BRAKE "SPONGINESS"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 11 (Supplement)

BRAKE " SPONGINESS"

HYDRAULIC TROUBLE If tho brake pedal has a spongy feel when depressed, it is generally caused by air having found its way into ono or other of tho cylinders in the hydraulic braking system. There are cylinders to each set of shoes and a master cylinder connected directly to the brake pedal. Tho spongy feel ia eliminated by " bleeding " the system, which is effected by opening orifices provided on the wheel cylinders and then pumping the liquid through the piping by operating tho brake pedal. Repeated depression of tho pedal is necessary until all air bubles are

eliminated. Treat all wheel cylinders in this way, after which tho main reservoir must be replenished with the s|>ocial hydraulic, braking fluid. Tho accoinpnnying shows tho plug from which the oil is pumped out of the cylinders, a length of rubber piping being used to lead it into a clean container. There should bo provided in tho car tool kit a special adapter to fit the plug hole, carrying the necessary length of rubber pipe, also a spanner. After replenishment see that tho plug on tho bleeder valve is secure. Incidentally, about a dozen strokes of the pedal will bo necessary to bleed each wheel cylinder. If the fluid drained olf from tho system is quite clean it can, of courso, bo used again.