Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1921-04-30
GOOD BRAKES OF
BIG IMPORTANCE
They Are One of Most Excellent
Forms Of Guarding Against
All Kinds of Accidents.
METHOD or CURLING ENGINE
Emergency or Hand Brake Primarily
10 TO Hold Car When Standing and
SeeondariIy 20 Use II Other
Brake Gives Way.
Nv II CLIFFORD BROKAw.

7 r.,hnical Director West Side y. NJ. {. A.
+ Automobile Schools New York C'ty.
/ Better have good brakes on your
cur than all engine, If you have 10
choose between the two, for the
brakes are the best form Of accident
insurance you can have. lhlS lhdl-
Gates the relative importance OF the
two car features. You might have
the highest type Of engine with IN
limited power under the hood, but II
Won haven't also some means of curO-
ing your high stopper and lettering II
az will YOU are in for it. whoa
won't stop II either. You might bet
ter be driving an uutamed broncho Of
the plains The engine will get you
there It IS true. hut II there he no
means OF stopping you may 20 too
etcrually far.
The car has two sets OF brakes
pmphasfziug the ~importancc-and o.
casionally q car has more. The emer-
gpncy or hand brake consists Of
brake band operating within a drum
on each rear wheel. connected by rods
and levers to the hand lever, which
has ratchet and pawl so that II may
be locked in position. This brake
primarily is to hold the car when
standing and secOndarily 10 use In
running if the other brake gives way
or for alternating on long hills.
Operation OF Foot Brake.
The foot brake, called running or
service brake. is operated by pedal,
with a spring 10 release II when pres
sure on the pedal is removed. and Is
connected by other rods and levers TO
brake bands operating on the outside
Of the rear wheel drums, or occasion
ally upon q separate drum on the pro
peller shaft. The latter gives greater
breaking power, because Of the rear
axle gearing leverage back of the
brake. and the second drum helps pre-
vent overhpating on long hills. But
this type brake does put severe
strain on the rear axle gears.
Both brakes should be kept in such
condition that either will stop the car
quickly. DO not let one set remain
out of order just because you know
the other is all right. The other
might go had just when needed.
Brake bands are lined with non
burning friction material, usually an
asbestos fabric, fastened to the steel
bands by copper rivets, the heads of
which are cOunter-sunk deep into the
lining, to keep the heads from con
tact with the drum. If the lining is
allowed to wear thin the copper rivet
heads score the drum into shallow
grooves. lessening the braking power.
Such must he turned true on lathe
If they are to be worth much for
braking purposes.
Renew Brake Lining.
Equally important is the renewal Of
the brake lining before it is worn thin
enough to expose the rivets to friction.
Better have this done at the service
station. 1t is a particular and tedious
job. 1t is possible, however, to get the
right size Innings and proper rivets at
almost any supply house. Remove the
brake bands, punch out the old rivets,
noticing how they were put in, and go
to II. Remember that the rivet heads
must be countersunk deep into the
lining and every rivet set up tight. II
requires patience but can be done by
the novice.
The brake lining is one place where
fabrication is not desirable, but every
other place on the brake and linkage
where there Is motion should he lubri-
Gated regularly according to the man.
ufacturer's fabrication chart, and be
cleaned likewise. There is consider
able wear to the cleviseS and pms
they may he renewed for a few cents
and should not he allowed to wear TO
the danger point; besides, worn link
age rattleS.