Stopping Power

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TspokeMan
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Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:34 pm
First Name: David
Last Name: Heiser
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Model T Pickup Roadster
Location: Garden City, KS

Stopping Power

Post by TspokeMan » Mon Jul 29, 2019 3:35 pm

Just wondering. Is there any help for braking power for my '25? Linkage set, band adjusted but really have to apply a lot of force to slow to a stop. I anticipate a stop well in advance, use low speed compression before braking. What, if any other considerations are there? I've heard good and bad about Rocky Mountain brakes and would invest in them if it really would benefit. I live in a realtively flat area.
Is this what I just need to live with? Any suggestions out there?


Scott_Conger
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
Location: Clark, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Stopping Power

Post by Scott_Conger » Mon Jul 29, 2019 4:06 pm

Model T's have marginal brakes at best. That said, that much force and little stopping power leads me to believe that either your bands are shot, or your pedal cam and pedal support are worn out...not getting enough sideways squeeze for all that forward push.
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

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Norman Kling
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Location: Alpine California

Re: Stopping Power

Post by Norman Kling » Mon Jul 29, 2019 4:26 pm

Rocky's work very well going forward. and when dry. The trick is to get things adjusted so that the Rocky's begin to stop before the transmission brake so that if you push hard both sets of brakes are in operation. If you have a Ruckstell it will also amplify the transmission brake when the Ruckstell is engaged. It is similar to the engine compression works better in low than in high. I have not tried disk brakes on a T but from those who have them, they like them. They just don't look period correct, but they do work very well.
Norm

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A Whiteman
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT, 1924 Colonial Roadster, 1924 'Bullnose' Morris, 1925 'Bullnose' Morris, 1936 JD AR
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Re: Stopping Power

Post by A Whiteman » Mon Jul 29, 2019 5:46 pm

Very pleased to read that you plan in advance, that is the nature of the T.
Beware of 'TORU' they can catch you out when they see that planned gap in front of you

I would agree with Scott, if lots of force is needed that does suggest a problem with the bands (worn maybe) or the linkage adjustment. Further checks required.




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John iaccino
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Location: Rhinebeck, NY
MTFCA Number: 17802

Re: Stopping Power

Post by John iaccino » Mon Jul 29, 2019 6:28 pm

In addition to what the others have said, use your throttle as a brake. If you try to use the brake pedal without moving the throttle all the way up, you will be fighting the engine while you try to slow down.


paul hoogendoorn
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Re: Stopping Power

Post by paul hoogendoorn » Tue Jul 30, 2019 2:42 am

I had this hard braking problem as well and discovered by chance that I had perfect brakes with the floorboards removed....the brake pedal was bent forward to such an extent that the cam only engaged well below floor board level. Applying heat and bending the pedal back solved the problem. Having an oil filter/band oiler in place helps preserve the lining. Also, in traffic I make use of the emergency hand brake as well....rear wheel brake linings are relatively cheap to replace. Just be careful not to overheat the thin rear brake drums.

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