The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-31
BY O. T. SCHAEFER,
Copyright, 1919, By American Automobile Digest)

ity. speeding to take the hill on high,
and II both cars arc In the middle OF
the road consum mate skill Will BE- r.
CURED to avoid a collision.
When the use OF the brakes n nec-
cssary, apply easily. Sudden braking
imposes heavy strains on the me
chanism and heavy wear on the tires.
1t may also cause skidding on certain
types n roads. Allow the CIR TO slow
down 20 that the brAking effect re-
quired to produce dead stop will
be very slight. II the brake adjust
ment does not permit gradual braking.
see that 1t 10 changed. Brakes. very
often fail or slip on hill. This fall
ure. usually much dreaded by novice.
Is not - serious Is may be imagined.
by shifting quickly to low speed and
move very slowly. owing to the resist
ance OF the motor compression. In
this case the car II under instant con-
troll and with brake clipping can
gradually be brought to Z stop.
Motor car controls, such ~ steering
mechanism and tho brakes, are vitality
important details. and strange A. II
may seem, there are no other units or
systems that receive 20 little attention
from the motorist. Various reasons
are often advanced for the lack Of
attention given theee units; however.
the majority do not realize their i'm.
portAnce and the bearing they have
on the safe operation Of vehicle.
When . mo.orist takes the response
bility Of opera ting q car, he places
himself and those who may he with
him in very unpleasant and continu.
xgAfAom hA
has absolute confidence in the control
OF the car, which can only be gained
from frequent inspection and adjust
ment. II II wrong to suppose, for in
stance, that II the brakes worked
properly on = 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 II may be
very disastrous.
It Il not unusual to see a car on
the streets In oongested traf1c Of our
large cities collide with another
vehicle, due to ineff1cient brakes. To
arrest motion IL equally, II not more
important than to create motion: SO
1t would seem that while considerable
attention 10 being paid to maintaining
should be paid to provide An equally
! good II not better retarding force. IT
| 10 trae tina. the brakes may not be up
| to the standard OF other. parts. but this
| should not be m excuse for not main
| tanning them at thair maximum efaci-
cncy. with some ths brakes are a
| pet hobby, and occasionally one finda
barkes that are ha4f,a. due to improper
adjustment.
The adjustment OF all types Of
brakes Is \ most interesting and i'm
! portant study. and rsaders no doubt
have instruction books with their cars
which cover this subject: however, a
| few words in general may not be out
OF the scope OF this article. All brakes
!. have some means OF adjustmAnt either
! incorporated in the brake itself or in
| the control rods, pedals and hand
levers. In makins brake Adjustments
| q general inspection should be mace
1 Of all parts OF the entire brake sys-
| tenn in order to ccterrnine that al
parts are in eerviceable condition. II
Is quite important 70 have the brakes
evenly adjusted. 30 that when either
set Is applied there 10 the same brak-
Ing effect on both wheels. Brakes
that are not evenly adjusted win
when applied on \ wet road surface
cause the car to skid. In erdsr to
adjust the brakes evenly It viii b
necessary to disconnect the rods from
the foot pedal ana hand lever and
allow the mechanism 20 relNase q
far ~ possible. II - good plsn tc
oil or grease all connections at thil
time. since It VIII Be possible 70 work
lubricant into the joints Then jack
up the rear wheels % - - ~ Able
to turn them. and block the from,
| wheels 90 the car cannot move.
The external brakes are q Z rul.
quite simple 70 adjuut. since they arr
provided with N szternAl adjustment
usually in the form Of 4 winged Of
knurlsd nut The internal brakes ar,
not 10 easy to adjust. but - these arr
rsed 10 little they will not requir,
frequent adjustment unless the,