Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-10
TAKING CARE OF BRAKES
IS IMPORTANT MATTER
Washing and Oiling Neces-
sary at This Time Of Year
inspection Necessary

The breaking system of the motor
car should have paramount claims to
attention and care. Cleanliness is of
first importance, for it is an all too
common sight to see brakes which have
been allowed to become eaked with mud |
and grease, layer on layer Much of
this filth will never find its way into
the business part OF the brake, but some
of it may, and at least such -aecumula-
tions prevent proper inspection .oi the
parts. The two ordinary attentions
needed by the braking systems are
washing and oiling, the latter of which
should be done carefully and with thoro
understanding.
Modern braking systems are of two
distinct types, one having asbestos fab.
ric Innings and the other meteal to met.
al. The latter types is in minority
and is usually fitted with internal ex.
panding Shoes These require oiling al
regular intervals 20 prevent sdueaking
and excessive wear occurring in the
metal surfaces. On the other hand, the
friction surface of asbestos fabric lined
brakes ought to be kept free from oil
10 tHdt mas Il JeHueHcN 10 make t0cm
slip and so stultifies the entire braking
System.
Too Much Oil Used.
1t often happens that the new own
er, in his desire to heed the warnings
he has received, in regard to plentiful
fabrication, puts to much oil in the diff
ferential housing. From this location
the excess gradually creeps into the
axle tubes and works its way along in
to the brakes, Now, owing to the crown
ing OF our modern highways, the car
travels habitually with list toward
the right. Consequently, the right-hand
brake drum usually gets most of the
excess oil from the over fabricated diff
ferential. When the right brake gets
oily and begins to slip, while the left
hand brake is comparatively free from
slippage, there is set up the very dan
gerous condition of a braking system
with the sides differing in their co-ef-
ficientS of friction. Equalizing the link
age provided for adjustment will not
cure the trouble, and skidding is GER
tain to result some day when the slip
perry asphalt is covered with slush.
Aboveall things, the owner should
make inspection of the brake and
their actuating system regular. rou-
tine duty. There is not great amount
lot work involved, and the sense of Sc.
curity gained by knowing that the
brakes are in good condition, ready to
perform their appointed service, is amp
lie recompense for "A little time and trou-
/, Bile.
Here is Just what should constitute an
inspection of the braking system. After
| the washing and oiling have been at
tended to, the condition of all the turn
= buckles must be looked into, the wing
nuts and other small parts where mis-
0 adjustment might occur should be in
spected. Next the car should be lacked
@ up and the wheels spun by hand, which
G will disclose any trouble that may ex-
5 list in the brakes themselves In doing
| this dragging brake shoe may be de-
4 tected, its presence beinb indicated by
D a slight kissing sound and by lack of
snap in the rotation OF the wheel. tho
o this latter condition may be due to the
retardng influence of the friction in
n the mechanism as far as the rear wheels
I are concerned. This dragging may have
a one of three fundamental causes; dis
!. torted shoes, stiff control linkage, and
a improper adjustment. Distorted shoes
9 seldom occur except in band brakes of
. the external contracting type, The sec.
ond trouble may usually be cured by
the bending of rod and the applica-
tion of little lubricant. The third
!, trouble is easily attended to by adjust,
= ment of the turnbuckle or wing nuts,
Dragging in the Brakes
There is another cause of dragging
| Ixuba a hrol L. cf H. .,,4
panding type, and that, is the breaking
of the heical springs that the fitted to
keep the brakes out of contact with the
! drum when they are not desired to be
7 used To cure this trouble it is only
9 necessary to take off the wheel and
I intsall new spring. If the trouble oc-
ours on the road, where new spring
7 is not available, a temporary repair
may be made with bit of wire or even
,, a piece of stout twine If the brakes
y are found to be lacking in power, ad-
iuSting by means of the turnbucliies OF
Il wing nuts is the obvious cure. If the
L trouble is caused by wear of the fabric
t. lining, replacement of that important
item in the parts mechanism win have
4 to be made.
4 To replace brake lining, the
bands or shoes are taken off, the axle
is placed in a wise, while the rivets
are Knocked off with cold chisel OF
hammer. New strips of the lining
:, fabric are cut to size. Beginning thel
a at one end of the strip, two or thre,
rivet holes are located with blu,
al pencil and cut out with a punch, aft
r, er which the fabric is put in position
r. on the shoe. Medium hard rivets, t
prevent scoring Of the drums, ar,
pr passed through the holes and are thei
h headed down securely at the back O
y the band. They must be sunk wei
into the fabric lining, SO that no pro
jections are left With the strip helt
a tightly to prevent wrinkling, and witt
St the band at its original curvature. th,
next hole is marked, punched, an,
: riveted in the same way. The oper
ator simply keeps on around until tn,
entire strip of lining is riveted dow
into place on the shoe. The brakinl
system of our modern ears are eff
cient enough under ordinary cireum
stances, but they are not powerful
I \