The Ford Barn

1929 Leatherback · 05-20-2025, 08:26 PM

Has anyone seen a brake rod with a bend in it. My 29 leatherback has a bent in the rear service brake rods on both side. Every manual I have looked at seems to say that they should be straight.

Synchro909 · 05-20-2025, 08:36 PM

Definitely should be straight.

Keith True · 05-20-2025, 08:47 PM

That was commonly done to shorten the rod a little.Not the right way,but if you needed to get to work you did whatever it took to get there and back.

TomInCologne · 05-21-2025, 03:49 AM

found the same on my 31 s/w, bought new ones...

larrys40 · 05-21-2025, 05:45 AM

With all due respect guys above that happened because the rear brake rod hit the rear shock arm and shock adjuster. The car may have 32 or v8 shocks where the shocks are taller (thicker) than rhe A. It can also happen when the return springs on the radius rod are mounted not canted outward far enough. It is. Lose wnougj when they hit a large bump or have back seat load that upon the spring bounce tho can happen.
Look at your shocks and rod clearance and you will see. Yes many times rods get modified for length but in this case it appears to be a shock clearance issue. Doing service work and lots of brake work I see this more often than you think .
Larry Shepard

nkaminar · 05-21-2025, 05:51 AM

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First, find the cause, as Larry wrote about above. Then straighten the rod. The bend will act as a spring in the system and cause the brakes to be spongy.

larrys40 · 05-21-2025, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

First, find the cause, as Larry wrote about above. Then straighten the rod. The bend will act as a spring in the system and cause the brakes to be spongy.

Thanks nkaminar , the brakes can actually get Stuck on . I’ve had Thai happen with guya on tour and they hit a big bump and then their brakes get stuck on . I’ve removed rhe rod, straighten in a curb bumper with a hammer and reinstall and torque and Cant outward the brake rod return springs to push the rods outward …. Problem solved ! Except if you have later shocks as I stated it will happen again . Thanks nk!
Larry

1929 Leatherback · 05-21-2025, 06:12 AM

Thanks guys, this is great information, and answers my questions! This is a great "go to" place for really good information.

John · 05-21-2025, 06:36 AM

This can also happen if the rear brake arms are installed incorrectly causing the offset to be wrong.

05-20-2025, 08:36 PM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,040	Re: Bent brake rod Definitely should be straight. __________________ I sometimes wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions. Even at my age, I still like to look at a young, attractive woman but I can't really remember why.

05-20-2025, 08:47 PM	#3
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,420	Re: Bent brake rod That was commonly done to shorten the rod a little.Not the right way,but if you needed to get to work you did whatever it took to get there and back.

05-21-2025, 03:49 AM	#4
TomInCologne Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Germany: Cologne and Witten Posts: 407	Re: Bent brake rod found the same on my 31 s/w, bought new ones...

05-21-2025, 05:45 AM	#5
larrys40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St Charles , Missouri Posts: 2,032	Re: Bent brake rod With all due respect guys above that happened because the rear brake rod hit the rear shock arm and shock adjuster. The car may have 32 or v8 shocks where the shocks are taller (thicker) than rhe A. It can also happen when the return springs on the radius rod are mounted not canted outward far enough. It is. Lose wnougj when they hit a large bump or have back seat load that upon the spring bounce tho can happen. Look at your shocks and rod clearance and you will see. Yes many times rods get modified for length but in this case it appears to be a shock clearance issue. Doing service work and lots of brake work I see this more often than you think . Larry Shepard

05-21-2025, 05:51 AM	#6
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,843	Re: Bent brake rod Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) First, find the cause, as Larry wrote about above. Then straighten the rod. The bend will act as a spring in the system and cause the brakes to be spongy. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

05-21-2025, 06:12 AM	#8
1929 Leatherback Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 37	Re: Bent brake rod Thanks guys, this is great information, and answers my questions! This is a great "go to" place for really good information.

05-21-2025, 06:36 AM	#9
John Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 214	Re: Bent brake rod This can also happen if the rear brake arms are installed incorrectly causing the offset to be wrong.