The Ford Barn

nkaminar · 05-06-2021, 02:38 PM

I am back home and happy to be driving my Model A again. I spent some time adjusting the brakes and then did the stopping test. It is hard to hit 20 mph. I used the GPS for the speed indication. The first test I was low on speed, maybe 16 mph and the stopping distance was 13 feet. The second test I was a little high, maybe 23 mph and the stopping distance was 24 feet. I measured the distance by the skid marks caused by the rear wheels. The front wheels did not generate skid marks. The car pulled slightly to the left.

I know the front brakes are doing more of the work during normal driving because they measured 140 F while the rears were 100 F. I did the temperature measurements after a trip to town at speeds between 20 mph and 55 mph. The last section is a country road with ups and downs and corners where I used the brakes to maintain the proper speed. It is the 70's in the shade here today.

These are stock brakes with the exception of Flat Head Ted add-ons. They are in good shape with all new parts in the front and good parts in the rear.

The brake tests were done on my street which is level asphalt. The street was dry and clean (no leaves).

Synchro909 · 05-06-2021, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

I am back home and happy to be driving my Model A again. I spent some time adjusting the brakes and then did the stopping test. It is hard to hit 20 mph. I used the GPS for the speed indication. The first test I was low on speed, maybe 16 mph and the stopping distance was 13 feet. The second test I was a little high, maybe 23 mph and the stopping distance was 24 feet. I measured the distance by the skid marks caused by the rear wheels.

Those distances are consistent with what I got. 19 feet from 20 mph.

05-06-2021, 02:38 PM	#1
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,873	Re: Stopping Distances I am back home and happy to be driving my Model A again. I spent some time adjusting the brakes and then did the stopping test. It is hard to hit 20 mph. I used the GPS for the speed indication. The first test I was low on speed, maybe 16 mph and the stopping distance was 13 feet. The second test I was a little high, maybe 23 mph and the stopping distance was 24 feet. I measured the distance by the skid marks caused by the rear wheels. The front wheels did not generate skid marks. The car pulled slightly to the left. I know the front brakes are doing more of the work during normal driving because they measured 140 F while the rears were 100 F. I did the temperature measurements after a trip to town at speeds between 20 mph and 55 mph. The last section is a country road with ups and downs and corners where I used the brakes to maintain the proper speed. It is the 70's in the shade here today. These are stock brakes with the exception of Flat Head Ted add-ons. They are in good shape with all new parts in the front and good parts in the rear. The brake tests were done on my street which is level asphalt. The street was dry and clean (no leaves). __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 05-06-2021 at 02:43 PM.