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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 1973)
Seven Points Cited as Way To Cope with Brake Trouble Powered or unpowered, drum or disc, your car's brakes are one of the sim plest systems In your car and one of the most critical to your safety. So an under standing of the following seven common points of failure Is vital, says the Canadian Safety Council. • 0 • I . F a d . la one o f (h e moal co m m on p ro b le m .. Greyhound Lines new T u rb o c ru is e r bus, with turbine engine, holds environm ental advantages. Although cheap or defec tive linings, fluid or drums may be a t fault, the usual cause of fade Is simply o ve rh e a tin g fro m severe service. Three things can happen, any of which can cause p artial or total brake failure I f two or three happen simultaneously, you have very little hope of stopping your car. FIRST, excessive heat can te m p o ra rily weaken the drum and cause It to distort from the pressure of the shoes Inside It. This may allow excessive movement of the shoes and cause the pedal to go all the way to the floor. SECOND, heat may cause the brake fluid to boll and become compressible; this would also allow the pedal to go to the floor. FIN A I-LV and most com monly. heat glazes the lin ing. giving it an almost liquid coating th a t acts as a lubricant, preventing the buildup of friction necessary to stop the car In a minor case, all the cure that's needed Is time— IS to 30 minutes at the most — to allow the brake parts to cool. When they do, they will operate normally If they have not been damaged by excessive heat The trick Is to recognise the onset of brake fade and get the car stopped before It gets worse. • • • 2. W h e n th e brakes d o n 't la k e h o ld u n til th e p e d a l a l most touches th e flo or, th is is k n o w n as excessive p e d a l tra v el an d is a serious p ro b le m . I f not corrected, It will lead to a total brake failure A simple adjustment may cure the problem, but a complete system check Is called for because there may be a leak or other c rit ical hydraulic defect. I f the pedal goes all the way to the floor, do not attem pt to drive; have your car towed to a repair shop • • • 3. Spongy p e d a l is usually caused by a ir g e ttin g in to th e h y d ra u lic system w hen the flu id level is low. Correction may require only a simple 'bleeding'* Job that usually costs a few dollars for an hour's labor But there could also be a serious mechanical failure; get a thorough inspection. • • • 4. W h e e l p u ll o r fa ilu r e o f th e c a r to slop in a straight lin e can result fr o m a d e fe c tiv e b ra k e o r sim p le m a la d ju s tm e n t. I t can also be caused by excessive wear somewhere in the steering system or an oil leak from an axle. But don't treat It as an annoyance; It will probably get worse — perhaps sud denly — and It could easily cause you to lose control of your car. Have It looked a t right away. • • • 5. S qu eal som etim es n u t fro m r e rta in brands o f n t r a - h a rd b ra k e lin in g s. I t ’s annoying, but not nec essarily a danger sign. On the other hand, the noise may result from a mechan ical malfunction or worn lining. Excessive or sudden new brake squeal calls for a checkup. • • • 6 . D ra g m ay be caused by m any th in g s, bu t the scrap ing sound is a sure sign th a t some th in g is w ron g. T o n e g le c t d ra g g in g brakes < partly engaged > will not only allow them to ruin themselves but will Inevi tably lead to a total failure. • • • Walt Johnson Lincoln Mercury Spring vacation tra d e in . are at th eir peak Rhone J. Alton Rage at 254-2900. N.E. 122nd A Halsey Street Take ADVANTAGE of our com plete 99$ brake safety special We'll pull a wheel to inspect lining, wheel cylinders, springs, hoses, and drums . . . check master cylinder fluid level and add fluid if required. Cost of inspection will be rebated if additional work is found necessary for your safety. This o ffe r g o o d o n ly w ith this co u p o n Haugen Automotive 2 2 0 3 N.E. Union 2 8 2 -2 2 6 6 v ib ra tin g sensation you m ay fe el at th e pe d al o r n o tic e at th e wheel, comes fr o m a loose su pp ort p la te o r fr o m a b ro ke n o r o u l-o f-ro u n d d ru m . 