South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-31

roads. II is impossible for the mo
torist 10 see any vehicle ascending
on the opposite side of the hill un-
I'll he arrives al the top OF the rise.
Both cars In all probability speeding
10 take the hill on high. and if both
cars are in the middle OF the road
consumnate skill viii be required 70
avoid a collision.
Apply Brakes Easily.
When the use Of brakes is neces-
sary, apply easily. Sudden braking
imposes heavy strains on the. mech
anism and heavy wear on the tires.
II may also cause skidding on GER
tain types OF roads Allow the car
20 slow down so that the braking eff
feet required 20 produce a dead stop
will be very slight If the brake ad-
justment does not permit gradual
braking. see that il is changed.
Brakes very often fail or slip on a
hill This failure. usually much
dreaded by a novice. is not so serious
as may be imag.ned BY shifting
quickly TO low speed and throwing
off the switch. the car will move
very slowly. owing to the resistance
Of the motor compression. In this
case the car is under instant control
and with a brake slipping can grad
ually be brought 10 "a stop.
Motor car controls. such as steer
ing mechanism and the brakes, are
vitality important details, and strange
as Il may seem, there are no other
units OF systems that receive so lit
tie attention from the mOtorist.
Various reasons are often advanced
for the lack of at ention given these
units however. the majority do not
realize their Importance and the
bearing they have on the safe OBJ
Grafton OF a vehicle. When a mo-
torist takes the respOnsA ility Of op-
Grating a car. he places himself and
those who may be with him in a
very unpleasant and continuous
death -defying position, unless he has
absolute confidence in the control OF
the car. which can only be gained
from frequent inspection and adjust
ment IL Is wrong 10 suppose. for
instance. that If the brakes worked
properly on a previous application,
the same degree Of service will go
on indefinitely. Neglected brakes
usually fail TO perform their work,
at the most critical times: perhaps
the result may not be serious, then
again it may be very disastrous.
Poor Brakes Cause Clashes.
1t Is not unusual to see car on
the streets IN congested traffic OF our
large cities collide with another veh-
icle, due 10 inefficient brakes To
arrest motion is equally. if not more
important than TO create motion; so
IL would seem that while consider
able attention is being paid TO main
tanning good acceleratOn. the same
attention should be paid 10 provide
an equally good if not better re-
tarding force. II is true that the
| brakes may not be up 20 the stand
ard OF other parts. but this should
not be an excuse for not maintain
ing them at their maximum efficien-
Cy. With some the brakes are a pet
hobby and occasionally one finds
. brakes that are harsh. due to i'm
proper adjustment.
The adjustment or all types OF
brakes is most interesting and i'm
portant study. and readers no doubt
have instruction books with their
cars which cover this subject; how
ever. few words in general may
not be out OF the scope of this ar
uCle All brakes have some means
OF adjustment either Incorporated
in the brake itself or in the control
rods pedals and hand levers In
making brake adjustment a general
inspection should be made Of all
parts OF the entire brake system in
order 20 determine that all parts are
. in sericcable condition. IL is quite
Important 20 have the brakes evenly
adjusted. so that when either set is
applied there is the same braking e.
, feet on both wheels Brakes that are
not evenly adjusted viii. when APP
ri.d ora a wet road surface cause
the ear 90 skid. I'm order 10 adjust
the brakes evenly 1T viii be neces-
sary 20 disconnect the rods from the
foot pedal and hand lever and all
low the mechanism TO release as far
as possible IL is a good plan 20 oil
or grease all connections at this
time since twill ne possible 90 work
lubricant into the joints Then Jack
mp the rear wheels So as 10 be adj,
Go t1rn them. and block the 'front.'
wheels SO the car cannot move.
simple 20 Adjust.