[wraymond]

Has anyone ever thought to subject the rod to a metallurgic test? It is, presumably, tensile steel. The leverage torque from a relatively short lever like the handbrake is nowhere near the load it would take to 'stretch' the rod given the length of cabling (presumably mild steel?) involved. Several tons I should think. Any 'stretching' would take place elsewhere.

When assessing the varying lengths of the rods maybe it might be wise to consider the efforts of earlier owners prior to the hugely effective replacements from Steve (Arctic) to replace suspected 'long' ones. Given the frequency of modding by so many owners it could by why the lengths vary. I can't think they would have been factory installed!