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floorboard in making an ordinary stop. You need this one inch brake
pedal reserve to make emergency stops, since the heat generated in
making a fast stop expands the brake drums and allows the pedal to
go closer to the floor.
WHEN TO RELINE BRAKES-New
brake linings are usually necessary after
three or four adjustments, when the brake
lining is worn down to the rivets which
fasten the lining to the brake shoe. Exposed
rivets will score brake drums and lead to
expensive repairs.
Inspection of the lining after a brake drum
has been removed is the o.Jly way to tell when a b~ake reline is neces-
sary. You can save
by?
-a':;king your service man to inspect the brake
shoes at the third adjustment, so you can see for yourself if relining
is necessary.
When it is necessary to reline your brakes, have Genuine Pontiac
Brake Shoe sets installed to make sure
you
get linings engineered for
your car and correctly ground and riveted to the shoes.
OTHER BRAKE SERVICE-As a general rule, the only brake service
you will need will be brake adjustments and relining at high mileages.
However, if you notice anything unusual about your brakes (squeaks,
grabbiness, springy pedal, pulling to one side or one tire sliding ahead
of the others when brakes
are
applied), it's a good safety precaution
to take your car to a Pontiac service station immediately and locate
the cause.
PROLONGING THE LIFE OF YOUR BRAKES-Here are a few
suggestions to give you safe brakes at a minimum of expense:
1. When your car is new or when new linings have been installed,
apply brakes carefully the first few hundred miles until the lining
surfaces have acquired a smooth finish;
2. In
mou~tainous
country, use a lower gear going downhill. This
allows the engine to do part of the braking and saves on your
brakes. On Hydra-Matic equipped cars use the right hand DR
position or LO as required.
.
3. Have your brakes adjusted when you can push the brake pedal
within one inch of the floorboard.
4.
If you want to get the maximum service out of your brake lining,
have the wheels removed and all dust and dirt blown out of the
drums and the brake shoe mechanisms lubricated every time the
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