Manual Brake Pedal ratios

[Levis Classic]

I was reading an article in Custom Rodder on brakes pedals which they claim the proper ratio for a manual pedal should be 5:1. Any higher and the brake will grab any lower and you'll be puting your foot into the Master Cylinder to stop.

The ratio was measured by dividing the dsitance from the pivot point to the MC hookup into the height of the pedal. I have a set of late 30's mopar pedals I will be using but they are too tall and I will be cutting them down. Currently they are around 8:1.

Does the ratio numbers they stated sound good? Whats your thoughts

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Hmmmm....I've always used 6:1 and never had any that grabbed. You can use 5:1 or less with a power assist. Self-energizing drum brakes will require a lower number than manual disc brakes. Although disc brakes stop better they do require a bit more pedal pressure. That's why the disc brakes in production cars are almost always power-assisted.