, 1923-10-18

namely, quicker stopping, there are six serious disadvant-
ages which make them mechanically impracticable, danger
Gus, uncomfortable, and expensive to owners, as follows:
l. Danger of Accidents. With permission, we quote
from a recent circular of the Rons-Royce Company to
their dealers, upon which We cannot improve:
"Basically, the fault with front-wheel brakes lies in
the danger of front-wheel skids, which are uncontroll-
able and consequently vastly more dangerous than 2
rear-wheel skid.
1T must be appreciated, first of all, that for. their
ability to steer the car the front wheels depend on their
rolling motion. When front wheels cease to roll they
lose all power to steer the car, which slides straight
ahead on a flat road, or into the ditch if on a crowned
or cambered road.
When brakes are used in an emergency it is of pri-
mary Importance that the direction of the car should
be under control; that is, that the car can be steered
from the time that the brakes are applied until it is
brought to a complete stop.
when the obstacle suddenly presents itself las in
night driving) the drivers instinct is to Immediately
apply the brakes as hard as possible.
"1f, under these conditions, the front wheels are sud-
denly loc ta .so disaster tha may ayu ove a1sase; the driver, through
may stop before meeting the obstacle.
"n traffic driving the ability to dodge-to control
the direction of the carts of almost equal importance
with the ability to stop.
ION a wet or ~sprinkled city street, granting that the
front-wheel brakes were perfectly equalized, the car
would slide straight ahead unable to take advantage Of
traffic conditions either right or left.
If the brakes were not perfectly equalized, immedi-
ately the pressure was applied, the front wheels would
take on a skid, which would be uncomfortable, in which,
ever direction the equalization of the brakes was faulty.
"n traffic driving, under most favorable conditions
perfectly equalized brakes and dry ~pavement)) a sud-
den application of the brakes checks the car so pre-
%cipitately that cars following have been known to crash
into the car ahead, causing a rear end wreck through
not having stopping room and time.
ut is, of course, obvious that front-wheel brakes pre-
sent double the difficulty of keeping brakes properly
equalized.
aside from the above apparent defects in front or
four-wheel braking. there is the stiffening effect on the
steering to take into consideration when the brakes are
applied, and the drag on the steering unless the brak-
ing effects on both wheels is absolutely equalized. This.
OF itself. constitutes a serious disadvantage reflected in
the handling of the car"
2. Adjustments By OWner. Brakes must be properly
fabricated, and kept free from dirt, gravel, and
substance, to prevent unequal pressure of brakes
and possible locking Of front wheels. The burden Of this
responsibility rests on the owner, net on the factory.
3. Added Inpedimenta and fabrication. Four.wha.
brakes double the number of parts in the braking mechsn.
sm. add about one hundred pounds Of inspiring weight "a
he front end Of the car, and create from twenty to thirtx
places (mostly inaccessable) recurring luh1c..