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'Fundamentally wrong'

9th February 1968
Page 37
Page 37, 9th February 1968 — 'Fundamentally wrong'
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

In the article by Paul Brockington on ''The Next Ten Years" Mr. A, Williamson of Vauxhall expressed an opinion that the front wheels of a vehicle should be the first "to approach locking", especially in the case of artics.

Some while ago you published a letter of mine in which I suggested that this conception is fundamentally wrong, and is, in fact, most dangerous in practical application. Many people agreed with me over this, including the engineers of the Mack Truck Corporation who favour limiting brake application on the front wheels of artic tractors and do not use brakes at all at the front of three axle units.

During the recent icy weather, I drove a Mercedes Benz 1418, pulling a trailer which was not really suited to it, in as much as it did not impose sufficient weight on the front axle. This, however, is a fairly common state of affairs, particularly with this long-wheelbase type of chassis, but the point I wish to make is that even the slightest brake application caused the front wheels to lock causing the unit to slide down the camber of the road.

Had this outfit been fitted with the old two-line system, a gentle application of the hand reaction valve would have allowed a safe reduction of speed, even if the trailer had shown a tendency to slide in a bit towards the nearside; I would at least have had proper control over the front wheels of the unit which is not possible in icy weather with front brakes coming on first.

E. G. CORKE, London, W13.

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Locations: London

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