The Snowflake herald., 1921-09-30
GOOD BRAKES OF
BIG IMPORTANCE
They Are One OF Most Excellent
Forms of Guarding Against
All Kinds of Accidents.
METHOD OF CURBING ENGINE
Emergency or Hand Brake Primarily
Is to Hold Car When Standing and
Secondarily to Use If Other
Brake Gives Way.
Bv H. CLIFFORD BRoKAw,

BY II. CLlFEORD BROhAWp
Technical Director West Side Y. M. c. A.
Automobile Schools, New York City.
Better have good brakes on your
car than an engine, If you have to
choose between the two, for the
brakes are the best form OF accident
insurance you can have. This indi-
Gates the relative Importance Of the
two car features. You might have
the highest type Of engine with un-
limited power under the hood, but if
you haven't also some means of curb
ing your high stopper and lettering it
at will you are In for it. "WhOa"
won't stop 1t either. You might bet
ter be driving an untamed broncho of
the plains. The engine will get you
there, it is true, but If there be no
means Of stopping you may go too
eternally far.
The car has two sets of brakes
emphasizing the importance-andO Oc-
casiDnally car has more. The emer-
gency or hand brake consists OF a
brake band operating within a drum
on each rear wheel, connected by rods
and levers to the hand lever, which
has a ratchet and pawl so that 1t may
be locked in position. This brake
primarily is to hold the car when
standing and secOndarily to 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 a pedal,
with a spring to release it 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 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 overheating on long hills. But
this type brake does put a severe
strain on the rear axle gears.
Both brakes should be kept In such
condition that either will stop the car
QUICKLY. DO IlOt iCl OiiC oCL ACAHoih
ont Of order just because you know
the other is all right. The other
might go bad just when needed.
Brake bands are lined with nom
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 be turned true Onta 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 it. Remember that the rivet heads
must be countersunk deep into the
lining and every riyet set up tight. 1t
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 be lubri-
Gated regularly according to the man
ufacturer's fabrication chart, and be
cleaned likewise. There is consider
able wear to the clevises and pins
they may be renewed for a few cents
and should not be allowed to wear to
the danger point; besides, worn link
age rattles.