BRAKES AND THEIR USE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1930, Page 16

BRAKES AND THEIR USE.

FREQUENT I ADJUSTMENTS •;■'.". : :;:■;' i J ''-,'. ■ ; '/\ ; . engine;" deceleration alone:: Whilst touring, car -epeeds are on the increase-and cars travel quite fast in safety, the owner should not be unmindful of the best method of reducing speed

at cross-roads on approaching bends and on.-■ other ' occasions, for an enormous amount of wear and tear can be avoide.l if the necessary reductions in road speed are effected by the aid of engine deceleration alone, leaving the brakes to serve as the final retarding effect and for use in sudden emergencies.

Considered in the light of design-and construction, it might be held that the braking system, should be constructed in such a manner that no;undue•'stresses should,fall:,upon any. part, of-the chassis or transmission, however -violently the brakes may be applied; but, as-every practical, experienced motorist knows, numerous examples of twisted axle

shafts, strained splines and badly worn universal joints have, been due to perpetually harsh treatment on the part of car drives with regard to brake manipulation.

Brake design has Improved considerably in recent years, but occasionally one encounters .examples of touring cars in which,, the actual adjustment of the brakes varies with the load carried in the'car, so that if the brakes ate-regu-latecl to work .properly with one. or ■ two passengers "up," they may. be found to drag when the car is,filled to-capacity.

::: A ; car possessing this defect is a source of anxiety, .because if adjusted for .full load operation the brakes may notcome fully into -action , when thf car is light, and,, on ; the ..other hand, additional stresses may; be imposed upon the-engine and transmission by dragging brakes when : the c"ar is fully loaded, should the adjustment be- regulated -fov the maximum braking effect for light loads. This may entail frequent; adjustment of tlie

brakes for varying loads; which, though inconvenient, is the only saie plan to follow with an imperfectly designed brake lay-out.