New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-12
AVERAGE DRIVER
IS NOT CAREFUL
Brakes Should Be Used InteIIi.
gently and Only When Il Is
Absolutely Necessary.
TANNING IS BAD PRACTICE
coastIno 10 Better on Level Road Than
Oashing at Full speed-Lioht Pres
sure VIII Check Car and
Save Up-keep.

Use your brakes intelllgently and
only when absolutely necessary Is an
excellent motto to have printed on the
instrument board Of every car. The
average operator, even the average
skilled driver, $ his brakes too
much. This "a the brakes, racks
the mechanism of the car and Injuries
the tires-three good reasOns why such
treatment should be avoided.
Learn to stop your car by coastlng
to the point where you wish to stop.
This may be learned with u little prac-
tice and should always be done on a
level road. If you find you are going
a little too far a light pressure on the
pedal will stop you.
Better Than Jammlna Brakes.
This is far better than dashlng up
to a place and then jamming on both
brakes to make a spectacular stop.
Besides wearing the brake lining and
attachments, 1t racks the tires severely,
sometimes making the wheels lock and
the tires slide. This wears away the
tread In one spot. If this Is done fire.
Quently the tread will be ruined and
the fabric exposed. A tire worn away
In this manner cannot be returned for
adjustment, as 1t has been ruined by
abuse.
When coastlng down a hill use the
brakes alternately. BY changing from
service brake to the emergency brake
the first Is allowed to cool, ~prOlonging
its life. The longer 1t lasts the less 1t
costs for repairs. and so the total cost
Of upkeep Is reduced.
But changing from one brake to the
other does not cool the drums on the
wheels, as one brake operates on the
outside and the other on the inside Of
each drum. So 1t is advisable to relieve
the brakes as much as possible.
This Is accomplished by using the
engine IS a brake. On a gentle slope
stay In high gear, with engine throt-
tied down, and do without brakes. On
a sleeper grade use the second gear,
or the first II the car Is a heavy one.
When the emergency brake is used
on a hill 1t must be applied with cat.
ton or the brake rod will be broken.
If the brake is set and the band re-
moved 1t cannot give when the car
passes over water bars, etc. At this
time the real axle moves backward,
owing to the ~flattening of the springs,
and If the brake rods are drawn tight
the strain m on them, stretching or
breaking some part.
Yields to the Strain.
While using the foot brake the foot
automatically yields to the strain, but
If the emergency brake is set 1t cannot
yield.
Where n brake rod passes through
a tube carrying the other they may be-
come frOzen-that Is, stuck together
If they are not properly fabricated. Be
sure that the grease cups are turned
down at least n turn a day. II they
do become seized remove the lower
part Of the grease cup and force kero-
sene into the hole with an oil gun.
Look over the eQuallzers, II they are
provided, and adjust the rods to the
same length to insure best action.
If brake lining Is badly worn watch
the workman while he replaces 1t. and
perhaps the next time you al do 1t
yourself.
Test the brakes occasionally by
speeding up and then applying. II the
car keeps on or werve to one side the
brakes need adjusting. A better way
to test them is to Jack up both rear
wheels and apply the emergency brake
a few nOtches. enough to grip the
wheels firmly. Try both wheels to see
Il they turn easily. II n turns more
than the other that one must be 4
To test the foot brake a
Jack may be applied to hold it In posi-
ton, but 1t will be better to have a
If one is available.