Question: Iam sure that there are many here who have the speed in their As, and do keep up with modern cars in todays world of no respect on the road where most modern car motorists think going 70 is too slow, Isnt it better and safer for the Model A guy that has more speed and drives his car more often to convert to the juice?
Speed and Brakes?
- Thread starter 1929
- Start date
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
This question comes up often. Let me answer you question by asking one.
If one can press down on the brake pedal and the wheels slow and eventually stop spinning (skidding) does it really matter if the shoes were activated by mechanical or hydraulic means?
Will properly installed and adjusted mechanical brakes stop the car? YES
Will properly installed and adjusted hydraulic brakes stop the car? YES
Put in whatever will make you get your car out of the driveway and driving down the road as either will work but you need personal piece of mind when you drive.
If one can press down on the brake pedal and the wheels slow and eventually stop spinning (skidding) does it really matter if the shoes were activated by mechanical or hydraulic means?
Will properly installed and adjusted mechanical brakes stop the car? YES
Will properly installed and adjusted hydraulic brakes stop the car? YES
Put in whatever will make you get your car out of the driveway and driving down the road as either will work but you need personal piece of mind when you drive.
Last edited:
Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
Another problem to consider is that the front fenders act like the wings on an airplane and make your front end too light to be comfortable/safe. If a canyon intersects the road with a wind blowing down it or a Semi passes you it is really not safe.
Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens
Pete
BANNED
The front fenders DO NOT produce lift on a model A.
On the contrary, they produce down force.
There have been many full fendered model A's run at Bonneville and never a one has blown over backward due to front end lift.
I have a STOCK BODY FULL FENDERED 30 2 door sedan that will go over 150 mph and it is extremely stable.
Just like a Sunday drive.
The wind noise is unpleasant though.
Chuck Kuntz
Well-known member
Just my own experience, but at 100 mph my 30 coupe was very light in the front end and so was the 30 coupe we had in the 50's at that speed. Yes, both were hot rods. Seems to me that the curvature of the fender would mean lower pressure on the top surface of the fender.
Rex_A_Lott
Well-known member
But does it have mechanical brakes?
Jacksonlll
Well-known member
If you do go to Juice, make sure the system has a separate emergency brake and does not use the juice for that too. Don't want to lose both.
Kevin in NJ
Well-known member
Let us go back to basics.
The Model A was designed to run 60 MPH. It was known to stop well and handle well on the crappy roads of the day at those speeds.
The major limits on the brakes for the Model A are the tires and their limited contact patch. Well done mechanical brakes can lock up fine at any time. So they are up to doing the job bearing in mind the tires have limits.
The major issue with a conversion to juice is safety. The mechanical brakes are just safer cause they just keep working. Juice brakes mess up too often on cars that are not driven enough. Just start asking questions at the car shows to the guys with juice brakes on any year or make car. I did once, I determined it was would be best to keep all the other cars in front of me cause too many really did not have brakes.
Keep in mind my family owned a 39 Ford and the brakes were always not working right (well mostly every other year). My Mustang gets messed up too, in fact I am going to be taking apart the brakes soon to fix the messed up wheel cylinders cause I like 100% braking. Too many will drive knowing one or more wheels are not functioning.
The Model A was designed to run 60 MPH. It was known to stop well and handle well on the crappy roads of the day at those speeds.
The major limits on the brakes for the Model A are the tires and their limited contact patch. Well done mechanical brakes can lock up fine at any time. So they are up to doing the job bearing in mind the tires have limits.
The major issue with a conversion to juice is safety. The mechanical brakes are just safer cause they just keep working. Juice brakes mess up too often on cars that are not driven enough. Just start asking questions at the car shows to the guys with juice brakes on any year or make car. I did once, I determined it was would be best to keep all the other cars in front of me cause too many really did not have brakes.
Keep in mind my family owned a 39 Ford and the brakes were always not working right (well mostly every other year). My Mustang gets messed up too, in fact I am going to be taking apart the brakes soon to fix the messed up wheel cylinders cause I like 100% braking. Too many will drive knowing one or more wheels are not functioning.
