Re: Packard Mortality Statistic

Posted by Tim Cole On 2021/12/20 18:31:21

I couldn't agree more that for normal - read sane - driving drum brakes are more than adequate. When they are set up right and have good drums those mechanical braked Packards with the booster will put you through the windshield. Tom McCahill had a Hispano-Suiza for which the power brakes were so powerful they broke the wire wheel spokes. As well drum brakes don't rust and pit the way disc brakes do. I love drum brakes. However, the superior stopping ability in extreme use of disc brakes was demonstrated at the 1955 LeMans where the Jaguar totally annihilated Mercedes with tragic results. That said, if the drums are shot the car is dangerous as proven by a particular 443 that was unstoppable until the owner found a set of decent drums (not an easy task).

So on this issue I try to be constructive. The bottom line is lawsuit avoidance.