Brake rod flex

[Panhead Pat]

Hi In the last year or so I've started putting together a 29 JD, I have a brake rod that when the brake is applied "flexes" so much the brake seems to barely work? It appears to be a repro, is there a way to "harden" it? Will that work or just find a stiffer/original rod?
Thanks

[Robert Luland]

First off, the brake barley worked in the first place. Are you saying the flexing is occurring at the offset on the rod? The only thing we make our rods out of here is 4140 chrome moly which can easily be heat treated.

[Panhead Pat]

It's bad when it won't go but worse when it won't stop, so just running a rear brake for now I need all I can get, LOL! Yes, it is "stretching" at the bends.Thank you for the input!!!

[Jerry Wieland]

I made the brake rods for my 25 JD out of 'drill rod' that I bought at Fastenal and bent and threaded myself and they work great. I wonder if the brakes are the problem and not the rods?

[Panhead Pat]

Good idea! Thanks, I don't have her running/riding yet but after installing the rod I was checking how it worked, adjusting, etc and the pedal felt "spongy" so I did a bit more looking. When I apply the brake I can see the rod flexing.