Roadster62
Well-known member
I'm sure Ford place the parking brake on the left since 15 million T's rolled out with one, just wondering what it feels like driving an early A with one today? Bob
Driving a LEFT Hand Brake 1928 Ford
- Thread starter Roadster62
- Start date
P.S.
Well-known member
Uncomfortable. Your left knee tends to rest against the door in a typical Model A. However, in a LH brake equipped early A, you have to keep your left leg more vertical and it gets tiresome.
I suppose you could rest your left leg some way that wouldn't interfere with the brake, but for my leg length, I cannot see how.
I suppose you could rest your left leg some way that wouldn't interfere with the brake, but for my leg length, I cannot see how.
john hamilton
Senior Member
Lots of cars of the A era had the brake on the left side. Specifically I've had a 1927 Hudson and 1930 Packard arranged that way. In addition to being in the way of your left leg it makes entrance and exit harder.
Not one of the industry's better ideas. Maybe it was so you could hold on to the steering wheel with your right hand while pulling on the emergency brake. They weren't called parking brakes back then.
Not one of the industry's better ideas. Maybe it was so you could hold on to the steering wheel with your right hand while pulling on the emergency brake. They weren't called parking brakes back then.
1crosscut
Well-known member
On my truck with the left hand brake it is not an "Emergency" brake but a way to use the service brakes to hold the truck in place. I believe Ford was required by the government to provide a independant parking brake separate from the service brakes.
I had an experience last year when backing my truck off of a trailer that highlighted on of the disadvantages of having the brake hand lever on the left hand side.
When I back my truck off of the trailer I set the two ramps in place as close to lined up with the wheels as I can and then back the truck far enough back so the rear tires are on the dove tail of the trailer but not yet on the ramps. I then set the hand brake, get out, check and re-adjust the ramps if necessary.
We I did just that and then proceded to get back into my truck to finish driving it off the trailer. Well... as I was in the process of getting into the truck I bumped the release on the hand brake with my left leg releasing the brake and down the ramp I went with my butt hanging out the door.
Pretty exciting ride to say the least. Lucky for me I did have the ramps lined up well and nothing was behind me and the only thing that was damaged was my underwear.
Moving the hand brake lever to the center definitely helps prevent that from happening.
I had an experience last year when backing my truck off of a trailer that highlighted on of the disadvantages of having the brake hand lever on the left hand side.
When I back my truck off of the trailer I set the two ramps in place as close to lined up with the wheels as I can and then back the truck far enough back so the rear tires are on the dove tail of the trailer but not yet on the ramps. I then set the hand brake, get out, check and re-adjust the ramps if necessary.
We I did just that and then proceded to get back into my truck to finish driving it off the trailer. Well... as I was in the process of getting into the truck I bumped the release on the hand brake with my left leg releasing the brake and down the ramp I went with my butt hanging out the door.
Pretty exciting ride to say the least. Lucky for me I did have the ramps lined up well and nothing was behind me and the only thing that was damaged was my underwear.
Moving the hand brake lever to the center definitely helps prevent that from happening.