Brakes

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Buyer's Guide

Brake Pedal Buyer's Guide

The brake pedal is the driver's interface with the braking system. It acts as a lever, multiplying the force from your foot and transferring it to the rest of the brake system through a pushrod. The brake pedal pushes on the brake booster, or the master cylinder if there is no brake booster present. The brake pedal assembly is completed by a return spring that brings the pedal back to its resting place and a brake light sensor (typically located near the top of the pedal assembly) to detect when the pedal is depressed. This guide covers when to consider upgrading your brake pedal, how pedal ratio affects feel and effort, and what specifications to look for when shopping.

When to Change Your Brake Pedal

For most vehicles, the OEM pedal is adequate and replacing it unnecessary. Upgrading makes sense when:

You have removed or replaced your brake booster: Eliminating the booster changes the force required to actuate the brakes. A higher pedal ratio is typically needed to compensate. See the Pedal Ratio section below.
You are modifying your master cylinder: Changes to the master cylinder bore size affects how the pedal feels and may require a different pedal ratio to restore the desired feel.
You have clearance or ergonomic goals: Aftermarket pedals offer adjustability which can be useful to facilitate heel-toe shifting.
You want a different pedal feel: Some drivers prefer a firmer, shorter-travel pedal. Adjusting your pedal ratio can allow you to achieve your desired pedal stiffness.

Pedal Ratio Explained

Pedal ratio is the mechanical advantage of the brake pedal - the factor by which it multiplies your foot's input force. It is calculated as:

Pedal Ratio = (Distance from pivot to footpad) / (Distance from pivot to pushrod)

The greater the pedal ratio, the more leverage you have. Larger pedal ratios require less effort to generate the same braking pressure, but also mean the pedal must travel further. A lower pedal ratio means less leverage, making the pedal firmer and requiring less travel.

Higher pedal ratios are typically used in manual brake setups where the brake booster has been removed. Most modern braking systems include a brake booster so the pedal ratio becomes more a driver preference. Some aftermarket pedals offer multiple pushrod mounting holes, allowing you to adjust the effective ratio without replacing the pedal entirely.

Key Features and Specifications

Mounting Type

Brake pedals come in two mounting configurations:

Hanging (top mount): The standard configuration on virtually all modern passenger vehicles. The pedal pivots from above and is compact and recognizable.
Floor-mounted: Common in motorsport due to the ergonomic pedal arrangement that makes quick transitions, such as heel-toe downshifting, more natural and precise.

Pedal Ratio

As covered above, choose a ratio that matches your needs. A typical pedal ratio is 4:1 for boosted systems and 6:1 for manual brake systems, although these values can vary by system and driver preference.

Adjustability

Some pedals offer multiple pushrod mounting holes, allowing you to tune the pedal ratio to your desire. Pedal boxes may also include a brake balance bar to provide control over the balance between front vs. rear braking.

Pedal Pad Material

This is mostly an aesthetic choice. Common choices include rubber, aluminum, or a friction material. Choose a pedal pad material that fits your desired look and feel.

Conclusion

For most street vehicles, the factory brake pedal requires no attention. You may consider modifying your brake pedal if you've removed your brake booster or you're optimizing for heel-toe technique. Understanding your options with this system allows you to unlock a pedal feel and pedal box layout that suits your driving goals. You can find all the parts you need and plan your build on RideBuilder

Additional Resources