I made my own manual brake pushrod - what do you guys think?

-
Weak440

Weak440

Thread Killer
Joined
Jul 2, 2012
Messages
176
Reaction score
2
Location
USA
I converted to manual brakes a couple years ago and thought that I had bought the wrong push rod because I felt like my brake pedal sat too high.

This last year I tracked one down from a guy (can't remember his name) at a swap meet that just does Mopar brakes... He assured me that He had the correct pushrod for my application ('74 Duster).

I got home and pulled the pushrod that I had out of the car and compared the two. Yep... they were identical lengths. :mumum:

I went ahead and swapped the pushrods and made sure the new one was seated in the piston of the master cylinder correctly. Yep, the brake pedal was still just a little too high off the floor for me.

So, I finally had the time to make an adjustable pushrod of my own. I cut the head off of an ARP bolt (chromolly bolt?) and turned down a 1" thick bar of 4130 Chromolly. I drilled and tapped one end for the bolt and drilled an oversized (slightly) 9/16" hole on the other. I used a face mill to put a flat on either side. The final width is 9/16" wide.

I haven't had a chance to put it in the car yet. I wanted to run this idea past you guys before I do it. What do you guys think? Good or bad idea?
 

Attachments

  • 0306131954.jpg
    78.7 KB · Views: 631
  • 0306131954a.jpg
    68.2 KB · Views: 598
I could make one of those, but it wouldn't be that pretty, LOL
 
Looks good! I agree with dragin, a back stop may be a good thought. Once you get it adjusted where you want it, I would locktite the threads.
 
Cut the same recess in the steel end for the rubber to secure it in the rear piston. An o-ring may work on the one you have. Very nice job. Another example of why tools and equipment are a good investment.
 
Purdy :)
I haven't looked at how the pivot end attaches and what clearence is provided.
Since the OEM is rounded you may need to knock off those corners ( closest to your thumb in the pics ). Make sure its right before you connect the battery cable.
 
Oldmanmopar said:
Cut the same recess in the steel end for the rubber to secure it in the rear piston. An o-ring may work on the one you have. Very nice job. Another example of why tools and equipment are a good investment.
Click to expand...

Well said Oldmanmopar, X2 :cheers:
 
Looks great! There are 2 spots for seals on the orig pushrod? Its hard to tell in the pics, but in the last pic, the orig one looks like there are 2 grooves right by your pinky finger....
 
Have you noticed any loss in braking with the shorter stroke?
 
nice work very nice work, i have a list i can send you of stuff I need done, just kidding! oh and the list was ment as a compliment.
 
ir3333 said:
nice work.
but why doesn't the mopar one work?
Click to expand...
the pedal sits up high with the mopar one.i have the same deal. got mine out of /6 disc brake car and it sits up a little higher than stock....
 
The MP rod doesn't work because it's not supposed to, as far as I've been able to tell it's ONLY a retrofit piece for adapted plastic res MCs (bracket is about 5/8" thick and jogs the MC to the side for BB/Hemi VC clearance).

See hurrr
 
Nice piece. I wish I had the tools you have and the knowledge to run them. Luckily I have a machinist at work who will make just about anything for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top