1928 Cadillac - GM Heritage Center

GENERAL INFORMATION 109
General Description
CHAPTER X
Brakes
THERE are three pairs of brakes: The rear wheel external brakes, the rear
wheel internal brakes, and the front wheel brakes, which are also internal.
The rear wheel external brakes and the front wheel brakes are operated by
the brake pedal and comprise the foot brakes. The rear wheel internal brakes
are operated by the hand lever and are used principally for locking the
rear wheels when the car is standing.
The purpose of the front wheel brakes is to add to the braking ability as
much as is consistent with safety. It is not desirable to attempt to secure
the maximum possible braking effect on the front wheels for the reason that,
when a front wheel slides without rotating, it has no power to change the
direction of the car.
Cadillac front wheel brakes are accordingly designed so that when the
foot brakes are applied while the steering wheel is turned to the right or left,
only the brake on the inside wheel is effective and the brake on the outer
wheel is released, leaving the outer wheel free to rotate. It is thus impossible
to lock both front wheels even on slippery pavement unless the car is moving
straight ahead. If, while the car is moving straight ahead on slippery pavement,
the brakes should be applied with sufficient pressure to lock both
front wheels and it then becomes necessary to make a turn, the car will
instantly respond because the brake on the outer wheel is automatically
released as soon as the steering wheel is turned.
Each foot brake has provision to compensate for wear on the brake lining.
The adjustment by which this compensation is effected is at the brake itself
rather than in the connections. Cadillac brakes must not be adjusted to
compensate for wear by adjusting the pull rods or stop screws.
Temporary Adjustment
As described on page 17, the Cadillac two-stage brake pedal automatically
notifies the driver when the foot brakes require adjustment. It is recommended
that the car be taken to a Cadillac service station for attention
when necessity for adjustment is thus indicated.
If, however, the adjustment is neglected and as a result the pedal touches
the floor boards before the brakes are fully applied, an emergency adjustment
can be made by screwing down the adjusting nuts 5, (Fig. 60) one or
more half-turns. These nuts lock every half-turn and must be turned a half-
(108)
turn at a time. The nuts must not be turned down far enough to cause
the brakes to heat and they must be turned down the same amount on both
sides.
This temporary adjustment must be followed by a thorough adjustment
of both front and rear brakes as soon as possible.
Adjustment of Rear Wheel Brakes
The most important thing in adjusting brakes is to secure the proper uniform
clearance between the brake fining and the drum. A feeler .030 inch
thick should be used to test the clearance.
• L|3-LOWER YOkE BOLT ADJUSTMENT]
ViyirtiO. The left-hand rear brakes, shown with the wheel removed. The adjustments
should be made in the order shown.
The first adjustment is that of the anchor adjusting screw (1, Fig. 60).
Adjust this screw until the clearance between the brake drum and those
parts of the lining nearest the anchor is .030.