Does it bother anyone other than me that the brake pedal on mid to later A bodies sits up so much higher than the gas pedal?

It makes it very cumbersome for quick gas to brake operation (ie. fast autocross type driving). You can't just slip your foot from the gas to the brake. You have to lift your foot up significantly.

All of the mid to late (67-76) A bodies I have owned or driven have had this "issue".

Is it just me? Has anyone modified their pedals to help alleviate this?

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

There is, or was, an adjustable brake pushrod kit from Mopar Performance.

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Joshua

It is certainly a safety issue. You can easily enough drop the brake pedal resting height by using a shorter pedal-to-master-cylinder pushrod or by spacing the master cylinder forward, and you can even figure out how much shorter/how much spacing is needed by measuring the pedal ratio—that is, the distance from swing pivot centreline to centre of pedal pad divided by the distance from swing pivot centreline to pushrod pivot centreline—and dividing the amount of drop you require by that ratio. For example, let's say you determine your car's pedal ratio is 8, and you want the pedal 2½" lower. 2.5 ÷ 8 = 0.3125", which is how much shorter the pushrod wants to be (or how much you need to space the master cylinder forward). The big precaution is that you must make certain you don't set yourself up to run out of pedal. You need to have ample margin for increased pedal travel beyond application of maximum braking force. If something goes wrong, for example if you ever have to rely on having a dual master cylinder, pedal travel will be longer than usual and you have to not spoil your ability to stop. Installing a larger-bore master cylinder will buy you some room here, at the cost of increased pedal effort (which can to some degree be compensated by softer brake pads/shoes).

Adjustments of this nature are easier with power brakes…install larger-bore master cylinder, shorten pushrod or space booster off firewall slightly, and you're all set. Tougher with nonpower brakes.

You might consider raising the gas pedal instead. Would still require re-engineering, but less compliacted and less risk of catastrophe if you don't get everything exactly correct.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Dan: Gadzooks raise the gas pedal?

The seat doesn’t go back far enough already without the gas pedal sitting in one’s lap…

Manual brakes just have a higher peddle. I never gave a high pedal a thought in the old days when most cars did not have power brakes. We have become accustom to power brake pedals being almost even with the gas, as most modern cars are so equipped.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Yes, it certainly does.

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I used to hook the back of the pedal with my foot moving from the gas to the brake in my Duster. Yes, they are high.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

It's the right height to shift your clutch foot to the brake and back again if you're in heavy traffic and lugging the '67-'76 along at idle speeds....

Of course I learned to drive on that system from the gitgo, so it seems 'normal' to me...(been the same way for 27 years, why change it now... )

-D.Idiot

I have lowered my brake pedals on all 3 of my current A bodies using adjustable pushrods. Don't blame me if you do it wrong and kill yerself, though!

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I just raised mine,pulled the pedal out and welded up the hole,then redrilled it farther foward.This is on my race car and I wanted more leverage.Mark

Brakes? Mark you use brakes? I am thinking you need a parachute!!!

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BIG T
1967 Dart "Six Shooter"
Girlfriend Rhonda... 66 Valiant
[/URL]

I dont care about stopping,,,I just want to bee able to hold it at the line better,sick of car pushing tru the lights.Guzzi Mark

Transbrake?

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Line-lock? (they can be used in the rear brake system as well as front) But to OP, dont think ive thought much about pedal heights during spirited driving, I've just adapted to what I had... Yeah heel n toe is a little tough but practice makes perfect.... if ya watch nascar they always do some 'foot work' camera angles during road courses and there is a big transition in heights on those cars...

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MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

Hey Lou,

Did you get your adjustable pushrods from Mopar Performance, Mancini, etc..?

Mine just arrived and in its shortest length it is STILL quite a bit longer than a stock pushrod...

Are there different lengths for power versus manual brakes..?

Maybe when Gerald installed the new master cylinder he used the wrong pushrod or something..?

http://imageshack.com/a/img836/1961/2ufu.jpg

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Rob

I’m Mater
The Kentucky Poser

Maybe that is a power brake MC pushrod? I don't recall every buying one of those adj pushrods, or maybe one. Don't remember any issues. I have cut/tapped 1-2 stock pushrods to use a coupler nut. Plus, when you use the adapter for the alum MC that spaces the MC away from the firewall that drops the pedal too. I have alum masters in all my cars...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988