3103 FINE CARS I t Is usually a minor problem to correct but It needs Immediate attention. Keep this in mind about brakes: when defective they never get better of their own accord; they only get worse And when a defect shows up, total failure may be only seconds away 3103 NE Union Ave. 1 9 6 5 O ld s m o b ile 4 DR HT Full power, factory a i r ...................................... Rower windows, auto, door locks, R .H .......... ... The turbin engine is far cleaner than other power sources because it burns fuel at far higher temperatures resulting in more efficient combustion. Since the engine ran he used as a brake on downgrades, greater safety is another benefit. The tur bine engine also provides a constant power supply in practically every over the road situation. The Turbocruiser's turbine engine is virtually vibration free and noiseless while operating, providing passen gers with a quieter, smoother ride. Greyhound has coupled an automatic transmission to the engine to enhance its smoothness. It is smoother while oper ating since it has no pistons moving up and down, the principal source of vibration in many engines. And since the engine provides a con stant power supply without relying on "power explo sions" in cylinders, it is quieter. The turbine engine has operational and maintenance advantages, too. A key plus is its anticipated engine life of a million miles before overhaul double the ser vice life of engines now used in most intercity buses. Greyhound's Turbocruiser engine also ran use a wide range of economical fuels. Other benefits include no more water system or oil changes, no more mufflers and elim in a tio n of cold weather starting problems. The engine also has 40% fewer parts than a diesel engine. General Motors D e tro it Diesel Allison division de veloped and built the Turbo cruiser's engine. Turbocruiser road tests be gan in 1969. Since then, "results have been extremely encouraging," according to Kerrigan. "C o n sequ en tly, Greyhound is now putting Turbocruisers into regular service to gain valuable oper ational experience," he said. R.H, Auto............................................. $695 1 9 7 0 M a v e r ic k 2 DR D e lu x e Stick, R.H. 1 owner, 27,000 actual miles ...... $1295 1 9 6 9 C a d illa c C oupe d e V ille Progress in Fight for Cleaner Air Calls for Regular Car Maintenance $2995 1 9 6 6 Ford Crew C a b F la t Bed V 8, 4 speed, nice truck .................................... $1195 2 8 2 -2 2 8 1 g a t * good g ra d e In a o h a m - l.tr-y class B u i p o u lt be flu n k in g in a m ore lin jK ir- t a n t a rs a , h e lp in g p m ts c l the nation's environment The three chemical desig nations are the elements of tlir harm ful emissions that are byproducts of fuels th at power automobile engines They are part of the air pollution problem HC (or hydrocarbonsi is a scientific designation for fuel The amount of fuel th a t Is unbumed and enters the atmosphere through ex haust or vaporization Is one element that, when exposed to sunlight, creates smog $1.25 CAR WASH Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 Invisible C a . A n o th e r sm o g -creatin g byproduct of combustion Is NOx «nitrogen oxidei CO i carbon monoxide i does not create smog but enters the atmosphere as an odor less. tasteless and Invisible gas In enclosed areas, such as the Interior of a car, CO can be lethal. I f automotive fuel were burned to 100 per cent effi ciency, the byproducts would be H jO and CO, H,O Is water and CO, Is carbon dioxide, both harmless to the atmosphere. F o rtu n a te ly , a ll signs point to the near-future time when the automobile will no longer be a signifi cant part of the air pollution problem. One Indication of this trend Is th a t today, m o re th a n 85 p e r c e n t of automobile-caused pollu- Tape deck repairs complete, speedy, rompe tent service. Ix»w rates. Dealer inquirty invited. * * * A Com m unity R e latio n s Project to h elp n e ig h b o rh o o d you th trade s tape headquarters cartridge recording service 527 N E Da via 2X7(M)K0 Come to Carl’s Gulf Station ,E. Union and Fremont N a tio n a l C heck Y o u r V e h ic le F m iu io n . M o n th in A p r il was c .la b li.h e d in th e U .S .A . Io re m in d m oto rists th a t engines in <ood c o n d itio n d o nut p o llu te ex rraaiv ely . M any servier fa c ili ties l i k r th is o n r o ffe re d r lr a n e n g in e rh e r k s to h e lp ro m h a l e ir p o llu tio n . M echanics p e rfo r m a IS - m in u lr r h e r k o f v ita l e n g in e com p on ents to see w h eth er th e ea r la a p o llu te r o r n o t. tlon comes from cars built before i!»