Re: DO NOT TRUST BTV

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/11/27 10:32:35

Actually the Hudson system was clever and inexpensive; if the hydraulics failed, just before the pedal hit the floorboards, it engaged the parking brake cables. Since your foot was already on the pedal, it saved all that "oh s..., what do I do now?" reflex and reaction time, and also gave the better mechanical advantage of your foot rather than your arm.

The one object lesson in the beginning of this thread which I hope we've all picked up on is, don't drive with an inoperative hand brake. All that damage might have been averted.

PS - though I've never had occasion to use it in an emergency, on each car I've owned I've cautiously applied the hand/parking brake while moving to get a sense of the stopping power, and I would recommend everyone do this in some isolated, safe stretch of pavement or parking lot. Of course the 1936 and back Packard mechanical brake systems are the best in this regard as they engage the brakes on all 4 wheels, but then again mechanical brake systems like the Classics used are the least likely of any brake system to have a complete failure.