Yes, the value of emergency brakes. I remember driving around Seattle one
winter in my TR3 with nothing but the emergency brake, and a good mental map of
hills and traffic patterrns, and not much good sense. Had a good emergency
brake though. I was in college and couldn't afford a new master cylinder, at
least I didn't see it as important as some other things.
-Gary
Larry Griffin wrote:
> Barry Schwartz wrote on Thursday, April 27, 2000 9:17 AM:
> >While it's admirable to want to upgrade braking, especially
> >for safety
> >reasons, I for one don't see why one would want to convert to a more
> >complex system. ESPECIALLY one that in my own experience is
> >shown to not
> >work reliably. And one with THREE cylinders. Whew, just
> >something else to
> >leak!
> >Seriously, I've had a couple of failures of the tandem
> >master system and In
> >EVERY case the pedal went to the floor. No reserve braking,
> >no half pedal,
> >just complete loss of braking (thank god for the parking
> >brake, however
> >limited it is in braking force)
> Barry,
>
> I've missed the beginning of this thread and apologize in advance it we are
> not talking about a dual master cylinder as on a 68 Spit.
>
> I had the misfortune to lose the brakes at 60-65mph just as I was coming up
> on a stopped line of cars at a drawbridge. This was due to a break in the
> metal line to the right front brakes. The pedal did go to the floor. From
> what I remember pumping the brake pedal quickly did give some reduced
> braking at the rear. By also downshifting I was able to slow down enough to
> pull off on the shoulder and use the emergency to completely stop. I'm not
> sure what would have happened in the event of master cylinder failure, but
> in my case it did seem to provide some stopping power.
>
> This is based on memory of something that occurred roughly 25 years ago, so
> I certainly may be wrong (just ask my wife :-) ).
>
> I would advise keeping the emergency brake adjusted. That was easily the 2nd
> most exciting event that happened to me while my Spitfire was still on the
> road!
>
> TIFN
> Larry Griffin
> lgriffin@prodigy.net
> 68 Spitfire (under tarps for now)
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