I have had 65 to 0 emergency stops many times in the Los Angeles area. Someone cuts in front of me only to find that the freeway traffic ahead is stopped, an accident happens right in front of me and I have to stop to prevent my car adding to the pileup, someone doesn't see me because he is distracted by something else and makes a left turn right ahead of me going 55 mph, someone enters the highway right in front of me while going 65 mph. Fortunately the first three happened while I was driving a 92 Mazda and I was just barely able to stop in time. I did have to clean my shorts afterward though. The last one occurred with my drum brake, bias ply, 56 Savoy and I could not stop in time although it did lock up the (four?,two?) wheels. Fortunately, the woman saw her impending death and stopped in time for me to swerve out of the way. My 92 Mazda may have been able to stop, but my Plymouth sure couldn't. Anyone who has driven in LA during rush hour knows that accidents are waitin!
g to happen around every corner and the best brakes are well worth the investment.
I have already purchased an AAJ disc brake kit and will not think twice about putting it on as soon as I get the time to do it. I will also change out the tires as soon as I figure out what I want and can afford them. Three point seat belts are also in the works. I will not drive faster than 55 and will avoid the freeway as much as possible until these things are done. My life, and the lives of others are worth far more than my insignificant Plymouth. Once I feel confident to be able to drive safely in today's traffic I will not think twice about going 70 mph or faster. :) Perhaps I wouldn't care about it so much if I only drove 40 mph around town all the time. Unfortunately, that is not an option for me as it is impossible for me to stay off the freeway completely.
Nathan Nuttall
-----Original Message-----
From: eastern sierra Adj Services [mailto:esierraadj@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 9:21 AM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] brake linings
I know I'm not the only one, with retrofitted 11x3" Bendix "Duo-Servo"
brakes, on my car (with 225/75R14 tires)
BOY, I wish I had anti-lock brakes on Horace, cause I CAN lock-up my
wheels--& each time
I have, I have been able to modulate the brake pressure, to control the
stopping ability.
My 11x3" DRUM brakes stop Horrie BETTER than the all-4 wheel discs, on
my 96 Grand Cherokee, or my 86 LeBaron GTS, @ least initially, up to , I
dunno, 40 mph?
The drums (thanx to the "shoe-sliding"/camming action on the Bendix's,)
stop the car "instantly", if "you" want them to--the others' discs just
kinda slide-along, scaring the CRAP outa you, while you wait for
seeminly-forever, for the car/Jeep to stop.
BTW, I'm NOT making-up the foregoing--stomp on your modern car's brakes
(with ant-lock, or not!) at 'parking' speeds up to 10 -15 mph, & see how
"quickly" it stops--as in when yer backing up, & OOPS, there's a
pedestrian, "there"!!!!!!!
As I said, before , I would prefer to have discs, on a freeway
full-boogie stop, from above 70 mph. I've found that MOST 'stops' only
require a "slowing-down" , to some extent, to avoid a hazard.
How many of y'all have actually brought yer car's speed down to ZERO, in
a true panic STOP, @ highway speeds????
Neil
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