Vic:
One of the strongest arguments for going to disc brakes is elimination of
brake fade problems inherent with drum brakes. That can unquestionably be
classified as a significant improvement.
Brake fade is not all that far fetched. I know of two individuals returning
to Michigan from the GMCMI Titusville FL Convention back in 1996. They
decided to do a little sightseeing along the route and got onto the Blue
Ridge Parkway, which runs among the mountains.
After driving a ways on the Parkway, they came upon an intersection and made
a stop. While stopped, noticed that they were creeping ahead in spite of
pushing hard on the brake pedal. However, they couldn't overcome the creep.
They had just experienced brake fade, and luckily were not in a situation
more critical.
After parking on the side of the road for 20 minutes or so, they had normal
braking and continued on their journey.
Paul Bartz
From: Vic Marks [mailto:vmarks]
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 3:25 AM
,Subject: GMC: Testing Issues
I'm puzzled by your approach. If you know that you will be changing the
brakes, why not figure out in some kind measurable fashion if Leigh's brakes
really are an improvement over the TSM product. If 60-0 is too stressful,
why not 30-0. As a side note, I think that most of us should know what our
coach's will do when we hit the brakes at 60 miles an hour. The horror of
the 401 accident (where a fog descended rapidly on a freeway and ended with
an 80 car collision and 7 dead) is unusual but not unique.
There really are times when a rapid stop from high speed is a necessity.
Should we not be prepared? Should we not have figured out which brake system
or modification will probably be the safest? If the TSM product stops us as
quickly as Leigh's for a lot less money, then we should know it. However, if
Leigh's braking system really is superior to the TSM or JA system, we should
know that as well. But this is not information that will come easily without
cooperation and commitment on the part of GMC owners. I bet that more a
quarter of a million dollars has be spent on brake "improvements" in the
last few years and not one of us really know which system stops us the best
under a range of conditions.
My hope is that GMC owners will come to expect this kind of information. If
they expect it, then suppliers such as Caspro, Cinnabar or Leigh Harrison
etc, will assume that it is a necessary part of selling GMC "improvements".
But it will not become a necessity until we made it one.
One of the strongest arguments for going to disc brakes is elimination of
brake fade problems inherent with drum brakes. That can unquestionably be
classified as a significant improvement.
Brake fade is not all that far fetched. I know of two individuals returning
to Michigan from the GMCMI Titusville FL Convention back in 1996. They
decided to do a little sightseeing along the route and got onto the Blue
Ridge Parkway, which runs among the mountains.
After driving a ways on the Parkway, they came upon an intersection and made
a stop. While stopped, noticed that they were creeping ahead in spite of
pushing hard on the brake pedal. However, they couldn't overcome the creep.
They had just experienced brake fade, and luckily were not in a situation
more critical.
After parking on the side of the road for 20 minutes or so, they had normal
braking and continued on their journey.
Paul Bartz
From: Vic Marks [mailto:vmarks]
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 3:25 AM
,Subject: GMC: Testing Issues
I'm puzzled by your approach. If you know that you will be changing the
brakes, why not figure out in some kind measurable fashion if Leigh's brakes
really are an improvement over the TSM product. If 60-0 is too stressful,
why not 30-0. As a side note, I think that most of us should know what our
coach's will do when we hit the brakes at 60 miles an hour. The horror of
the 401 accident (where a fog descended rapidly on a freeway and ended with
an 80 car collision and 7 dead) is unusual but not unique.
There really are times when a rapid stop from high speed is a necessity.
Should we not be prepared? Should we not have figured out which brake system
or modification will probably be the safest? If the TSM product stops us as
quickly as Leigh's for a lot less money, then we should know it. However, if
Leigh's braking system really is superior to the TSM or JA system, we should
know that as well. But this is not information that will come easily without
cooperation and commitment on the part of GMC owners. I bet that more a
quarter of a million dollars has be spent on brake "improvements" in the
last few years and not one of us really know which system stops us the best
under a range of conditions.
My hope is that GMC owners will come to expect this kind of information. If
they expect it, then suppliers such as Caspro, Cinnabar or Leigh Harrison
etc, will assume that it is a necessary part of selling GMC "improvements".
But it will not become a necessity until we made it one.
