Dual Control Installations
Dual controls fitting, done properly and tested before we leave
A dual controls fitting is only as good as the fitter behind it. Every installation we carry out in Chelsea is done by a qualified technician who positions the pedals correctly for that exact vehicle, mounts them securely, and tests the brake and clutch response before handing the keys back, not after you have driven off and found a problem.
We fit for driving instructors adding a car to their fleet, learners hiring a car for a test, and drivers who need adapted controls through the Motability scheme. How long the work takes depends on the vehicle, and we book enough time to fit and test it properly rather than rush to a fixed slot.
We have been a He-Man authorised agent since 1989, which is what allows the set we fit to carry He-Man's extended lifetime guarantee rather than the standard one-year parts warranty.
What a dual controls fitting actually involves
People often picture a pedal being bolted to the floor. What actually happens is more considered than that. A He-Man system is built for your specific make and model, so the first step is confirming a set exists for your car, then checking the footwell: the space on the passenger side, the pedal geometry, and where the mounting points can sit without interfering with anything structural.
The fitting itself links a second brake, and on a manual a second clutch, to the car's own pedals, so pressing the instructor pedal operates the car's existing braking or clutch system rather than a separate one. That is the whole design principle, and it is why a vehicle-specific set matters: the system is engineered to work with the car's braking layout and around its airbag hardware, rather than being adapted into a footwell it was never intended for.
Before we hand the car back we test it. Brake response and, on a manual, clutch response are checked from the passenger side, because a control that has not been tested is not finished work.
Manual or automatic, we fit both
Manual cars get a full dual brake and clutch installation. Automatics only need the extra brake pedal, since there is no clutch to duplicate, and that surprises people who assume an automatic is somehow a harder job. It is not. We have fitted everything from small hatchbacks to automatic SUVs, and a good number of our customers drive automatics.
Should a general garage do the fitting?
A competent mechanic can physically fit a set of dual controls. The consequence is what matters, and it is set by the manufacturer rather than by us: He-Man's extended lifetime guarantee applies only where the controls are fitted by He-Man or one of their approved agents. Fitted anywhere else, the hardware is identical but you are left with the standard one-year parts warranty on a component you intend to rely on for the working life of the car.
If you have already bought a set elsewhere, ring us and describe what you have got before booking it in anywhere. Sometimes there is a sensible route through it.
Where the work happens
Most of our Chelsea customers never leave home: we carry everything on the van and fit at your address. A driveway is ideal but not essential, and what we actually need is somewhere safe and legal to work with room to open both front doors. If there is nothing workable where you are, our Chelmsford workshop takes bookings and walk-ins at a discounted rate compared with a mobile visit.
Not sure whether your car can take a set, or which arrangement suits you? Tell us the make, model and year and we will confirm what is available before you commit to anything.
Fitting and Installation Questions
The practical questions people ask about dual control fitting.
A second brake pedal, and on a manual a second clutch, sits on the passenger side and is linked to the driver's own pedals, so pressing the instructor pedal operates the car's existing braking or clutch system rather than a separate one. That linkage is why a vehicle-specific set matters: it is engineered around your car's braking layout and airbag hardware instead of being adapted to fit.
We confirm a He-Man set exists for your exact make, model and year, then check the footwell: the space on the passenger side, the pedal geometry, and where the mounting points can sit safely. The controls are fitted and linked to the car's own pedals, and then tested, brake response and, on a manual, clutch response, from the passenger seat before we hand the keys back. It is not a job we would suggest anyone attempts themselves.
Physically, a competent mechanic can. The consequence is the part that matters: He-Man's extended lifetime guarantee only applies when the controls are fitted by He-Man or an approved agent, so a garage fitting leaves you on the standard one-year parts warranty. If you have already bought a set elsewhere, talk to us before booking it in anywhere.
No. He-Man's range is model-specific, and footwell space and pedal layout decide what is possible. Give us the make, model and year and we will confirm what is available for your car before you commit.
A vehicle-specific system fitted correctly is designed so the car's main braking system and airbag layout are not affected. The risk people are really asking about is a bad fitting, or a generic kit forced into a footwell it was never designed for. That is the whole argument for a model-specific set and an approved fitter.
Yes, and it is a routine job. It comes up most often when a lease car is going back or a car is being sold, and the set can come out without leaving a permanent mark on the vehicle. Ask us what removal involves on your particular car when you book the fitting, so there are no surprises at the other end.