Couple days ago, my brake linkage broke right at the spot where it enters the brake pedal. After looking at the break, it was bent and the threads were rubbed down to clean steel..... I'd imagine the brake rod was getting smashed repeatedly from my feet. To give the entire system some "flex" I cut apart the rod, welded a chain to it, and mounted the chain to the brake pedal with a bolt thru the chain (so the pedal is pushing on the bolt & pulling the chain / rod):
