Stopped eventually

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crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

245 months

Friday 3rd December 2004
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Watching history of R/R last night, the presenter was driving a very smart 20/25, zooming along in top gear. Must have been doing 40mph when he said right lets try the brakes. Saw his foot stand on the brake pedal which appeared to go into the floor pan the next shot featured the car from the rear slowing down and going into the near distance, could hear the scuffing of the brakes too

Now I understand what is meant by poor brakes.

Balmoral Green

41,125 posts

250 months

Friday 3rd December 2004
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Brian cant drive to save his life bless him, despite all his sexist remarks about women drivers. The brakes on those things are pretty good when working properly.

IOLAIRE

1,293 posts

240 months

Friday 3rd December 2004
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Balmoral Green said:
Brian cant drive to save his life bless him, despite all his sexist remarks about women drivers. The brakes on those things are pretty good when working properly.


I would agree with that Warren.
I used to service a 20/25 for a local chap who had inherited it from his dad.
It was beautiful to drive, in fact far nicer than a Shadow, and the brakes were very good; utterly monstrous drums on the front. I mean like a Scania truck!!
Everything was hand made and beautifully finished.

crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

245 months

Saturday 4th December 2004
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So I guess a little bit of dramatic license for television. Thought it strange that such a crafted car should seemingly have such poor brakes.

I missed the first part of the 2 part series so have to watch for the repeat, did I miss much?

Balmoral Green

41,125 posts

250 months

Saturday 4th December 2004
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I used to have a 1949 Bentley MKVI which had servo hydraulic brakes up front operated off the gearbox, and rod operated at the rear. They were fantastic, every now and then I would clean the drums out and adjust them, pop down the road to test them and pull up straight and square leaving four neat skidmarks.

Funny thing was, their performance was proportional to how fast you were moving, you would have great stopping power from high speed, but as you slowed to walking pace they were very poor, having you pressing really hard on the pedal thinking you werent going to stop for that last few feet. Sometimes I used to awake with a start having dreamt I had run into something

IOLAIRE

1,293 posts

240 months

Saturday 4th December 2004
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:
I used to have a 1949 Bentley MKVI which had servo hydraulic brakes up front operated off the gearbox, and rod operated at the rear. They were fantastic, every now and then I would clean the drums out and adjust them, pop down the road to test them and pull up straight and square leaving four neat skidmarks.

Funny thing was, their performance was proportional to how fast you were moving, you would have great stopping power from high speed, but as you slowed to walking pace they were very poor, having you pressing really hard on the pedal thinking you werent going to stop for that last few feet. Sometimes I used to awake with a start having dreamt I had run into something


Warren, they kept this system on the S1,2 & early 3s and it was dependant on propshaft speed because the servo was driven from the gearbox output shaft on the tail housing.
You're right about the assistance increasing as the speed increased, the whole point of the design: but it had this disadvantage that at crawling speed in traffic the assistance was almost non-existent, a distinct disadvantage on a two ton motor car!!

Balmoral Green

41,125 posts

250 months

Saturday 4th December 2004
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Not to mention rolling backwards on a hill, even with full pressure on the pedal, you needed to grab the handbrake pretty quick.

crankedup

Original Poster:

25,764 posts

245 months

Saturday 4th December 2004
quotequote all
Would I be correct assuming that the asbestos pads of old are now substituted for an alternative material and is there a choice when replacing pads.

One day I hope that I may be able to provide a answer rather than keep asking questions

Balmoral Green

41,125 posts

250 months

Saturday 4th December 2004
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Yes, I took my old shoes into some brake linings specialist and they just riveted on new facings.

Coco H

4,237 posts

239 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
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Poor brakes - try a ajag e etype series one - they are crap - well not up to the standard I like considering the power of the car

lanciachris

3,357 posts

243 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
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Balmoral Green said:
Yes, I took my old shoes into some brake linings specialist and they just riveted on new facings.


You must do some serious walking

ill get my coat...