Brake Safety Part 1: A Short History of Brakes

Most people don’t even think about brakes on their vehicle except when they need to be changed but consider how necessary brakes are in your life. Your brakes help you and/or your family arrive safely at your destination. They also help you avoid the cost of accidents and claims on your insurance. So this month, let’s take a look at:

A Short History of Brakes

We all know that brakes help you stop the car. However, do you really understand how they work? Brakes use a system of fluid-filled pipes that multiply force and move it from one place to another, but this system has a history.

Late 1800’s – 1940’s

Years ago when wheels were steel (think late 1800’s), brakes were a block of wood with a lever to hold it against the wheel. Drum brakes came out with the emergence of rubber tire. By the 1920’s hydraulics were added to a four-wheel braking system that used fluids to transfer force placed on a pedal ultimate to the brake shoes.

1950’s – Today

Drum brakes had been very popular, but because of their inadequate heat distribution, disc brakes began to be used. (You might find it interesting that though disc brakes were patented in the early 1900’s, they were not predominantly used until the 1950’s.) The problem were that disc brakes required great effort by the driver to press the brake pedal hard enough to easily stop the car. For this reason, they were dropped for a short time; however, power brakes were introduced in the 1960’s so that drivers did not have to apply as much force to the brake pedal.

Today

Brakes are evolving much more slowly today. New technologies have emerged to aid the the same types of brakes. We now have ABS, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist as well as other systems to help braking be as effective and safe as possible. Even so, our modern-day brakes are still based on the same designs from the early 1900s.

Brake Safety:

February 21, 2017May 26, 2017

8 Tips to Gear Up to Motorcycle Season

mechanic tightening the wheel nut on a motorcycle

To steer this riding season in the right direction, you’ll want to make sure your motorcycle — and your motorcycle insurance policy — are in good working order before hitting the open road.

While you should always check your owner’s manual for specific guidelines, here are some general tips for getting ready:

Change the oil and filter.

Many manufacturers recommend changing the oil and filter before storing a bike for any extended period of time and again when you bring it back out for riding season. Be sure to first start up the motorcycle to warm the engine and then shut it off before changing the oil and filter.

Check the belt or chain.

Make sure it is set to the manufacturer’s recommended tension. If you have a chain, lubricate it.

Check nuts and bolts.

Start off the riding season with a solid bike. Make sure everything is tight. “A well-maintained motorcycle not only assures a fun time, it can save you money by avoiding accidents, which helps to keep your insurance rates down,” says Rick Stern, motorcycle product manager, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies.

Inspect tires.

Look for any damage and also make sure each tire is inflated to the correct pressure. You’ve only got two tires, so for maximum stability it is very important to avoid underinflation as well as overinflation.

Look for fluid leaks.

The easiest way to check for this is to look at the floor under the motorcycle. Leaking oil or brake, radiator or clutch fluid can cause their own special problems. For example, being low on brake fluid could make it hard to stop your motorcycle. You don’t want to find that out after you’re already on the road.

Check all lights.

Make sure headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are all functioning properly.

Brush up on your riding skills.

Find a safe place to practice riding skills such as fast stops, figure eights, U-turns, etc., so you’re ready for the season. You’ll be glad you did.

Update your policy.

Perhaps one of the most important things you can do at the start of the season is review your insurance coverage to be certain you, and your bike, are covered. Talk to your local independent insurance agent.

Independent agents represent many companies and they can help you to understand the coverages you need. An independent agent can also help you find the combination of price and service that’s right for you. Call Bob Johnson Insurance, Inc. at 865-922-3111 or click here to contact us.

December 15, 2016May 26, 2017

What is ABS and What It Does for You

When you are considering which car to purchase, you should factor in ABS. Many people don’t know that ABS (anti-lock braking system) makes a difference:

Since ABS, there has been a 35% decrease in frontal collisions on wet roads.
There has been a 9% decrease in frontal impacts on dry roads.
In controlled test conditions, 58% of drivers without ABS strayed from their intended path after braking and only 24% of drivers with ABS did the same.

As you can see, ABS is a very good feature to have. It comes as a standard feature on many cars, but sometimes it is an add-on. As you look at cars, think of ABS like an umbrella. It’s better to have one and not need it rather than need it and not have it.

You might have heard someone say, “I pushed the brake pedal, and they locked up!” When your wheels lock up, you skid, you can hear the screech of the tires and often you see smoke and/or skid marks on the pavement. Skidding isn’t good, but it is especially dangerous in rain, snow or ice. When it happens, you are at serious risk for losing control of the car and having an accident.

To “unlock” your wheels, you need to lessen the pressure on the brakes until the wheels start spinning again. If you drive a car without ABS, instead of pressing on the brake and holding it, you need to apply pressure until just before the wheels would lock up. If the wheels lock up or you are trying to keep them from doing so, you lessen pressure on the brake and then apply it once again (which is called “feathering”). In the midst of bad weather or bad drivers around you, it’s not always easy to do.

That’s where ABS comes in. ABS is designed to keep your wheels from locking up when you press the brakes. With ABS, a computer will handle all that for you using wheel speed sensors, hydraulic units and electronic control unit. All these combined make up an ABS.

ABS is very useful in bad weather or during an emergency when you need to suddenly stop your car. It takes care of feathering your brakes so your wheels don’t lock up. (The ABS use sensors to monitor your brakes and keep them from locking at a sudden braking.) As a result, you maintain better control of your car in order to avoid a wreck.

October 14, 2016October 7, 2019

Auto Safety Test: Check Your Tires

car on asphalt road on summer day at park

Did You Know?

Tires are one of the most important — and oft-overlooked — components of our cars. Tires are the only thing that attach our cars to the road, and tire problems affect your car’s ride comfort, handling and safety. If they’re near bald and out of balance driving can be dangerous. Here are some simple tire safety tips to help keep you and your car’s occupants safe.

Check your tire pressure regularly.

Tires tend to lose air over time. Buy a digital tire gauge and check your tires once a month and before a long trip. Proper inflation pressures can be found in your owner’s manual or on a sticker on the car (usually on the driver’s doorjamb or fuel-filler lid) Remember to check tire pressure only after the car has been sitting for several hours in order to ensure that the tires are cold — the friction of driving heats the tires and increases pressure, which can hide an under-inflated tire.

Address under-inflated tires immediately.

An under-inflated tire has more rolling resistance, which increases fuel consumption. It also creates more heat, which can lead to tire failure.

Make sure you have good tread on your tires.

Since you are already down beside your tires when you are checking your tire pressure, take that time to look at the tread for signs of damage, bubbles, cracks or baldness (areas that are smoother in one place or another). One easy test is a penny check. Put a penny in the groove of the car tire to see if I can see all of Lincoln’s head. If you can, then it’s time for new tires.

Rotate and balance your tires regularly.

Consider rotating your tires every 5,000 miles which should help your tires to wear even.

Keep your tires aligned properly.

Tires should be aligned on a regular basis, especially if you have hit a curb or two. Tires that are out of alignment can wear unevenly. To check for alignment rest hands lightly on steering wheel while driving, it should stay in a straight line and not drift to the right or left.

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