Re: Day 6 PACA 13th National Rally - Tree Top walk, Kiama on the coast and Farewell dinner

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/3/27 15:05:21

Accompanied by clouds of smoke from all four brake drums I was literally standing on the brake pedal and pulling on the steering wheel to bring the '41 to a halt.

Some pulse-increasing moments I'm sure. I've never had any issues with the 34 Packard on steep hills and doubt your friend with the 1102 did either, the rear axle ratio is so low (4.69) that you get plenty of engine-braking even in high gear. Plus the 34 cars have just outstanding brakes anyway, far superior to what the later cars had even with hydraulics.

But I did have an occasion very much like yours in my 56 Caribbean once, standing on the pedal with 2 feet, pulling on the steering wheel to increase my leverage. By the time I realized that I should be in low range, I was already going to fast! Failing to stop at the bottom would have put us into Lake Canandiagua in NYS, but we did manage to slow and make a turn. Not much smoke but lots of smell of burning brakes, and they were never the same again until I replaced the shoes.