What is it?
The Thrustmaster TPR Pendular Rudder is a suspended high quality pendular mechanical rudder system for flight simulation. Featuring Hall Effect magnetic sensors providing contactless 16-bit precision for movement, adjustable pedal angles, spring tension and more in a heavy sturdy metal frame.

About The Author:
Sean is a pilot with over two decades of experience in aviation and senior technology roles within Airlines and Non-Profit sectors. He's a lifelong flight simmer and avid VR user, blending his passion for flying with cutting-edge technology.
Key Features
- Unique design with heavy metal construction
- Adjustable rudder spring tension and pedal angle from 35 to 45 degrees
- 16-bit Hall Effect sensors for contactless high precision sensing
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Unboxing
In typical Thrustmaster fashion, the TPR Pendular Rudder Pedals come well presented in a military styled box that shows the product on the front along with key information about features on the back.
Looks the part, the box even looks serious!
The pedals are nestled in 2 large foam blocks to protect your purchase as it traverses the globe enroute to your virtual cockpit. Sliding the foam out of its colourful box, reveals panels on each side that conveniently contain the pedals themselves, further protected in a plastic wrapping. It’s clear that some assembly will be required with these pedals.
Well packed, nothing arrived damaged
Like an archaeologist unearthing a lost relic, I carefully pry open the foam to reveal the legendary pedals of the ancients. The discovery immediately highlights the sheer size of the unit, and as I continue removing the packaging, the true heft becomes apparent—once fully assembled, these pedals weigh in at over 7 kg (more than 15 lbs).
The brake 2 sensor units hang secured to the swing arms via small ties to ensure they are protected during transit.
Box Contents:
- TPR Rudder Pedals
- Left and Right Brake Pedals
- Small Tool Bag
- USB Type B to A Cable
- Product Manual
Construction and Materials
Constructed primarily from steel with a black powder-coated finish, the Thrustmaster TPR rudder pedals have a commanding presence. The contrast between the matte black frame and base and the silver aluminum swing arms and pedals gives it an industrial, high-end aesthetic that looks straight out of a real aircraft cockpit.
Beyond the steel and aluminum construction, the TPR features minimal plastic components, mainly found in the brake assembly and rear linkage system which are primarily functional rather than structural. The overall build quality is robust that it wouldn’t look out of place in a real aircraft, seemingly capable of withstanding years of heavy use, foot stomps, and aggressive flight maneuvers without compromise.
The base of the unit features some rubber feet to assist on hard floors and features 4 mounting holes for securing the device in a more permanent position.
Looking rearward we find more mechanical linkages along with your serial number, model information, connectors for brake and rudder sensors, USB plug and the rudder spring tension system.
Located centrally at the rear of the pedals is the assembly that houses the rudder sensor and tension adjustment system. The tension is provided from two springs that are mounted horizontally and secured by thumb bolts located on each side. These bolts can be loosened only by hand to adjust the spring up (decreasing resistance) or down to increase resistance. To reduce return-to-center impact, rubber dampers are used. These help absorb the shock when the pedals return to their neutral position, providing a smoother and more controlled rudder response while minimizing unwanted knocks.
Manual
Coming with a black and white manual, it covers the basics of assembly, setup and warranty information in several languages. A colour manual is available through the website along with a separate document that shows precise measurements to aid in home cockpit mounting.
Well presented and easy to follow
Setup and Configuration
Flipping through the manual for some quick wisdom, it lays out the pedal attachment process like an ancient scroll of assembly knowledge—clear, direct, and surprisingly painless. Compared to other brands, this setup is refreshingly straightforward, almost like the IKEA of flight sim hardware (but without the existential crisis). Best of all, every tool you need is included, sparing you from the classic “where did I put that screwdriver?” scavenger hunt when all you want to do is play with your shiny new toy.
The pedals come pre-installed with a nut and washer, and once mounted, they rest against what appears to be a nylon spacer or bushing, likely designed to reduce friction and ensure a secure fit. Installing the pedals is straightforward: simply remove the pre-installed nut and washer, slide the pedal’s bolt through the hole in the swing arm, then reinstall the washer and nut to secure everything in place.
With the pedals mounted, we look upwards towards the brake assembly. Here we secure the backside of the pedal to the brake assembly and it is also where you get to make some choices. The choice to either have the brake pedal sit upright at attention like it did something wrong in school or more laid back as if it’s the final class of the day and all you want to do is get the hell out of there.
I found that for a setup where these are slung under a desk, a more laidback position was more comfortable due to how you sit in your desk chair whereas when cockpit mounted, a more upright position of the pedal felt more comfortable.
Mounting choices exist in two locations:
- The position of the brake assembly on the swing arm itself allowing for 5 options
- The underside of the brake pedal itself allowing for 4 options
Adjustment of the preinstalled brake assembly on the swing arm is a simple case of using the included hex key to remove the bolt and adjust the assembly to a more comfortable location and secure the hex bolt.
