Re: IML: Original Brakes

[Christopher H <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I believe you're all forgetting the other drivers on the road, most of whom
don't haven't a clue that cars stop in different lengths. Especially here in
LA, I see people darting their small cars in front of big rigs every day and
then braking just to make the exit at the last second. And no matter how
much (or how minimal) a safe distance I put between my classics and the car
in front of me, someone always fills the gap, and all of a sudden I'm
tailgating again.

The difference in stopping power between the brakes on my '67 and newer cars
(front disc/rear drum) and my all-drum cars is enormous, but they seem to be
pretty close to the braking performance of my modern cars (with the
exception of features like ABS and emergency-sensing Brake Assist).

As much as I appreciate originality, concealing better brakes under a car
that's never going to be seen at Pebble Beach (or if so, could be returned
to its original state) seems like a good idea if you drive it more than
occasionally.
-- 
Chris in LA
67 Crown
78 NYB Salon




On 7/25/05 5:15 PM, RandalPark@xxxxxxx at RandalPark@xxxxxxx wrote:

> The Imperials of the 50's and 60's were not built in a time when speeds were a
> fraction of what they are today. Stopping distances weren't all that different
> either. Converting Imperial brakes to something other than what they came with
> is more a matter of preference than safety.
> 
> I grew up in Southern California, and traffic was every bit as bad in the late
> 50's there, as it is most other places today. 80 mph was totally normal on
> freeways where the traffic would permit it. The 55 mph speed limit was not
> installed until the middle 1970's.
> 
> Safety is not a matter of how fast you can stop your car, but rather of how
> the driver adapts to the road and the vehicle. If having better brakes
> establishes a false sense of security, then they are not safe at all. The
> driver is obligated and responsible to be sure that his vehicle is maintained
> to the manufacturer's specifications 100%, particularly in the area of safety,
> such as the condition of the brakes, tires, suspension, etc. The rest of the
> responsibility is to adjust driving to suit conditions.
> 
> 
> Paul W.




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