The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-10
CARE OF
BRAKING
SYSTEM
Should be Given Paramount
Claim to Attention and
Care Of the Driver
CLEANLINESS IMPORTANT
Washing and Oiling Are
Two Ordinary Attentions
That Should be Given

The breaking system Of the motor
car should have paramount claims 70
attention and care. Cleanliness 10 OF
first Importance, for 1t Is an all too
common sight to see brakes Wnlcn
have been allowed to become cakeo
with mud and grease layer on layer.
The two ordinary attentions needeo py
the breaking system are washing ana
oiIing. the latter of which should be
done carefully and with thorough un-
derstanding.
Modern braking systems are Of two
distinct types, one having asoesVos
fabric Innings and the other metal 10
metal. The latter type Is In minority
and is usually fitted with internal ex-
banding shoes. These require oiling at
regular intervals to prevent squeaking
and excessive wear occurring In the
metal surfaces. On the other hand, the
friction surface of asbestos fabric
lined brakes ought to be Kept rree
from oil. as that has tendency TO
make them slip and so stultines the
entire braking system.
Too Much Oil Used.
II often happens that the new own
er. in his desire to heed the warnings
he has received, in regard to plentlIul
fabrication puts too much oil In the
differentiaI housing. From this loca-
ton the excess gradually creeps into
the axle tubes and works its way along
into the brakes Now, owing to the
crowning of our modern highways. the
car travels habitualIy with list to-
ward the right. Consequently, the
right-hand brake drum usually gets
most of the excess oil from the over
fabricated differential When the right
brake gets oily and begins to SLIP
while the left-hand brake is compare
lively free from slippage. there is set
a.. lax. 0nnd1finn n
braking system with the sides dlner-
ing in their coeficients Of friction:
Equalizing the linkage provided Tor
adjustment will not cure the trouble.
and skidding is certain to result some
day when the slippery asphalt Is COW
cred with slush. Above all things, the
owner should make inspection OF the
brakes and their actuating system
regular routine duty. There Is not q
great amount of work involved. and
the sense of security gained by KNOW
ing that the brakes are in good cond1-
ton, ready to perform their appolnt-
ed service, is ample recompense for
little time and trouble.
Method of Inspection.
Here is just what should constitute
an inspection of the braking system.
After the washing and oiling have been
attended to, the condition of all the
turnbuckles must be looked into, the
wing nuts and other small parts where
misadjustment might occur should De
inspected. Next the car should be
lacked up and the wheels spun by
hand, which will disclose any trouble
that may exist in the brakes them
selves. In doing this a dragging brake
shoe may be detected, its presence be-
ing indicated by slight kissing sound
and by a lack Of snap In the rotation
of the wheel though this latter condi-
tion may be due to the retardtng intiu-
ence of the friction in the mechanism
as far as the rear wheels are con-
cerned. This dragging may nave one
OF three fundamental causes-distort-
ed shoes. stiff control linkage, and I'M
proper adjustment. Distorted shoes
seldom occur except in band brakes Of
the external contracting type. The
second trouble may usually be cured
by the bending of aIrod and the appli-
cation 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
when the brakes are of the internal
expanding type, and that Is the break
ing IL the helical springs that are fit |
ted to keep the brakes out OF contact
with the drum when they are not de-
sired to be used. To cure this trouble
II
wheel and install new spring. Ii
the trouble occurs on the road, where
a new spring is not available. tempo
rary repair may be made with a bit or
wire or even a piece OF stout Irvine.
IL the brakes are found to be lacking
In power, adjusting by means OF the
turnbuckles or wing nuts is the obvi-
Gus cure. II the trouble Is caused by
wear of the fabric lining, replacement
OF that important item in the parts
mechanism will have to be made.
To Replace Lining.
To replace q break lining, the bands |
or shoes are taken off. the axle is plac-
ed in a wise. while the rivets are
Knocked off with a cold chisel or ham
mer. New strips OF the lining fabric |
are cut to size. Beginning then at one
end of the strip, two or three rivet
holes are located with a blue pencil
and cut out with q punch, after which |
the fabric is put In position on the |
shoe. Medium hard rivets. to prevent |
scoring OF the drums, are passed
through the holes and are then headed
down securely at the back of the band. !
They must be sunk well into the fabric |
Inning, so that no projections are left. |
With the strip held tightly to prevent |
wrinkling. and with the band at its |
original curvature, the next hole is |
marked, punched, and riveted in the |
same way. The operator simply keeps |
on around until the entire strip Of lin |
Ing is riveted down into place on the |
shoe. The braking systems of our
modern cars are efficient enough un-
der ordinary circumstances but they |
are not powerful enought to allow a |
margin for slack maintenance. They |
must be kept right up to the mark, |
and systematic inspections and re-
pairs. when needed are dictated by |
common sense Especially at this time |
OF the year, when treacherous footing /
Il 4no ,.1,Ia shnt1ld fha hra king nrrnfnann |