For the mounting of the arm to underside of the pedal, included in each pedal are two smaller hex bolts that are simply removed and inserted into each side of the brake mount and reinserted once aligned to the back of the pedal. There is a small guiding extrusion from the bracket that helps with guidance and alignment of the bolts when mating to the pedal.
Once constructed, I plugged the device in and, like a seasoned Thrustmaster pilot, headed to the Thrustmaster website to download the required drivers. Setup is as easy as installing the drivers with minimal fuss and heading to the Windows USB Game Controllers to see the newly refreshed Thrustmaster interface for the TPR pedals.
Here you’re able to see the position of each of the Axes along with performing a firmware update all from the convenience of one location. At the time of this review I was on the latest firmware and didn’t require an update.
How does it feel?
For my testing I used these in 3 different scenarios, a carpeted floor, tiled floor and finally mounted to my Trak Racer TR160S cockpit. For the seated positions where I was flying at a desk, I found that having the pedals mounted with the pedal in the most reclined position felt the most comfortable whilst once mounted to the TR160S I found I needed to bring the pedals up and settled on a middle mounting position that felt most comfortable in that position.
For a tiled floor I found that the rubber rings found located around the mounting holes do a fantastic job of keeping the base from twisting during rudder or moving under heavy brake applications. It was only when I set the spring tensioners at their highest settings that with continual left/right action (that would never happen under regular flying conditions) that I started to see some twist of the unit on the floor. The selection of rubber along with the weight of the unit does a great job of keeping it sturdy on a tiled floor.
Moving to a carpeted position, the rubber rings were ineffective at stopping the twist of the unit when applying rudder inputs. However, as the TPRs base plate extends quite a far way backwards from the rear of the unit, I found that butting it up against the wall provided enough support to not have the unit move under braking or twisting under rudder use.
Let’s talk about feet… ok?
When using the TPR pedals at a desk, I noticed that due to their taller design, my feet ended up resting with just my toes on the base of the pedal, rather than having my whole foot comfortably planted. It felt a bit like trying to press a gas pedal while perching on the edge of a barstool.
In comparison, other pedals I’ve tested and reviewed sit lower, providing a more natural foot position that feels noticeably more comfortable during extended sessions.
This can simply be mitigated by moving your feet off the pedals however if you’re in the congo line for the runway and constantly have your feet on and off the brakes, it could be less comfortable than other pedals products found in a similar price range.
Moving onto the feel of the rudder itself, it feels very smooth and has quite a long throw of over 50 degrees (+25/-25) allowing for great rudder control. As usual I add a small curve adjustment in most of my simulators to soften the initial rudder input. I put down to an overly aggressive representation of rudder in simulators and not down to the hardware itself. The movement is consistent and precise with a confident thud once arriving at full rudder.
As there is no rudder damping as a feature, quickly releasing the rudder pedals (or sliding your feet off in a hurry) can result in some oscillation back and forth as they settle again. If you are a helicopter pilot you can remove the spring tensioners, however the rudder pedals become super light to move, a pinky toe could easily perform an input and they still self-center, albeit not as quickly.
No springs installed
Moving onto braking is perhaps where I find disappointment in this otherwise great product. For me, the amount of brake pedal movement simply isn’t enough. This problem with having what feels like a very small working area providing braking action is exacerbated when mounted to a cockpit rig. Add in movement, bumps and thumps and you’re dancing all over the pedals in an attempt to provide an equal and consistent braking action upon landing and rollout.
The brake pedal has less than 30mm of downward movement, which just isn’t enough for precise braking control. On top of that, the brake mechanism—like the rudder—relies on a simple spring for resistance, meaning there’s no progressive feel or increased resistance as you approach full braking application, you simply hit the end of the brake axes.
The combination of limited travel and linear spring tension makes it difficult to modulate braking smoothly, especially in scenarios where precise pressure control is crucial, like landings. This is where I find myself struggling the most, as there’s just not enough depth or feedback to make braking feel as intuitive as it should be.
CONCLUSIONS
If you’re looking to step up from an entry-level rudder pedal set or looking to dive into virtual aviation, the Thrustmaster TPR Rudder Pedals provide a compelling, albeit pricy and premium option to consider. The solid construction, precise sensors, and versatility give them great longevity and adaptability if they find their way from under your desk into a home cockpit.
However they’re not without their kinks, while the rudder movement is smooth and precise, there is no damping which means quick releases can cause unwanted oscillation. Removal of the springs all together results in an extremely light pedal that might not sit well with helicopter pilots looking for non-return pedals. Add in a brake pedal with the range of a polite nod, and you’ve got an impressive piece of hardware with a few quirks—nothing that’ll send you into a tailspin, but definitely worth considering.
Solid product, 7.5/10
Pros
- Presence, they look amazing
- Build quality, solid construction with quality parts
- Smooth, pendular rudder movement with great precision
- Heavy enough to stay in place on hard floors
Cons
- Pedals sit high off the floor
- No damping available for rudder movement
- Braking leaves a lot to be desired – The 30mm brake pedal travel feels too short, making smooth braking difficult, especially in landing scenarios.
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