Sheer Panic--No Brakes!
I raised the front of the '65 Signet convertible (jack stands placed) to find where the slack in the front suspension was coming from underneath (looks like an idler arm nut came loose at first glance). At the same time, I greased all the zerk fittings (they were all present and accounted for (except the pitman arm had no option to lubricate that I could find). Then I remembered there were no self-adjusters on the front wheels (drums), so I performed a slight front brake adjustment. So far, so good.
Then I asked my better half to come sit in the driver's seat while I spun both front tires (one at a time) to make sure they were functioning to my satisfaction. So I cleaned off the driver seat with a baby wipe and she sat down inside. I explained to her that while I spun each front wheel, her task was to apply the brakes on my command. OK, no questions, so I assume we understood one another.
I didn't want to get my hands dirty, so I spun the front passenger side tire with my foot. Once it got to spin, I gave the command to apply the brakes. The wheel did not stop immediately, but spun a few more times and then gradually coasted to a stop on its own. I inquired as to whether the brake pedal was being applied, and the answer came back: "Yes, it's on the floor". "Oh my, we have a big problem!" I said to myself.
So I walk around the vehicle and stop at the driver's door and peek inside. I see my spouse pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor (Granted, she has been driving for the last 50 years or so at this point). So we repeat the exercise, only on the second attempt the brake pedal is applied and both tires came to a sudden stop. That's a relief.
I raised the front of the '65 Signet convertible (jack stands placed) to find where the slack in the front suspension was coming from underneath (looks like an idler arm nut came loose at first glance). At the same time, I greased all the zerk fittings (they were all present and accounted for (except the pitman arm had no option to lubricate that I could find). Then I remembered there were no self-adjusters on the front wheels (drums), so I performed a slight front brake adjustment. So far, so good.
Then I asked my better half to come sit in the driver's seat while I spun both front tires (one at a time) to make sure they were functioning to my satisfaction. So I cleaned off the driver seat with a baby wipe and she sat down inside. I explained to her that while I spun each front wheel, her task was to apply the brakes on my command. OK, no questions, so I assume we understood one another.
I didn't want to get my hands dirty, so I spun the front passenger side tire with my foot. Once it got to spin, I gave the command to apply the brakes. The wheel did not stop immediately, but spun a few more times and then gradually coasted to a stop on its own. I inquired as to whether the brake pedal was being applied, and the answer came back: "Yes, it's on the floor". "Oh my, we have a big problem!" I said to myself.
So I walk around the vehicle and stop at the driver's door and peek inside. I see my spouse pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor (Granted, she has been driving for the last 50 years or so at this point). So we repeat the exercise, only on the second attempt the brake pedal is applied and both tires came to a sudden stop. That's a relief.
