I was inspired
After reading these posts, I was inspired to install my pedals which have been sitting in their box for months. I'd heard they were a pain in the ass, so hadn't tried it yet. Here's my method, sort of a modification that uses some of the other hints posted previously. It took me just a few minutes and no sore fingers.
1. I modified the gas pedal as above with little slits in the top corners.
2. The hot water trick is very helpful, probably the key. I put a saucepan of water on the stove, post spaghetti, heated it up to just below boiling (little bubbles forming) and carried it out to the car with me. Drop both the pedals in, add a little liquid dishwashing soap, and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, take off the brake pedal and clean the gas pedal. The rubber will get good and soft. Don't fill the pan so deep that the pedals are on the bottom of a deep pan of hot water, 'cause you gotta fish 'em out. Taking the saucepan with you lets you dunk 'em back in if you don't succeed and they start to get stiff again (don't have to run back in the house).
3. I tackled the brake pedal first. Pull off the existing rubber pedal. I didn't modify the new pedal, no cutting or making slits. On the back there's a rubber flap on the top and one on the bottom. What I did was slide the pedal on to the metal plate starting over by the gas pedal. That way, if the left lip as you look at the pedal, doesn't want to cooperate then it's on your side and easier to see. So hold the new pedal almost at a flat angle with its left side mated to the right side of the metal backing plate (it'll be basically over in front of the gas pedal). Make sure the thin metal plate engages the little trough on the back left and is under the top and bottom rubber flap on the back of the new pedal and, while applying pressure against the plate like your foot on the brake, slide the new pedal from right to left. This is where the soapy water helps. Once it's slide into in position, then wiggle and push down on the new pedal, especially the left side, and the lip on the left side (as you look at it) will pop over the metal plate ('cause it's slippery with the soapy water). Wiggle it around to make sure all the edges popped over the plate. You can even use your fingers to gently guide the top flap in the back over the edge as you slide the pedal. It'll be very pliable from the hot water. Took me two tries to get the pedal on.
4. For the gas pedal, the existing pedal doesn't come off. Rather the new pedal goes over the old pedal. Make sure it's really clean and leave it slightly damp with the soapy water--slides easier. It's been soaking in the hot water while you did the brake pedal, so it's really soft. I did slit the top corners, but that's it. You'll do something similar to sliding the brake pedal, but come up from below. You can slide it from bottom to top by holding it at a slight angle from the gas pedal. Lift up on the gas pedal if you need some more room. Make sure the bottom of the gas pedal engages the top of the new pedal in the trough under the rubber flaps and slide it up. Hold the gas pedal with your left hand to keep it from pushing down and also to give some counter-pressure to push against (the brake pedal stays put when you push on it). If you need to, make sure the flap on the right (as you look at it) stays engaged behind the lip of the gas pedal), then gently guide the left side flap with your fingers (it'll be really soft). Push the new pedal up until the two bottoms fully engage and then push and wiggle the top until the corners pop over the old pedal. Took one try.
Literally it took me longer to type this really wordy explanation than to instal the pedals. The hot water with a little soap is key, as well as sliding from a flat angle, almost parallel.
5. Drink cold beer(s) :beer:
