The hell with disc. Brakes...

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited August 2012 in HUDSON
family off to France so I've been living in the garage . I installed a new master cylinder and bleed the brakes with one of those hand pumps worked well. I'm thinking that Old master cylinder hasn't been working for a long time with the pedal I have now. Unbelievable ..Who the Hell would every put disc. Brakes on a Hornet not me.... later .

Comments

  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    I don't have disc brakes on my 48 Commodore but I might if the brakes overheat like they did coming down the mountains a few years back. I learned real quick why that low center of gravity of Hudson cars served them well on the racing circuits in the fifties. I haven't driven it in the mountains of NC since.
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    Jason, I would think those mountains in NC would play hell with any brakes. I have a treadle-vac in my '54 and it works well, but at low rpms it sucks so much vacuum that the engine sometimes stalls.
  • hoggyrubber
    hoggyrubber Expert Adviser
    i don't know much of anything, but i always thought disc brakes got hotter than drum brakes. the reason i don't like them is they just use runnout of rotor to push back pad. and the "ways", or whatever they are called on the caliper, have to be clean for them to retract well. at least drum brakes have return springs. no doubt the pinch action of the pads takes less pressure to stop the car, but i have never rear ended anyone with drums and i have used them for years on all my drivers. i know everyone thinks disc is so much better, in fact they are right up there with seat belts in some people's minds. if i go down long hills in any vehicle i just gear down.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I have drum brakes on my 53 Hornet and travel across this country so far 11 times, and have never had any problems. I drive 70-80 and 90 and can stop just like any new car. Going down hills I have to use the gas pedal as the engine slows me down, great compression still at 140,000 miles and any person in our chapter will tell you that, Nor Cal. Walt.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Modern cars with auto transmission have little engine braking capability, and most people get into the habit of driving on their brakes. I have always treated brakes as an optional extra - there in case you need them in case of an emergency. If you do have to use the brakes on a long down grade, pump them on and off , don't keep your foot on the pedal otherwise you have two problems, brake fade, and drum expansion. Rule of thumb, particularly driving the real old models like my '28 Essex - if you have to go up a hill in second gear you should also come down it in the same gear. Slacken off way before you come to a corner or a hill. Benefits of "anticipatory driving" - you are a lot safer, and your brake linings last infinitely longer.
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    I agree with Geoff, I had a 29 Hudson that could run 70 mph, but the brakes were
    good up to 40 mph.I always drove ahead of where I was and anticipated the use of the
    brakes.
    I agree a Hornet with properly adjusted brakes are better than a lot of other drum brake cars , but are no match for 4 wheel discs, not when they apply them at 60 mph in front of you in a panic stop.
    Of all the Hudson products I've owned , I feel the 37 Terraplane had the best brakes.
    You have good brakes in your Hornet, but don't get over confident in them.
    My two cents.
  • hoggyrubber
    hoggyrubber Expert Adviser
    well i sure didn't mean to brag about never rear ending someone. if i do that it will happen tomarrow. :-O come to think of it, i have never owned a car with disc brakes. my newest vehicle i have now is 1964, so i am pretty used to driving drums. if someone stomps their disc brakes in front of me, i always stay back and have time to stop. now if they dart in front of me then do it, that might be another story! people's driving habits seemed to have changed quite a bit in the last few years.
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    I have a treadle-vac in my '54 and it works well, but at low rpms it sucks so much vacuum that the engine sometimes stalls
    dougson, That's not normal. I would guess either you have a vaccum leak inside the booster but not at the home position if your idle is fine with foot of the brake or you don't have the reserve tank in place.
  • Chris Smith
    Chris Smith Expert Adviser
    Imho the big advantage of disc over drum is when they get wet you can still stop, not happening with drum brakes. When its dry weather, I dont think advantage is enough to warrant the expense and effort.
  • chopperchuck
    chopperchuck Expert Adviser
    stepdown --when ya pull all that modern garbage off send it my way!
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