Brendan
Well-known member
C26Pinelake
BANNED
Charlie says the front end lifts, Pete says it does not. Who is right of who is wrong, very disconcerting when two posts are totally opposite. Very confusing and obviously one member has posted inaccurate information. Wayne
Patrick L.
Well-known member
Again, it appears some don't read all the posts. As Kevin mentioned, our limiting factor are the tires.
Jon W
Member
What is missing in this discussion is a recognition of the change in performance of cars as they have developed from the days when the Model A was new.
The Model A was likely very safe on the highways and in the traffic of its time because it had performance similar to all other cars. But today 85 years later if fails to come close to the performance of the cars currently on the highways. So driving it on the same roads and at the same speeds of the cars of today is dangerous because it cannot accelerate, stop or handle the turns as well so it is never going to blend in.
It certainly won't keep up with interstate traffic. In traffic on secondary roads it won't stop anywhere near as fast as the car in front can, so leaving a lot of space is required, and we all know other drivers will quickly fill in your safe stopping distance.
If you want to blend with today's cars you need a lot more than a different tire or juice brakes. You have to have braking ability to match today's disc brakes, tire compounds, and tire size. But then you wouldn't have a Model A.
The Model A was likely very safe on the highways and in the traffic of its time because it had performance similar to all other cars. But today 85 years later if fails to come close to the performance of the cars currently on the highways. So driving it on the same roads and at the same speeds of the cars of today is dangerous because it cannot accelerate, stop or handle the turns as well so it is never going to blend in.
It certainly won't keep up with interstate traffic. In traffic on secondary roads it won't stop anywhere near as fast as the car in front can, so leaving a lot of space is required, and we all know other drivers will quickly fill in your safe stopping distance.
If you want to blend with today's cars you need a lot more than a different tire or juice brakes. You have to have braking ability to match today's disc brakes, tire compounds, and tire size. But then you wouldn't have a Model A.
Rex_A_Lott
Well-known member
Well, we dont have a "like" button, but we need one here. Well said.
H. L. Chauvin
Well-known member
Today's cell phone conversations & texting while driving alters all "vintage" highway safety rules.
When today's minds of drivers are in a different World, who knows what to expect?
Defensive driving always helps.
When today's minds of drivers are in a different World, who knows what to expect?
Defensive driving always helps.
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
I agree. We don't even have a good radio station worth listening to, so for the past year I haven't turned the radio on. Even that makes a person concentrate more on driving, and makes you more aware of the other drivers on cell phones, and eating while driving.
Mikeinnj
Well-known member
Something else to consider.....
Do cars with ABS stop more quickly than cars without?
ABS is designed to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle during emergency braking situations, not make the car stop more quickly. ABS may shorten stopping distances on wet or slippery roads and many systems will shorten stopping distances on dry roads. On very soft surfaces, such as loose gravel or unpacked snow, an ABS system may actually lengthen stopping distances. In wet or slippery conditions, you should still make sure you drive carefully, always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions......From the NHTSA website
Do cars with ABS stop more quickly than cars without?
ABS is designed to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle during emergency braking situations, not make the car stop more quickly. ABS may shorten stopping distances on wet or slippery roads and many systems will shorten stopping distances on dry roads. On very soft surfaces, such as loose gravel or unpacked snow, an ABS system may actually lengthen stopping distances. In wet or slippery conditions, you should still make sure you drive carefully, always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions......From the NHTSA website
Jim Brierley
Well-known member
Why did Ford, and all manufacturers go to hyd. brakes? Because they are better! Use of silicone fluid eliminates corrosion in the system and thus failure caused by rust.
Jim Brierley
Well-known member
Pete, Better take your A to Bonneville, the current record for full-fendered V4 cars is 115!
Pete
BANNED
But does it have mechanical brakes?
You don't need brakes at Bonneville.
You can coast to a stop.
Fullraceflathead
Well-known member
Actually Hydraulic brakes are cheaper in production. In the beginning they were more expensive but by the 1930's they became cheaper.