01-04-2024, 05:40 PM
Some30 years ago I bought a late type chummy that appeared outwardly to be in good condition but on examination was mechanically knackered, shackle pins had worn through the bearings and were wearing into the axles and springs. The car had been taken off the road when the MOT test had been introduced and layed up.When I stripped it down I was amazed to find a set of brand new brake linings had been fitted all around. I imagine that the car had failed its MOT test ( brakes only at that time) and then had new linings fitted and promptly failed the test again as when the brakes came on there was so much slack in the system the front axle rotated and let them off again. The moral is the brakes won’t work unless the whole mechanical system is in good order. No excessive slack in shackle pins and bushes. King pins, cable shackles etc, and also make sue the brake cross shaft brackets do not have loose rivets or flex excessively. It’s no good having good linings and a poor suspension system and cross shaft. Colin