Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate:
a different way to feel the brake.

Review disclosure: Simucube supplied the ActivePedal Ultimate, passive throttle and baseplate free of charge, and I retained the review hardware. In return, I agreed to produce reviews and additional content. Simucube did not pay me for the review; the video does contain a separate paid sponsor segment for Sim Sport Gadget. The manufacturer links below are not affiliate or discount links.

The ActivePedal stood out because it changed both the resistance under my foot and the information coming through the pedal. I could shape the brake feel in software, then use effects such as ABS to understand what was happening while driving. The passive throttle gave me a familiar, well-made companion without buying a second motorised pedal. This article covers my original April 2024 test; the later ActivePedal Pro review is a separate article.

What I tested and where it fitted

I used one ActivePedal Ultimate as the brake, paired with Simucube’s passive throttle. My reference was the Heusinkveld pedal setup I had been using before it.

Simucube also supplied its baseplate, which I found well made and easy to assemble. For my own installation, the ASR Pro pedal arrangement and adjustable heel plate were already where I wanted them, so I mounted the pedals directly.

The ActivePedal’s size was striking in person. It extended beyond the rear of my pedal area, and its weight made the need for a sturdy mounting platform obvious.

Check both the mounting pattern and the space behind the pedal. A baseplate does not remove the need for a rigid cockpit that supports the hardware and the forces you intend to use.

My comments here relate to that brake-and-passive-throttle configuration. I did not review a complete set of two or three active pedals in this video.

The appeal of a motorised brake

Instead of relying on a particular combination of springs, elastomers or dampers to establish the pedal feel, the ActivePedal uses a motor under software control.

That lets you change the relationship between movement and resistance without physically replacing parts each time. Travel, maximum force and preload could all be adjusted through Tuner within the hardware’s operating range.

For me, the benefit was repeatability as well as flexibility. I could return to a saved feel or try something quite different for another type of car.

The pedal could be configured for other roles, including throttle or clutch. My enthusiasm in this review was centred on using it as a brake, where I felt the biggest benefit.

It was not just a vibration unit attached to a conventional pedal. Both the underlying feel and the feedback effects contributed to the experience.

Build quality and the details I would change

The construction felt exceptionally solid, with substantial metal parts and a finish that matched my positive experience with Simucube wheelbases.

I liked the purposeful industrial appearance, although I would personally have preferred a less prominent orange finish. That was a visual preference rather than a functional complaint.

The standard brake face felt small to me. I preferred the larger Simcore replacement faces, and I would have liked more pedal-face choice included at this price.

I also preferred the slight curve of my alternative throttle face to the flatter Simucube part. Footwear, foot size and driving position can make that decision personal.

The power switch at the rear was less convenient to reach once installed. I would have appreciated a more accessible control.

My positive impression of the construction was not a long-term maintenance or reliability test. A motorised pedal still needs to be installed and maintained according to its instructions.

Mechanical adjustment still matters

Many feel changes moved into software, but the physical fit still needed attention. Pedal-face height and angle could be adjusted with tools.

The ActivePedal also had mechanical configurations for its travel and force range. I was content with the default arrangement rather than exploring every combination.

Its arm adjustments had defined positions, which helped the setup feel deliberate and repeatable. After changing hardware geometry, the matching software settings needed to reflect it.

The passive throttle used more conventional mechanical adjustments. I kept the supplied spring and preload close to their defaults, changing the pedal angle and shortening the travel to suit me.

The throttle’s travel knob was especially convenient once the pedal was mounted. It avoided some of the awkward access I had experienced with other pedal stops.

The effects I found most useful

ABS was the highlight. It gave me a clear, convincing sensation when the system intervened and helped me judge how much pressure I was applying.

I also enjoyed the G-force effect, which changed the pedal sensation with acceleration and braking. It added another layer of involvement to the experience.

