Braking; Adjusting The Brakes; Good To Know - CITROËN Amicale 5 HP Manual

9 - BRAKING

The 5HP does not brake very well, some brake poorly, often because the rear brake linings are greasy. No need
to try to clean them, they behave like sponges and the heat will always bring out the oil. Change them and
reassemble them with soft gaskets, riveted or glued, preferably by a specialist.
It is possible to extend the linings by 5mm on each side. Replace the return springs with new ones.
Take advantage of dismantling the brakes to have the drums rectified and checked.
Also remedy any leaks by fitting an oil seal or fitting sealed axle bearings and also take care not to put too
much oil in the axle (see the axle chapter).
It is quite easy to couple the linkages of the transmission brakes and rear brakes
Links & Documentation: '' Brake Coupling File ''
The wheel shafts are fragile.
The drum brake at the gearbox outlet must be adjusted to come into braking at the end of the pedal stroke and
avoid triggering significant noise and vibrations causing the shafts to break.
Opinions differ on how to avoid this:
Some say that braking on the gearbox irreparably causes the shafts to break in the event of hard braking.
Others, on the contrary, think that the weight and therefore the twisting effect on the wheel shafts is damped
by braking before the transmission shaft...
9 a - Adjusting the brakes
Place the car on chocks, making sure to place them under the rear axle and under the front axle, not under the
chassis as the adjustment will be ineffective.
The adjustment is made by means of the wing nuts located at the ends of the brake control rods.
Turn each wheel successively, and for each, tighten the nut until the drum touches the lining, without more.
Assemble tender garnishes. (Especially not harsh) smoother under braking and just as efficient. Wear faster,
however.
Quality of the linings at the time: Ferodo 4 Z OR Mintex ZT
It is a safety organ, so adjust and check the condition of the brakes at least twice a year.
9 b - Good to know:
If you cannot take out the old linings by yourself , multiply the warnings with the person who will be
responsible for fitting the new linings. Used to removing old Ferodos with a chisel, mechanics are sometimes
surprised to see the jaws break like vulgar zamak. They are fragile!
The period catalog recommended 4 mm thick linings. This is an indication, but it all depends on how much
material is left on your drums. We must also think twice before having them rectified. In the long run, they get
thinner.
Recipe for good braking: make sure that all the angle transmission levers are almost perpendicular to the rods,
when the brakes are fully applied. Poor kinetics of this linkage can destroy all efforts.