Don't Forget to do the brake pedal MOD

[Mesa Mike]

I have a MKI that I completed about 12 years ago. I finally got around to improving the braking and stopping power. Can't believe I didn't modify the brake pedal until now. Those of you who are now building be sure to change the stock pedal to a different location in the peddle box. I did lower the pedal to the bottom holes on the pedal box but never made the change where the master cylinder push rod attaches to the brake pedal. The original pedal has about a 3.75 inch space between the swing point and the point where the MC push rod connects to the pedal. It should be no more than 1.75". Made the mode this week and now have "power" brakes. Not really but it feels that way. Silly me for waiting. I simply used a grinder to grind off the weld point on the push rod pin and moved it closer to the swing point. I'm sure there are lots of post on this but, duh.

[tirod]

Yes. Altering the leverage really helps.

There are a lot of owners who have moved to power brakes and steering, for good reason, but the underlying causes are exactly the finesse points engineers consider in a complete design. Cars built as non powered have different engineering - using power donor parts only is what creates the problem. They aren't the correct ratios.

All those millions of cars we drove in the day with no power brakes or steering had enhancements like proper pedal ratios built in from Day One. It's why young girls could drive them without much effort. We seem to have glossed over the issue as if a sense of machismo could compensate for the correct engineering application.

There ought to be a sticky on pedal ratios and SAI. Doing them right the first time would certainly go a long way in improving the handling.

[Mike N]

If you can find one the 4 cylinder Mustang with manual brakes has a pedal which already has the different leverage. It mounts to a lower hole in the pedal box that is present in all pedal boxes. One other thing to make sure to check is that the angle between the pedal and the push rod doesn't go over 90 degrees when the brakes are applied 'hard'. If it goes over 90 degrees you actually start to lose leverage and effective pedal pressure which is the opposite to what you need.

[Mesa Mike]

Yes, the 4 cylinder Mustang manual brake pedal is the way to go. My MC push rod is now completely horizontal to the Pedal and MC. Feels like "power brakes" now. Doing another one tomorrow for another FFR MKI owner.

[michael everson]

Good luck finding a manual pedal though. I have bought literally hundreds of Fox pedal boxes and have only come across one manual pedal. I can modify yours for you though.
check out my site at www.replicaparts.com
Mike

[ehansen007]

Mike, Mike,

Does this translate over to the 33 as well? Pedal boxes seemed the same to me but I haven't heard of this on any of the 33 forums. We could certainly use more leverage on our stock brakes. Thanks.

Erik

[michael everson]

No not at all. the 33 uses the Wilwood pedals only. No donor pedal box.
Mike

[Mesa Mike]

Mike E does a great job of modifying the stock fox body pedal. I installed one today and ir works like a charm. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND his mod of your pedal. see his web site.

[mikiec]

Mike,

I need to have you look at mine. I do not remember if I did the mod or not. I have never been happy with the brakes.

Mike

[Mesa Mike]

You have a PM

[michael everson]

Sorry no PM. Didnt get it.
Mike

[Mesa Mike]

Mr. E: PM was for mikiec. Too many Mike's here. That's why I use Mesa Mike.s However, is there a way to remove a mustang brake pedal without cutting a hole in the top of the footboy? I could not get to the pedal mounting bolt from underneath. I had already cut a hole in my foot box to replace my clutch quadrant some time ago. I don't think I would have had a chance from under the pedal box. Your pedal worked great on another owners car. Bill from New Hampshire.

[tirod]

Which brings up the flip top foot box mod, with a hinge, or using nutserts. Do we assume the previous opening for the clutch is now riveted? Might be time for to do the mod, if you're going in, might as well fix it better.

[Erik W. Treves]

you can pull the pedal out the bottom. It isn't fun, but it is possible.

[CraigS]

My MkI had the bolt that the pedal pivots on w/ the head toward the fender or left side of the car. I had to cut a hole in the alum. w/ a holesaw to have enough room to get the bolt out. But it was easy
to make a larger alum disc to use as a patch. Do yourself a favor and commit to taking the time to remove the driver's seat. I didn't until half way through the project and it made all the difference. You will be laying on your back for a LONG time interspersed w/ a lot of crawling back out and standing up to get another tool.

[Kevin Davis]

Whitby's power brake setup has worked great for me, I don't regret it at all, doing it from the start, along with manual steering box (new 18:1). To me, spending the extra money to make sure I don't end up in the back of someone is well worth it. I've driven cars without, and pedal mod or not, there's really no comparison.