Re: BRAKES: Easamatic Power Brakes aka Bendix Treadle-Vac--Change or Not??
Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2009/5/18 21:55:25
I need to sign off here, too. I apologize if I leaned on this too hard, but it is as everyone here knows, an important subject and worth some serious thought.
I think Chuckltd made some excellent points.
Quote:
Chuck,
Maintenance and driver alertness are essential, and without a functioning warning light, the dual systems lose almost all of their value, particularly if a failure of rear brakes is ignored... and a "false sense of security" is produced.
Dual systems do provide a decent margin of safety, but as you say, they aren't "foolproof" by any means.
As for your "bottom line," it could be true in some cases, depending on how you define "well maintained" vs "neglected," but given two equally maintained systems--good or bad--which would you rather be on the road with? (Purely rhetorical question.)
I think Chuckltd made some excellent points.
Quote:
Chuckltd wrote:
On a lot of dual system cars with power brakes, people tend to not notice when the rear brakes have failed or started to.
...lots of vehicles I've worked on appeared to have not had functioning rear brakes for years. If you have a front system failure and your rear system is not up to par, then you're in for trouble. If you maintain both sides of the system as you would a single system car, then you're ok. That includes the proportioning valve and warning light system.
Maybe I've been lucky. I'll take a properly maintained single system any day over a neglected dual.
Bottom line: Dual system is no safer than a single unless properly maintained, in fact it may be worse.
Chuck,
Maintenance and driver alertness are essential, and without a functioning warning light, the dual systems lose almost all of their value, particularly if a failure of rear brakes is ignored... and a "false sense of security" is produced.
Dual systems do provide a decent margin of safety, but as you say, they aren't "foolproof" by any means.
As for your "bottom line," it could be true in some cases, depending on how you define "well maintained" vs "neglected," but given two equally maintained systems--good or bad--which would you rather be on the road with? (Purely rhetorical question.)
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