Vehicle Adaptions - Dual Controls

Advantages include:

• Angular pedal pad adjustment
• Easily detached pedals
• Self aligning bearings
• Choice of stationary or linked pedals

There are two main types of Dual Control, either Rod or Cable, the vehicle to which they are to be fitted usually determines the actual choice of which type of dual control is best for your needs.

These days the gaps between the driver and passenger's foot-wells are so tight that in some vehicles Rod controls cannot be used and cables are the only suitable option. Today's cable brakes use completely different types of cables so there is no metal-to-metal contact and no danger of any individual strands breaking or sticking. These days cable controls are much smoother than in previous years. The greatest benefit of cable is that they can be routed through between the footwells.

Linked, Stationary or Hinged Pedals:

Linked pedals are those where the instructor's and driver's pedals are directly connected. When the pupil uses the brake or clutch the instructor's pedal moves also; naturally when the instructor uses his pedals the pupil's move down too. Linked pedals are ideal if you want to know what your pupil is doing. Poorly trained pupils sometimes like to leave their left foot available over the clutch; this can wear out the thrust bearing.

Stationary pedals are where the instructor's pedals remain stationary whilst the driver's pedals are operated. They are certainly much safer than slaved and make for a safer and more positive teaching environment. The instructor can use the dual controlled pedals at any time and there is no danger that they will trap their feet, or prevent the pedals from operating.

Hinged pedals do exactly what their name suggests. The instructor's pedals have a hinge where they are connected to the operating mechanism, so that although the connections between the pedals move in unison with the driver's side, the dual pedals themselves only follow on if gravity allows.

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