issue?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dougl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@dougl](https://community.electricforum.com/u/dougl)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/2 "2022-07-18T14:39:54Z")

</div>

maybe you can find something useful in this old thread: [02 GEM e825 Brake pedal Spring](https://community.electricforum.com/t/02-gem-e825-brake-pedal-spring/4363)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dukeduke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Dukeduke](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Dukeduke)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/3 "2022-07-18T16:51:27Z")

</div>

Gem had an update to the pedal installing a spring to pull the pedal back.  
i installed them on all our gems years back.im not sure if the spring fits your older model or not.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonbbrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@jonbbrew](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jonbbrew)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/4 "2022-07-18T17:42:48Z")

</div>

Do you have a link to that product?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/5 "2022-07-18T18:12:40Z")

</div>

Here is all you need to know.  
Lots of nice pictures for those into brake pedal return spring porn.

> [@2005 e4 Brake Pedal Adjustment](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2005-e4-brake-pedal-adjustment/21072):
>
> Hey Everyone. Need some assistance in adjusting my brake pedal. I’ve noticed that sometimes my brake lights stay on. I get them to turn off by placing my foot below the brake pedal and pulling up on it. I figured I just needed to adjust the brake switch. After poking around my car and reading over the service manual, I discovered that the switch at the top of the brake pedal is not the brake light switch. In the service manual it is labeled “Switch-Regenerative Brake”. I’ve confirmed that …

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JarJarJava](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/jarjarjava/32/15158_2.png) [@JarJarJava](https://community.electricforum.com/u/JarJarJava)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/6 "2022-07-18T18:45:05Z")

</div>

> [@AssyRequired](#):
>
> brake pedal return spring porn

😍🤤 😍 😘 😘

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonbbrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@jonbbrew](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jonbbrew)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/7 "2022-07-18T20:52:50Z")

</div>

This is great. i was hoping just some clean up and WD would make it work. Well, it moves better, but still wont naturally return all the way. I can move it the rest of the way with ease and there is a lot of play. The master cylinder pushrod has play in it so its not keeping the pedal from returning either.Not sure why GEM did not included a pedal adjustment thread on the end of the pushrod or a spring. Seems with all that car development knowledge some of basics were missed.

Does anyone know if that 2005 and newer spring would fit on a 2002? It appears the same setup.

Also, i noticed that there is a second switch right below the main one. It doesn’t seem to get any action at all, but i know when i pulled up my pedal it worked the brake lights off as supposed to. What the heck is that second switch for? Whatever it is its not doing anything. So its puzzling.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/8 "2022-07-18T22:05:16Z")

</div>

Yes, that same spring should fit your early pedal bracket.  
Note that there is a small cut in the bracket to keep the tail of the spring in place. You might need to do the same to yours.

My belief is that second switch was for plug braking (like a jake brake) or regen. What colors are the wires?

There is nothing that presses on it if pedal down or up?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonbbrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@jonbbrew](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jonbbrew)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/9 "2022-07-18T23:15:14Z")

</div>

No no matter how much I adjust the brake pedal or the brake light switch bracket the bottom switch never makes contact it appears. I was thinking it might be four if you lose your brakes altogether your pedals gonna drop down to the floor which may push that button which may trigger a light or something? Don’t know. First time uploading a picture so let me try.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonbbrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@jonbbrew](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jonbbrew)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/10 "2022-07-18T23:15:41Z")

</div>

![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/d/de30942ace70d1de878bdec686fbb8d8f1d27268.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AssyRequired](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/assyrequired/32/7621_2.png) [@AssyRequired](https://community.electricforum.com/u/AssyRequired)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/11 "2022-07-18T23:33:07Z")

</div>

> [@jonbbrew](#):
>
> pedals gonna drop down to the floor which may push that button which may trigger a light or something?

If it were me, I’d reach under there and push it (or jump the wires) and see what happens.

Looking at the manual for early cars finds both switches. Yes- there is a Brake Over Travel Switch and it has a OR/red and BLU wires going to it. Following those wires downstream a bit finds a Brake Trouble light.

Heh- That’s funny. As if you wouldn’t know there is an issue when your pedal hits the floor and you aren’t slowing down, Now there will be a light to warn/distract you even more.

It might be better to hook it up to your horn because everybody better be warned that you are probably blowing through that 4 way stop at the bottom of the hill.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonbbrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@jonbbrew](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jonbbrew)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/12 "2022-07-19T16:20:28Z")

</div>

Yes the horn idea is fabulous!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonbbrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@jonbbrew](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jonbbrew)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/brake-pedal-return-sticking/24719/13 "2022-07-19T16:23:37Z")

</div>

Well, instead of a spring route, which i did find one on ebay for $23, but will hold off for now. I took the pedal shaft out. Sanded it out a bit with 800 grit paper. Lubed it all up with lithium grease and reinstalled. I also siliconed the sticky brake light switch so now it moves more freely and adjusted it. It all works like its supposed to. Will keep an eye on it to see if it starts failing again. If so, then i will look to add a spring. But for now, the pedal movement is silky smooth. Thanks for the tips and info.
