television
Always remembered RIP
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2005
- Messages
- 164,073
- Reaction score
- 368
- Age
- 89
- Location
- Daventry
- Your Mercedes
- 2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Early 4 wheel brakes were lethal things and most car makers would not fit them for if you braked when going round a bend, the front wheel on the inside of that bend would lock up and spin the car, due to the extra leverage that was applies when the wheel were not straight.
The next problem was the strength needed to push the pedal when 4 wheel brakes were fitted. Rolls Royce were the first to get it right by fitting the operating rods over the fulcrum axis on the front axle where the wheel swivels.
The servo used by RR was driven from the gearbox with 2 clutches, one for the front wheels and the other for the rear wheels, and with this system the 70/30% distribution could be got, giving perfect straight line braking, with this system any driver could out brake any other car going at that time. Even the baby RR 20 had these brakes and could stop the car from 30 mph in 27 feet, where as an Austin 7 took 70 feet
The next problem was the strength needed to push the pedal when 4 wheel brakes were fitted. Rolls Royce were the first to get it right by fitting the operating rods over the fulcrum axis on the front axle where the wheel swivels.
The servo used by RR was driven from the gearbox with 2 clutches, one for the front wheels and the other for the rear wheels, and with this system the 70/30% distribution could be got, giving perfect straight line braking, with this system any driver could out brake any other car going at that time. Even the baby RR 20 had these brakes and could stop the car from 30 mph in 27 feet, where as an Austin 7 took 70 feet