Stopping Distances

Here is why it is a bad idea use E brake to stop moving car:


There are several versions of the backing plate which were reinforced in an attempt to correct SERIOUS damage when folks used emergency brake to stop the car.

Here is some MINOR damage that I have seen over the years.

This is an early NON modified backing plate.

The latest version also prevents the emergency band from moving sideways.

Sometimes the wheel will lock up!

I have installed the later version BUT have never tested to see if USING E brake to stop will still damage the backing plate.
 

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Benson, What was done to the later rear backing plates to keep the parking band from moving sideways out of position? And what can be done to fix a backing plate that allows the parking brake band to move sideways?
 
nkaminar said:
Benson, What was done to the later rear backing plates to keep the parking band from moving sideways out of position? And what can be done to fix a backing plate that allows the parking brake band to move sideways?
Click to expand...

It was all explained in Service Bulletin Page 482.

1. Four 1/2 inch tabs were added to the outer flange as shown in fig 958.

2. Also an additional plate was riveted to reinforce the area where the brake band damage is shown in the photo in post #24.

3. The additional plate MAY have been added in an other version before the latest version mentioned here.

Additional info added here:

I went through a pile of backing plates and found several with the reinforcement plate which are damaged.

So it appears that using the Emergency brake to stop the car is still NOT a good idea.
 
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When I was a newbie to Model A's (1962), I used the emergency brakes for a panic stop. The emergency brakes did a good job of stopping my Coupe, but both emergency brake carriers were bent so bad I struggled to get the drums off. That struggle made a lasting impression on me.
 
I am back home and happy to be driving my Model A again. I spent some time adjusting the brakes and then did the stopping test. It is hard to hit 20 mph. I used the GPS for the speed indication. The first test I was low on speed, maybe 16 mph and the stopping distance was 13 feet. The second test I was a little high, maybe 23 mph and the stopping distance was 24 feet. I measured the distance by the skid marks caused by the rear wheels. The front wheels did not generate skid marks. The car pulled slightly to the left.

I know the front brakes are doing more of the work during normal driving because they measured 140 F while the rears were 100 F. I did the temperature measurements after a trip to town at speeds between 20 mph and 55 mph. The last section is a country road with ups and downs and corners where I used the brakes to maintain the proper speed. It is the 70's in the shade here today.

These are stock brakes with the exception of Flat Head Ted add-ons. They are in good shape with all new parts in the front and good parts in the rear.

The brake tests were done on my street which is level asphalt. The street was dry and clean (no leaves).
 
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nkaminar said:
I am back home and happy to be driving my Model A again. I spent some time adjusting the brakes and then did the stopping test. It is hard to hit 20 mph. I used the GPS for the speed indication. The first test I was low on speed, maybe 16 mph and the stopping distance was 13 feet. The second test I was a little high, maybe 23 mph and the stopping distance was 24 feet. I measured the distance by the skid marks caused by the rear wheels.
Click to expand...

Those distances are consistent with what I got. 19 feet from 20 mph.
 
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