Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-14
ldff@@d fed says:
Copyright 1922. by King Feature Service
GOOD BRAKING

II. is difficult enough to get a car
that has brake layouts properly de-
signed and far more difficult to keep
the ordinary brakes in such condition
that they always can be depended upon.
In New York there has been instituted
a brake inspection and testing depart
ment, which sends out men to inspect
brakes of cars and trucks on the
streets. This is , a good plan, for the
average driver will operate his car far
too long after the brake lining has be-
come worn down. But brake lining
wear is not the only cause OF poor
brake operation, for there is the mat
ter of delayed adjustment.
All cars have two sets of brakes,
operating either on the rear wheels,
or one set is on the wheels and the
other on the propeller shaft. In some
cases the latter is the service brake,
but usually it is the hand. or emery
ency brake. Because of the space linn
~itations the propeller shaft brake
ought to be the hand brake. This
brake is not used as much as the SER
vice brake, hence it will last a long
time, whereas if the propeller shaft
brake is the service brake it wears
down quickly and needs frequent adj
justment and lining renewal.
The driver ought to have the brak-
ing system gone over thoroughly every
three months and if the car is new
after the first 500 miles of running.
New brake lining is compressed when
in service and this makes it necessary
to adjust to take up the clearance.
After that good lining ought to last
for 5000 miles without requiring to
be removed. Lining will fail to hold
because it is slippery from Oil or grease,
because there is insufficient pull on
it. or because the material is poor.
The first trouble can easily be over
come by squirting some kerosene over
the lining and cutting the oil. Where
there is insufficient pull, adj ustment
must be made either at the brake drum
or on the pull rod where a turnbuckle
OF some other form of adjustment is
provided. If the material is of a cheap
-grade there is nothing to do but to
keep adjusting until you cannot adjust
any more and then get some good lin
ing. The difference in cost between
good and bad may be 81 or 81, but 1t is
far wiser and cheaper in the end to
get the better grade of lining.
Chattering is a condition which often
puzzles the driver. 1t is due to a vi
bration of the band and may exist on
gOOu cars HIS well Ms Cupdp outS. oItth
where the brake band is too small, or
where the band does not fit evenly all
around the drum, the pressure is con-
centrated on a small area of the drum
and this sets up a vibration in the band
which we call chattering. In the case
of some cars it is due mainly to the
~cheapness of the lining which is moth
ing more thar cloth. The brake area
is SO small also that the wear is bound
to be rapid. This is the reason one
must replace these Innings so often.
In many larger ears the propeller
shaft brake is the one that chatters
because of the smallness of this brake
and the difficulty of keeping ii always
cOncentric with the drum. Because
of the inaccurate contact the lining
wears unevenly also. This also may
be said of rear wheel brakes that are
poorly designed. Brake anchors wear.
or the bands slip to one side because
there is nothing to stop them. This
causes only part of the lining to do
effective work and chattering and in
efficient braking will result.
Every driver should be able TO stop
his car without having to press the
brake pedal with all his might for half
a block or so. If he must do this at
ordinary speeds. it shows an ineffici-
ent ana unSa1e system. mere the
braking system is inadequate the driver
should assist the brakes by shifting
into second speed while moving or in
descending grades into first speed. !
This causes the engine to interpose
resistance and thus, the brakes are
relieved of some work. But how many !
drivers shift into second. apply the
brake and leave the clutch alone when !
making a quick stop?
Brakes must be evenly adjusted to
prevent skidding. While there are
other causes of skidding go per cent
of the skids are caused because one
brake holds better than the other. In
the case of the propeller shaft brake
equalization is automatic. but | am
speaking of rear wheel brakes only.
Also brakes must not be too tight. If
one brake is tight and the other free.
the tight one VIII wear faster than the
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