BRAKES WHAT'S NORMAL

[Tony Betts]

The condition of the brake lever bushes is important. Too worn, and they introduce really unacceptable free play. I found replacing these transformed the braking effectiveness.

Bushes are readily available via cherished suppliers

I'm planning to replace my brake drums with the Tony Betts cast iron versions as my pressed examples are so badly oval they can induce motion sickness on long descents.

Can't find an appropriate emoticon (need a green one!).

Bob

Hi Bob,

Hope you wasn't after girling brake drums?

I might as well let people know, the casting company we were useing for cast iron. Has now gone bankrupt. Probably because they were half price we could get anywere else.

The cheif foundryman tried to make sure everyone got there patterns back.

We got everything apart from GIRLING BRAKE DRUMS.

The sad result of all this is due to there being very small profits in these parts, it's unlikely to be worth producing another pattern. The last one cost use £1,000 for a full pattern 15 years ago.

on top of this, the extra we are likely to have to pay another foundry for casting, may make the pre-girling drums unviable to produce in the future. ( I don't think people will pay what it costs to make them).

Now don't all rush   But I have 40 of the pre-girling cast iron drums on the shelf. The price is £90 each to cover the fact that we had 10 from this batch that have porosity, so I can't sell to public.

I will look to see what future costs will be, but at the moment I fear the future of new brake drums is not good.

Sorry about the bad news, Tony.

That's a great shame Tony. I've been promising myself a set of Girling drums for a while - serves me right for not doing something about it!

Silly question, but can't you use the same pattern again?

Peter.

Sorry Peter,

I always thought the cost of machineing would take these of the market.

Its not a matter of reusing the pattern, the patterns for girling drums. Have been LOST LOST at the foundry.

So I no longer have a pattern for girling drums.

I'd guess it will cost around £1,200 for another pattern. So if I added £12 a drum to the next batch of a 100. Last years price was £70 each, so that would make them £82 each. If I have to add anything because the next foundry charges more. That could push them over £100 each.

I just don't see austin 7 people paying it, they would rather take there chances with poor brakes.

I DO STILL have the pattern for 1926 to 1935 drums, but the rise in price of castings from the next foundry make make them unviable. I can't put 100 drums on the shelf when only two people are prepared to pay more to get good brakes on there cars.

Tony.