BRAKE “SHUDDER”

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 4 November 1933, Page 12

BRAKE “SHUDDER”

TROUBLE DUE TO GREASE. SUDDEN GRIPS AND RELEASES The modem enclosed .brake drums have relieved the streets of the whine and shriek so frequent with cars of a few years ago; arid a quiet and steady pull-up is the rule rather than the exception. Occasionally', however, motorists experience another trouble, which is well described by the name of “shudder.” This annoying phenomenon is seldom noiteeable at or above a moderate speed, hut when slowing down at a kerb or toeing the line for an adverse robot, it sometimes occurs Instead of the smoothly' increasing friction be tween the brake band and the drum, there is .a series of sudden grips and releases, which makes the wheel “shudder” along till the car stops. This is bad for the brake, the drum, the tyre, the bearings, and the temper.

As the back wheel is the driving wheel and is keyed to the live axle, it does not suffer much from the trouble. The front wheel, being greased liberally inside the cap, is the one to exhibit such symptoms, which arise from an excess of grease that gets on to the brake band. As the wheel [rotates this becomes a hard, black, lustrous surface, and instead of making a smooth contact it either slips or grips, causing the “shudder.” To cure it, all the grease must bo removed. If there has not been much and the trouble is promptly treated, the brake shoe complete with band may bo removed, and the grease burned out with a blow-lamn in the workshop. If, however, the grease has impregnated the band, the trouble will reeur, and it is cheaper and more satisfactory to have a new' brake band fl tted. The glossy surface on the drum should be wiped off with a petrolsoaked rag, or it will taint the new brake band. Rarely the trouble is found with the ends of a new brake band polishing when applied and producing a similar result. Mineral oil will only make things worse After cleaning the drum, and, if necessary, rasping the end of the brake hand slightly, about a teaspoonful of neat’s foot oil should be wiped round the brake drum. Tt is. of course, essential to see that, where grease has caused the shudder, the right quantitv is applied in future, a« otherwise the excess may melt and find its way centrifugally to the drum and the same difficulty recur.