The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24
KEEP A SHARP EYE
ON YOUR BRAKES
A Little Care and Vigilance
May Save a Big
Smash.
BY IL. CLIFFORD BRoKAw.
q echnical Director, West Side Y. ". G
A. Automobile Schools


wheels If you are caught in an emer
gency where only quick action will save
an accident? II not you had better
have them put in order. for they may be
the only thing standing between yor
and eternity. And one does not like &c
oe thrown into the company even OF
angels without some preparation.
There are just two kinds Of brakes
good brakes and the other kind. Which
do you have? Possibly you are like
lot of drivers who are satisfied If one
set of brakes is working. Brakes. how
ever, are too important to neglect. They
are more important even than the motor
because while a motor Is necessary to
start, If you cannot stop all sorts OF
dangers are before you.
Every car is provided with two sets
of brakes, one operated by the foot
commonly known as the service brake
The other operated by the hand and
often miscalled the emergency brake
Both these sets should be in perfect
condition If one cares for his own
safety.
The usual type of brake consists OF
drum mounted on each rear wheel
which serves for both sets. The SER
wee brake ordinarily consists of a band
operating on the outside of the drum
and connected to a foot pedal by a
series of rods. Pressing the pedal tight
ems the brake band upon the drum and
friction stops the car.
The hand brake consists of a lever
which through another set of rods con-
meets with a band inside the drum,
which expands by toggle joint or other
device producing the necessary fric-
ton. There is nothing complicated
about either set of brakes Any driver
of ordinary intelligence can compre-
bend the action at glance. But know
ing how they work will not make them
work. 1T takes little attention. regu-
larly and often, to make sure that they
are in condition to serve you when
needed. The troubles are not many
and may be briefly classified as those
due to wear In the linkage or the brake
lining, or due to poor adjustment For
ward of the rear axle there is an equal
izing bar designed to help the brakes
work with equal pressure on each side,
and just In front of this bar Is a turn
buckle or other device for taking up
undue play. At each end Of this equal
izing bar other rods go to each brake
and just in front Of the drum there Is
another turnbuckle or similar device
for further adjustment
In adjustment of the brakes the rear
wheels should be lacked up and the
hand brake set just tight enough so
that one of the wheels will turn by
hand. If the other one does not show
an equal pressure when turned by hand
the adjusting device at the wheels
should be turned until the pressure is
equal upon each brake. After this the
tnrnbuckle forward of the equalizing
bar may be taken UP If necessary. The
service brake Is similarly adjusted but
II will be necessary to have some one
hold the pedal down during the process.
Wear in the linkage Is due to a de-
feet or to lack of fabrication. The con-
struction Is such that grease cups cannot
be used and Ii Is merely a case of squirt
Ing oil on from can. Naturally this
does not last long and II accumulates
road dust. and unless the joints are
properly cleaned and oiled frequently,
pins and clevises will wear and may be-
come so weak that they will break un-
der a sudden strain in an emergency.
They may be replaced, when badly worn.
for a few cents each and renewal is
cheaper than an accident.
The brake lining also wears, particu-
larly where there are many hills. II
the lining Is allowed to wear until the
rivets by which 1t is fastened to the
brake band rub against the drum. the
latter Is likely to be scored and IL then
becomes necessary to take the drum or.
have 1t put in lathe and turned true.
where there Is enough metal to do It.
Sometimes II Is cheaper. particularly II
the drum is thin, to buy new one. In
that case be sure to buy all new bolts
and nuts.
It Is wisdom, therefore. to renew the
brake lining before such a condition Is
caused. Putting on the brake lining is
not a difficult job, but Il Is a particular
one. The lining must be put on so
that It Is smooth and so that the rivet
heads do not protrude. This means
counter sinking the rivet heads In the
fabric. the brake lining usually being a
composition OF asbestos and wire.
1t is possible to buy the band of proper
also f6r any make of car at a supply
house. Take off the brake band and
either cut Off or punch out all the rivets
with cold chisel and punch. Lay
the new lining carefully on the band
and mark the rivet holes accurately. and
then punch them out on a block, being
careful not to make them larger than
the rivets. A little smaller Is better.
Then countersink these holes for the rivet
heads so that they are well below the
surface. Stretch the lining on the band
and place the end rivets In position.
They may be lightly tapped to hold them
IN place. Then clamp the lining firmly In
position at several points The rivets
may now be fastened In one by one. taxi
ing pains to see that the rivet Is well
set UP. that is. that IL fills the hole in
the band To insure that IL is properly
countersunk, the head should be placed
upon a rod just a little smaller than the
rivet head held I'm the wise. Caro- must
be taken to see that the lining is not
punched up or wrinkled, but when all
rivets are set IL should be smooth and
regular. so that every portion will touch
the drum when the brake Is applied.
While brakes should be adjusted &C
that they will slide the wheels, IL Is no,
intended that they should be applied 60
strenuously. Sliding the wheels wears
the tires. The car doesn't stop as
quickly when the wheels are sliding az
when they are turning. Just a little
practice win show the requisite amount
of pressure to use.
The driver has another brake on the
car which may be used In an emergency
on a hill. Cut off the ignition ant
close the throttle and tho compression
In the cylinders will act as a very eff
cient brake. II the hill be long or steel
Il is well to put the gear In secon,
speed or even In first, but this must h,
done at the top of the hill and not whef
you find you are going too fast.
Ilr. ~ col aaaas