1930 Cadillac Brochure Front Cover - GM Heritage Center

FRONT AXLE
The front axle is of the reverse Elliott type, having a tread of
59 inches, with steering spindles mounted on adjustable ball bearings.
The positions of the axle and steering spindles have been
designed to provide easier steering at all times with the maximum
of safety. A parallel rod is mounted at the rear of the axle with selfadjusting
ball-and-socket joints at each end.
Safety-mechanical four-wheel hrakes
Obviously, great power and high speed are not desirable unless
they may be readily controlled under all conditions with a minimum
of effort. In 1928, Cadillac engineers introduced a new design of
safety-mechanical four-wheel brakes of the internal shoe type which
embody several exclusive features. These brakes are of simple but
rugged construction, and give a sense of dominating control,
absolute safety, and .mental ease never before experienced. Their
ease of application and effective operation particularly appeal to
women drivers.
Two pairs of service
brakes, operated by the
brake pedal, act upon
Each completed Cadillac power
plant is lesled in litis dynamometer
room by skilled operators
for fine performance. Before leaviny
this room, the engine is
partially disassembled, inspected,
and readjusted
TlieperfeclbalanceoftheCadillac
jmoer plant is preserved by carefully
balancing each part rotating
with the flywheel. The clutch assembly
is tested for balance on
this machine and corrections for
unbalance are made at
(he proper point
brake drums 16½ inches
in diameter simultaneously
upon all four
wheels and in proper ratio to assure maximum braking efficiency
in any kind of weather, or with any road surface condition. The
hand brake operates on the rear wheels giving a parking and
emergency brake.
Each brake consists of a pair of articulated shoes operated by a
floating cam. These shoes are cast from aluminum alloy, insuring
remarkable rigidity, and have exceptional depth of web. The brake
lining gives unusually long life since the cams which operate the
shoes are not stationary and can, accordingly, center themselves to
compensate for unequal wear which is so noticeable in other camoperated
shoe brakes.
Because of the articulated shoe construction "toe" or "heel"
contact is eliminated, and the wrapping action either in forward or
reverse motion is so uniformly distributed that seizing brakes are an
impossibility. The articulated shoe has another advantage in that
Uw whole braking area is effective al all times—which is not possible
with the other types of construction—and, consecpjently, the brakes
will not overheat with a change of pedal position when descending