Re: Stop Me!

Posted by H.L. Chauvin on March 20, 1998 at 00:18:04

In Reply to: Stop Me!
posted by geo. shebley on March 19, 1998 at 12:32:28

: I've never really put much thought into this before,maybe you guys have some opinions to share.
: My question is:Are hydraulic brakes that much better than well restored mechanicals with soft linings and drum reinforcements? I've always had good luck with mechanicals and don't mind adjusting/maintaining them,still my concern is safety.....
Hi Geo.:Humble opinion to share:Hydraulic brakes, improperly installed, can sometimes also fail;however, I've seen many times where "wet", slippery highways, can better test opinions of adjusting Model A mechanical brakes because mechanical brakes will not apply equal pressure when improperly adjusted. After business hours, (no other cars on parking lot, especially no other parked Model A's in sight), immediately after or during a good rain, first drive around several blocks to get brake bands damp, enter parking lot, and first, at a very slow safe speed try to lock the wheels by applying the brakes.Using common sense and good judgment, cautiously increase speed slightly.(Many times mechanical brakes not fine tuned pull enough on one side on "wet" highways to cause vehicles to spin around and/or dangerously slide to one side).Instead of waiting for a passenger to loose his toupee in a highway spin, this simple exercise, accompanied by some brake adjusting fine tuning, may allow one to better judge required distance from vehicle out front, and allow one to have a better idea how "safely" the mechanical brakes can be adjusted to lock wheels on "wet" highways.

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