Engine vibration was less important to me because my chassis haptics already provided a similar cue. When I used it, I preferred a subtle setting.

I did not use the traction-control effect much on the brake. I thought it would make more sense with an ActivePedal serving as the throttle, but that was not the configuration I was reviewing.

Other options included brake lockup and input-threshold cues. A threshold vibration responds to a chosen input level; it should not be mistaken for detecting actual wheel lockup through telemetry.

My preference was to keep the useful signals clear rather than enable every effect. The specific effects available depend on the game and the telemetry it supplies.

Tuner and finding a pedal feel

Tuner let me adjust the force curve, travel and maximum force, then set enough preload to rest my foot comfortably without unintentionally moving the pedal.

The range of options could look daunting at first, so the supplied and shared profiles were useful starting points. Daniel Morad’s GT profile was one example I discussed in the video.

A profile informed by a racing driver can be helpful, but it is still something to evaluate on your own rig. I did not independently verify that a given setting exactly reproduced a particular real car.

The ability to switch profiles and feel a different brake character was one of the product’s strongest attractions for me. It complemented the way I already changed wheels and settings for different cars.

Software has developed since April 2024. The manufacturer now lists automatic switching between cars and sims; my driving impressions remain tied to the original test, rather than a new assessment of all current features.

Connections and using an existing throttle

The ActivePedal system connected to the PC through Simucube Link. Standard pedal inputs and telemetry-driven effects were separate compatibility questions: a game could accept the control input without supplying every effect.

The passive Simucube Throttle connected through the ActivePedal and was configured in Tuner. It was not a standalone USB throttle in the setup I reviewed.

Supported Heusinkveld pedals could also be connected with the appropriate optional cable. That offered a way to retain suitable existing hardware and manage the connected pedals through Tuner.

Other USB pedal systems may be used alongside it where the game supports separate input devices. They retain their own connection and configuration requirements; that is different from plugging them directly into the ActivePedal.

Check the official throttle compatibility information and current game support for the precise arrangement you want.

How it felt while driving

It took a few laps to adjust from my previous Heusinkveld setup. Once I settled in, the brake felt unusually alive and gave me a stronger sense of the car’s response.

Trail braking felt easier to manage, and the ABS cue helped me refine the pressure I used. I found the experience particularly engaging compared with the conventional pedals I knew.

I returned to my pace and saw improvements during those sessions, but that was not a controlled test proving the pedal caused faster lap times. Practice, familiarity and settings were part of the process too.

The passive throttle was more familiar. It felt smooth and well judged with the standard spring, and shortening the travel brought it close to my preference.

For this review, the combination worked very well. It concentrated the motorised pedal’s strongest benefits at the brake while keeping the throttle simpler and less expensive.

Was it worth the original price?

The video discussed roughly €2,399 for the primary ActivePedal and €337 for the passive throttle, with the required configuration and accessories affecting the total. Multiple active pedals raised the cost substantially.

Those were April 2024 prices, not a current quotation. Compare complete packages, including the power supply, Link Hub, mounting and any extra faces or cables.

I had already considered buying the pedals before receiving the review units, but the price made me hesitate. Trying them convinced me that the experience was something I valued highly.

Even so, the cost could exceed the value of an entire modest rig. I would establish a solid cockpit and a comfortable driving position before making this investment.

For someone who enjoys tailoring the hardware to each car and wants informative feedback through the brake, the ActivePedal offered something special. It was not a requirement for being a quick or capable sim racer.

One active brake with a passive throttle was a compelling way to use the system. I would base any further active-pedal purchases on the functions I actually wanted, rather than assume a full set was necessary.

For my later experience with the passive throttle accessory, read my Simucube Throttle Damper review.

About this article: Adapted from my original review script and video review. Driving impressions refer to the original review period. The official ActivePedal Ultimate listing and original throttle documentation were checked. The old video-description throttle link now points to a damper accessory, so it is not used here as a pedal purchase link.