Stock brake assembly

The stock brake assembly for my murray is A gaint spring (runs down the entire length of the tractor) To the clutch and that crappy brake arm, and those crappy rubber slits to use as the stopping force. My revision. The giant spring is shortoned and attatched to a long rod running from the Arm ( cast iron now) and the little rubber peices are cast LEAD, being a softer metal, I know Ill have to replace them often, maybe upgrade to aluminum when I get my smelter fixed. sound legit so far?