Re: [Chrysler300] final re new 300C and '57 brakes idea

["christopher beilby" <thelastbestgenius@xxxx>]

1. With regard to Phillippe Courant's '57 front brake dramas - over here in 
Australia you cannot buy the original (narrow) front brake cups that go in 
the wheel cyylinders. And if you use the normal wider ones that are 
supplied, the bleed return hole in the cylinder cuts the lip of the cup when 
you apply the brakes hard, and thereafter the fluid bleeds out onto the 
lining, causing the brake to grab exactly like Phillippe said.
You either have to use original narrow brake cups, or shorten the metal push 
rods that attach to the brake shoes. Phillippe, check your brake cups, if 
they are like here in Australia, that is your problem - the leak is not 
large, so if use car regulary, not too bad - but leave it sit a week or so, 
and whammo, grabbing brake.

2. Thank you to those who seemingly agreed with my 'annoyance/anger' at 
Mercedes prostituting the 300C name/image on what to me seems a clearly 
unfortunate product.

Since seeing they have the 'stupidity?' (arrogance?) to invite owners of 
real 300s to their launch ( We all hope it is not a 'sinking' ?!), I realise 
there are more important things than spending time on people (Mercedes/ 
Chrysler?) who possibly are too stupid to realise what others can plainly 
see?

The bottom line is America has not built many memorable cars since the early 
70s, and meantime other countries have improved hugely. If Mercedes choses 
to put people in charge of Chrysler who obviously are out of touch, do not 
listen, or do not know the basic rules of building/sellling cars, then that 
is their right, and we all can/will buy product (non Chrysler) from those 
other better companies that build cars for people who know what they want, 
and where to get it. (I think i earlier mentioned Ford here in Australia 
built an unpopular looking car, went from No 1, to nearly bankrupt - they 
have re-styled the car, and now are knocking on No 1 position again.)

What can I/we do?!

I used to subscribe to Car & Driver in the late 60s, and what I might do is 
drop them a line, asking them to sample an original 300C in looking at any 
new 300C.

Whose car can I suggest they use - preferrably it should be a coupe, and 
ideally with wire wheels, and very well sorted re good shocks, radials, and 
the carbs, transmission and exhaust well set up.
(Of my 3 300Cs, only one has the carbs/linkage well sorted - it flies once 
it gets to about 25-30mph, maybe runs the quarter in around 15 seconds, 
otherwise is basically stock.)
How common are such cars other there, and especially if they have the KYB 
shocks - this is the sort of original 300C we must make journos aware of - 
who can nominate a few for them to maybe experience?

Over to you, just been driving my '58 Cad convertible at an event for pre 
70s cars that starts down near the beach and runs up into the hills behind 
(Adelaide a bit like LA only way smaller) - 1980 entries, and about another 
200-500 non entereds. (don't get too excited, lots of British, one '60 New 
Yorker Coupe, '56 NY Convertible, '53 and '56 Packard Carribean, then mainly 
other more normal 'yanks').

GM may have stuffed up badly since, but they sure nailed that seat and ride 
combination in the '58 Cad range, especially if you have the top down. May 
not handle like a Chrysler, nor have the punch of a hemi, but you are riding 
in maybe the most comfortable car bar I know what. Now if Phillippe had his 
'57 Imperial convertible here, what a day, comparision that would be. That 
was when Chrysler and Exner really knew about building knockout cars, cars 
to be proud to own/drive. That shot of his '57 Imperial convertible shows 
how well Exner pulled it off.

Aussie Christopher


> From: Philippe Courant <accf-club@xxxx>
> To: "mailing-list@xxxx" 
> <mailing-list@xxxx>,Chrysler 300 Yahoo List Server 
> <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,Fwdlk <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxx>
> Subject: [Chrysler300] Re: IML: '57 front brakes:(short) road test
> Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 19:06:03 +0200
>
> Hi all,
> Today, after morning rain, the weather was fine, the roads were dried so
> i did a little road test. I didn't want make a test on wet road ..
> I assume that 80 to 90 % of the problems are solved !! No brutal "right
> pull side" , no "lumpy" braking at very slow speed, no brutal locking
> (front left) wheel ! And only with replacing a drum which was previously
> turned ...
> Remember that i put the two (original) drums of my wrecked '57. The
> right side drum is a little grooved on braking lining surface and it's
> perhaps the reason that the car pulls (lightly) on the left on hard
> braking: more braking surface on left than right ?
> Before "crier victoire" (shout victory), i must make a longer test,
> maybe tomorrow. I must also wait a week and test if the brakes don't
> lock on the first braking but itsn't the most important thing !
> I think that, as the left drum was conical-shaped, the lining follows
> the surface and wedges in the backing plate . I had some spots on the
> lining. Or only a fraction of the lining was used so the car pulls to
> the other side ?
> I haven't make a too long test to check if the brakes always squeak but
> i made the same road (5 miles) two weeks ago and when i came back home
> the brakes squeak. Today, i hear nothing !!
> I feel now very reassured, especially at 105 kph (and not mph..)
>
> --
>
> Philippe COURANT (Pau, France)- Webmaster des sites ACCF et C-I-F
> Imperial 1957 Crown convertible
> Buick 1996 Roadmaster wagon
>
> - American Car Club de France (ACCF) : http://www.accf.com
>
> - Chrysler Imperial France (C-I-F) : http://www.ifrance.com/c-i-f
>
> - Cadillac " Standard of Excellence " : http://www.ifrance.com/accf-cad
>
> - SportsCars : http://www.ifrance.com/accf-sprtcar

_________________________________________________________________
Chat via SMS. Simply send 'CHAT' to 1889918. More info at 
http://ninemsn.com.au/mobilemania/MoChat.asp?blipid=6800