MOTOR NOTES BY "SPARK PLUG"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 128, 22 January 1932, Page 2

MOTOR NOTES BY "SPARK PLUG"

BKAKE ^ SPiRSNGS NECESSITY FOR CARE.

There are many spfings associated with the brakes of a car, semi-exposed and some hidderi from view. With- 'one or two exceptions, however, !brake springs need no a,ttention; nevertheless, they will not funcfion correctly if they are neglected, or rather if . they are called upon to do impossibilities arising from neglqcted luhrication of the brake-shafts and joints. Thus, there are the brake-shoe. springs that pull the shoes away from the drums, and.keep them thus, when the bralce pedal or lever is rfeleased. These springs cannot .always or fully overcome .the f rictional . resistance of unlubricated and rusty shaf t bearings. Spring-time work on springs should fcherefore include, thorough lubrication of all brakc-shaft bearings and joints. To make sure that they all work freely, let the lever movements be watched by one person while another operates the pedal and hand-lever. Do hot use the grease or oil-gun perfuncr torily; make sure that the liibricant is really going into the bearings. The springs' on brake adjusters. should be examined to make certain that they are functioning freely. They. are intended to lock the adjuster automatically and prevent the adjustment from. slaclcening back. Some oil on the adjuster details and the springs themselves will assist the latter to do their duty. There is a spring on the hand-brake trigger; make sure that this is really effective in holding the pawl in engagement with the toothed quadrant. A weakened or broken spring might allow the lever to slip to the "off" position while the car was unattended; and if that happened on a hill — well, the possibilities for harm are obvious.