Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22

TT has often been said that what
counts largely in life Is getting
the breaks. This statement
regarding luck is probably
true in many instances.
In the automobile game it is
getting the brakes that count.
This newer statement regarding
the ability to stop or slow down a
motor car is true in every instance
If that important mechanism is OF
first-clasS make and in good con-
dition.
Far More Essential.
Stopping or slowing down a
machine is far more essential than
getting 1t going or increasing its
speed inasfar as safety is con-
cerned. Safety is the paramount
requisite Of motoring today. Manu-
facturerS Of cars are doing their
bit In this line, but unfortunately
IL appears that the owners and
drivers of the motor car are not.
Along with the steering wheel
the brakes Of a car Is u1Question-
ably the most important part.
Improper use Of brakes i'm
mediately after new brake Innings
have been installed, improper in
stallation Of brake Innings because
Of the lack Of modern machinery
in brake service stations. and use
of poor grade Of steel for brake
drums on many inexpensive makes
Of cars, are given as the principal
reasons for 80 per cent Of the
brake troubles suffered by the
American motoring public, ac-
cording to a paper presented by q
manufacturer before a meeting of
the Society of Automotive En-
gineers.
'"The question of brakes and the
evils that are connected with
their maintenance is a real prob
lem confronting the automotive
industry" states the paper. The
findings are based on engineering
study and scientific surveys re-
Gently conducted.
'I believe" the writer declared,
shat under proper working and
service conditions there are good
number of brake Innings that will
give satisfactory service. Fully 80
per cent Of the brake troubles are
caused by factors other than the
brake lining itself. Most Of the
scoring Is done while the job is
comparatively new.
Average Stopping Time.
"An average light passenger car
can develop a speed Of so .m.p.h.
in approximately 20 seconds and
requires IS hip. to do so. This
same car can be brought to a stop
in one-third of the time taken
to develop the road speed men,
toned. In other words, over three
times the reverse horse power is
required to stop the car as to at
tain the speed. It has been esti-
mated that 5000 degrees Fahren-
heit are developed in the braking
effort, and under this condition
q scoring action may be started,
regardless Of the brake lining
used.
ut Is common occurrence to
score brake drums just after the
brakes have been refined by i'm
proper use of the brakes before
the lining has become properly
seated, and therefore before the
maximum bearing surface is in
use. The drum rides on the high
spots Of the lining and small par
ticles Of steel come to the fusing
point and begin the destructive
work. Brake scoring Is unusual
on a new car because Of the care
taken to drive at a reasonable
speed during the breaking-in
period. Care subsequent to re-
lining would result in few COM
plants on the ground Of drum
scoring.
There Is room for improvement
IN the quality of steel used for
brake drums on many inexpensive
makes of cars.
ga well equipped shop doing
brake work should have the fol-
lowing equipment in order to do
satisfactory brake work: Drum
lathe, drilling and riveting ma
chine, shoe grinding machine and
q drum gauge, in addition to the
necessary jacks, hand-tools, etc.
Despite the opinions to the con-
trary a brake tester or equaliza-
ton machine is desirable and
makes possible better brake ad-
iustment.
"The brake shoe grinder takes
the high spots from the lining
before being used by the driver,
and provides more contact area
with the drum. Some machines
provide 100 per cent circumference
contact. The only factor which is
lacking is that those machines
do not guarantee parallelisrn with
the face Of the drum. Many of
the difficulties Of the brake busi-
ness will be overcome when a
machine incorporating this fea-
ture is developed, providing that
the drum Is in perfect condition
when the brakes are applied and
that the Job Is broken in before
the brakes are applied too
severely.
"A brake drum gauge, used
properly and consistently, will
pay for itself in many ways. The
instrument threads on to the axle
of the car and gives micrometer
reading of the drum radius. With
this reading the brake shoes can
be placed in position and accurate
adjustment for clearance made
before the wheel is installed.
without the equipment men
toned much of the mechanics
work becomes mere guesswork.
"A practically perfect job may
be obtained by 'bluing' the lining
and fitting, as is the usual prac-
tice in and-fitting bearings. This
method, however involves much
%4v-.A avaI Ia