When you remove the rod that goes through the floor (the one with the bumper and cotter pin), you my be tempted to paint it. I suggest that you don't paint it. The paint will scrape off the first time you set the parking brake. (I painted mine this week - so I know!) It also causes the rod to hang up a little when releasing the parking brake.
Looks like it was originally blued, or some similar metal coloring agent.
>> Anybody know how the rod was colored and how to duplicate the process?
EDIT - The bumper for the parking brake is available from
The Filling Station (#DS-445)