«H Later-model cars, Incor porating anti-pollution de vices, have become a minor part of the problem In fact cars built today create only 10% of the pollutants as did cars m an ufactured in the early 1940's As the older cars are scrapped, the pollution pic tu r e In th is c o u n tr y Is brightening significantly. And as devices such as after-burners or catalytic converters are Introduced In a few years, cars will be virtually pollution-free, ac cording to the car manu facturers. M a in te n a n c e Needed B A S IC A L LY SO UNDS Despite all the efforts and money Invested by the car makers, the fight against air pollution will not be to tally successful unless the car owner adheres to a schedule of maintenance. R e co p p in g a n d new tires fo r Cars, Trucks, Sport Cars a n d Boat Trailers "Everything in Tires” More Music Per Mile 62/MGW $895 19 6 7 Ford 4 DR Custom I f you're adept at creating HC, CO and NOx, you may Greyhound Lines recently exhibited the world's first turbine powered bus to be used in regular passenger service -- the “ ec o lo g y bus". Rilled by many as the bus of the future because of its dean air benefits and safer, more comfortable ride, Grey hound anticipates the intro- duction of turbine powered buses into regular service on the West Coast. Called "T u rb o c ru is e rs ” by Grey hound, the turbine powered buses will initially operate between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Service will be exten ded to many inter mediate cities in the near future. "The environmental advan tages of the Turbocruiser’s turbine engine are twofold", according to G reyhound Lines president James L. Kerrigan. "Although current diesel engines meet Federal emission standards, the tur bine engine virtually elimi nates all emissions. It is also oder free," he adds. $595 1 9 6 6 T h u n d e rb ird Local car, loaded, full p o w e r............................ Greyhound offers, "ecology bus” Northwest Tire Co. 3514 N. V a n c o u v e r Phone: 2 8 1 -1 2 8 7 2 8 1 -1 6 6 0 now. 7. P u ls atio n o r c h a tte r, a Tune-Ups Most Vital in Coping with Pollution In contrast, is an authentic 1931 bus fully restored, which possesses none of the equipment o r luxuries which are now standard on today's Greyhound. rig h t The service most vitally affecting emissions is tune- up According to tests con ducted by the University of Michigan and the State of New Jersey, a tuned engine produces about 50 per cent fewer pollutants than the same engine In need of tune-up (a t Id le). Muntz 8-track SEE AND BE SEEN! im o n g th e must r o m m on reasons fo r re je c tio n at v e h irle in spectio n sta tions th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n tr y are item s affe c tin g visi b ility , In som e a rm s as h ig h as a SO percent re je c tio n ra le occurs on item s su rh as lig h ts an d w in d s h ield w ip e r an d washer syslrm a. E x p e rts say th a t he ad lig h t a im in g s h o u ld be checked several lim es a ye a r. W ip e r blades should h r r e p la c e d e v e r y s ix m onths. DID YOU KNOW7 Did you know th a t If you drive a car an average of 10,000 miles per year Its spark plugs have probably flred some 15 million times during th a t period? That's why they should be serviced a t 5,000 miles and replaced at 10,000 miles Carbon on the distributor points can lead not only to spark plug misfiring but in some cases can cause com plete Ignition failure. $39.95 Vary large selection of all kinds of music • Custom installation service A ll w ork a n d m erch an d ise g u a ra n te d • s s s • s • s s • Chuck’s Car Stereo 6 3 0 N.E. Union 2 3 6 -0 0 8 2
