DRYING OUT BRAKES IMPORTANT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 15

DRYING OUT BRAKES IMPORTANT

Friction Heat Necessary Precaution The Automobile Association of California, in a statement to members, advises them when driving in the rain or just after the ear has been washed to he on guard for wet brakes. It is pointed out that the basis of braking is friction, that friction causes heat, and that heat evaporates moisture. The recommendations are:— When driving away after a washing do so in low or second gear for-a while ami apply the brakes intermittently until sure that friction heat has dried them out sufficiently to restore them to good working condition. Use the brakes in the same way when driving in rain or on wet roadways where any considerable amount of water is likely to be splashed on the brake parts. Manufacturers strive to procure brakes that are dependable under all conditions, but there are some factors over which they have no control. For example, in washing cars soapy water is quite likely to get on the brake lining. The lining also has a tendency to collect moisture when driving through water or during a heavy rain storm. The remedy is to evaporate the water by- use of the brakes, meanwhile driving carefully until certain that normal braking control has been resumed. MORE ALUMINIUM Lake Bonneville, the salt-bed in Utah which has come into prominence as the natural speedway on which many notable records have been made, including the present land speed record held by Sir Malcolm Campbell, is likely to have another association with the motor industry, The area is noted for its vast deposits of alumite, from which product ahiminium is derived. The extent to which that metal and its alloys are now employed in the manufacture of motor products is well known, and plans are being made to build a huge dam in the Lake Bonneville district to provide power for the manufacture of aluminium on a large scale.