Funny car Brake lever, should it be push or a pull

I currenty building a TA/FC Funny Car and have previously built TAD Dragsters and we had always made the brake lever as a push type lever, but I notice that funny cars appear to make the brake lever a pull type lever, whats everybodies ideas and why.

 

it's a whole lot easier to pull a lever than to push it. you can generally pull harder than you can push.....just my 2 cents.

 

its all personal preferrence, but with a push lever, your pushing against the seat because your body cant move back any further, where as the pull brake you are kind of pulling against the seat belts. plus in case of a fire, you can pull the bottles while applying the push brake, where with the pull brake, u have to hit the bottles first, then the brake. or if u are already on the brakes, you have to let off of them to pull the bottles. both ways are effective, but its mainly personal prefference.

 

I have had both my 1st car was a push handle and it was fine the rest of my cars have been pull handles i like the pull handle with the clutch the push handle was a automatic car you seem to get a better grip on the pull handle

 

Push

Greg,

I've set mine up as a push, because there is momentum to help push, it puts the push rod closer to the floor and therefore further out of the way, and as CAlbertTAD149 has said, you've got the seat to 'push against', rather than pull against the belts. I can send you a picture if you like.

Paul.

P.S. Sorry I couldn't make it up the other weekend, I'm still unpacking!

 

We use a pull handle in our TAFC, I can't see how a push would be easier or better but agree it is a personal preference. I don't think the "momentum to help push" would be too good, just thinking about it, couldn't there be the possibility with the help of the momentum to over-brake and lock up the tires?

If you have good chutes you really shouldn't be using the brakes a ton anyways. I pull the chutes at the finish line and though I do have my hand ready on the brake, I don't use them at all for quite a ways down the shut down.

I think where the brakes are really important are on the start line when staging. With the pull handle you can do two things: pull the brake harder, and push the clutch to the stop harder as you can lever against both of them.

 

Not really sure about the pull more than you can push. I can bench press quite a bit more than I can curl. (But that is just me.)
But having so said, I like the pull better just because that is what I am used to. That and I don't break the handles on a pull system.
But the push system makes sense as the acceleration with your hand on the handle actually applies some brake pressure at the launch, and the push takes the pressure off at the launch.
But it is all personal preference.

 

I Prefer to pull on my handle when the chance arrives as well, Never tried pushin on it though Maybe try using your other hand for a change of pace

 

I prefer to pull, it feels like I have better leverage and control.

Also if on fire on a push, you will be pushing into the fire.

 

This is starting to sound naughty!

 

I have had both now
I think the reaction time with a push could be better as your hand is going in the right direction with car movement from the line

I have been told push is safer, with the push handle when pushing your not pulling yourself out of the seat like you do with a pull handle when you are laying on the brakes

just remember when you switch from a pull to a push handle- to push it not pull it or it doesnt want to slow down until you remember