Re: Driver Skills

Posted by Loyd Smith On 2009/5/19 22:34:59

I flush brakes and replace brake fluid once a year, lubricate as recommended as close to every 1000 miles as I can, especially if I've been driving in standing water, lubricate the torsion level, carefully, about once a year. I've added grease 'serts in the rear hubs so that axles do not need to be pulled to grease rear wheel bearings on the '55 (that's a 20,000 mile recommended service anyway but having done it, I thought the mod was justified), change oil and by-pass oil filter and check the differential about once every 2000 to 3000 miles, check power steering reservoir, T/U, brake fluid (I have a top-fill brake fluid reservoir) and engine oil levels at least every two weeks, check air pressure in tyres every time that I refuel and pay very close attention to the way that my car drives and "feels" when I drive it. As I use it all the time, this seems prudent to me. Usually, about once a week, I even check all exterior lighting to be sure that my brake lights, back-up lights, turn signals and license plate illumination are working. These are things that I was taught many years ago. Regularity of oil changes (I do not use synthetic oil in the Packard) had to be gotten used to again as did the necessity of lubricating front end and suspension points - something the modern driver has never had to do and is not used to.

I agree fully with PackardV8 that there is nothing any modern car will do better than my Patrician and many things that they won't do nearly as well. The room, ground clearance, torque applied to the road at the rear wheels when needed (even with the T/U), unconcern with which deep dips, road imperfections, railroad tracks, etc. can be negotiated all far surpass any cars of my experience for, at least, the past thirty years. Yes, repeated heavy use of the drum brakes will result in fade if they don't have time to cool but engine braking is good with the T/U and fade is easily compensated for when you're aware of the tendency. The body tilt/roll is a bit more conspicuous than in modern cars but the T/L keeps all four wheels firmly on the ground and makes the car remarkably stable and sure footed in nearly all normally encountered driving conditions and emergency manoeuvres that cannot be safely accomplished in many "big" cars of much more "modern" design are a piece of cake with the T/L suspension. Parking is a breeze because the car is "square" and you can see all four corners of it.

The car is comfortable, remarkably dependable, easy to drive, convenient, roomy and stable. I 'spect that if more people had the opportunity to really use one, daily, there'd be a LOT of converts - especially amongst those who have grown to adulthood never having experienced a vehicle designed with the user in mind.

The "extra" maintenance is worth the effort and part of the responsibility of driving (I also enjoy it).