GARAGE CALCS FOR THE HOME BUILDER

Brake pedal ratio and line pressure calculator

Pedal ratio, the force reaching the master cylinder, and the line pressure it makes. Handy when swapping to manual brakes, changing master cylinders or building a custom pedal.

Free, no sign-upUpdated September 2026
Your numbers
Pedal
1 for manual brakes. Power boosters vary; check the booster's rating.
Master cylinder

Line pressure

Pedal ratio
Force on the master cylinder
Master cylinder piston area

The formulas

Pedal ratio = pivot-to-pad distance ÷ pivot-to-pushrod distance
Pushrod force = foot force × pedal ratio × booster multiplier
Line pressure (psi) = pushrod force ÷ master cylinder piston area

The pedal is a lever that multiplies your foot's force. A smaller master cylinder bore makes more pressure from the same force but moves less fluid, so the pedal travels farther. Bigger bores do the opposite.

Measure the pedal distances with the pedal at rest, from the pivot bolt center to the center of the pad and to the pushrod pin.