Simucube ActivePedal Brake Face Plate: Install and Setup

Quick answer

Install the Simucube ActivePedal brake pedal face plate by matching the plate's mounting holes to the pedal arm, threading the original hardware finger-tight first, then tightening in a cross pattern to avoid stripping. After mounting, recalibrate the pedal's travel and force curve, then test barefoot and with shoes to confirm the plate angle feels consistent under hard braking.

What the brake face plate changes (and what it doesn't)

The Simucube ActivePedal Brake Pedal Face Plate is a contact-point upgrade, not a force or travel upgrade. It changes the surface your foot presses against, which affects how pressure is distributed across your foot and how easily you can repeat the same brake input. It does not change the ActivePedal's motor, force output, or software behavior.

That distinction matters because many drivers expect a new face plate to fix inconsistent braking. In practice, a face plate helps most when your current plate is too narrow, too flat, or positioned so your foot rocks under load. If your braking inconsistency comes from seat position or pedal spacing, a face plate alone won't solve it.

Tools and prep before you touch the pedal

You need the correct hex or Allen key for the face plate hardware, a clean workspace, and a way to support the pedal arm so it doesn't swing while you work. Power the ActivePedal down and disconnect it from the control software before removing anything. If your rig has a pedal deck that flexes, address that first, because a loose deck will make any face plate feel vague no matter how well you install it.

Lay out the new plate and the original hardware side by side. Confirm the bolt pattern matches the pedal arm before you remove the old plate. If the hole spacing looks different, stop and check the product listing rather than forcing a bolt.

Mounting the plate without damaging threads

Thread all bolts by hand first. Cross-threading is the most common failure point on pedal face plates because the bolts are small and the mounting plate is thin. Once every bolt is started, tighten in a cross or star pattern in small increments rather than fully tightening one bolt at a time.

Avoid overtightening. Pedal face plates don't need high torque; they need even torque. If a bolt feels like it's binding, back it out and restart it. Stripped threads on a pedal arm are far more expensive to fix than a few extra minutes of careful threading.

Recalibrating after the swap

Any change to the pedal's contact surface can slightly shift where your foot sits, which changes the effective travel and force you apply. Re-run the ActivePedal calibration in the Simucube software after installation, and re-check your brake force settings. If the plate sits further from the arm than the original, you may need to reduce travel or adjust the pedal's resting position.

Test in short sessions rather than a full race. Do a few laps with light braking, then a few with hard threshold braking, and note whether you're locking up earlier or later than before. Adjust in small steps.

Positioning and ergonomics that actually help

The face plate only helps if your foot can reach it comfortably. Set your seat so your brake leg has a slight bend at full depression, not a locked-straight knee. If you drive barefoot, a wider or more textured plate can reduce pressure points; if you drive with shoes, a flatter plate usually gives more consistent contact.

If you also run a Simucube Shaft Extension Kit [SC3], remember the same ergonomic logic applies to your wheel: moving the wheel closer lets you sit further back, which can change how your brake leg engages. Adjust one thing at a time so you can tell what actually improved.

Installation steps

1. Power down and disconnect the ActivePedal: Shut off the pedal and close the Simucube software before removing any hardware. Support the pedal arm so it doesn't swing while you work. Checkpoint: the pedal should be completely still and unpowered before you start.
2. Match the bolt pattern before removing the old plate: Hold the new Simucube ActivePedal Brake Pedal Face Plate against the pedal arm and confirm the holes line up. Do not force a bolt through a mismatched hole. Common mistake: assuming all ActivePedal plates share the same pattern without checking.
3. Thread all bolts by hand, then tighten in a cross pattern: Start every bolt finger-tight, then tighten gradually in a star pattern. Stop when the plate is snug, not cranked down. Checkpoint: no bolt should feel like it's binding. If one does, back it out and restart.
4. Recalibrate travel and brake force in the software: Re-run calibration after the swap and re-check your brake force settings. A different plate thickness or angle can shift your effective travel. Common mistake: skipping recalibration and then chasing inconsistent braking that is actually a calibration issue.
5. Test barefoot and with shoes, then adjust position: Run short braking tests in both conditions and adjust seat distance or pedal angle based on which feels more repeatable. Change one variable at a time. Next step: if braking still feels vague, check pedal deck flex before changing the plate again.

Product facts

• Simucube ActivePedal Brake Pedal Face Plate: Simucube ActivePedal Brake Pedal Face Plate is listed at USD 56.94, with a catalog comparison price of USD 84.99. At this price, it's a low-cost way to test whether a different contact surface improves your braking consistency before spending on a larger pedal upgrade.
• Simucube Shaft Extension Kit [SC3]: Simucube Shaft Extension Kit [SC3] is listed at USD 217.59, with a catalog comparison price of USD 319.99, and is available in 100 mm or 200 mm options. If you're already adjusting pedal ergonomics, a shaft extension can complete the seating-position change, but the 200 mm limit and the warning against combining extensions matter for wheelbase safety.
• Thrustmaster TX Leather Edition Racing Wheel and Pedals (PC | Xbox One, Series X/S): Thrustmaster TX Leather Edition Racing Wheel and Pedals is a bundle listed at USD 497.69, with a catalog comparison price of USD 789.99, and includes a quick wheel-changing system. For drivers still on a bundle-style setup, this shows the entry point before moving to a high-end direct-drive pedal ecosystem like the ActivePedal.