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Technical A little excitement yesterday

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by brokedownbiker, Apr 12, 2020.

  1. brokedownbiker
    Joined: Jun 7, 2016
    Posts: 651

    brokedownbiker
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I was bored yesterday so I decided to drive the '41 Chevy into town to gas it up at the local farm store (they sell non-ethanol gas there). As I entered the parking lot I had to circle around a guy who was pulling away from the pump (without looking) which led me to a place where the pavement was at a weird angle near one of the entrances. The bracket holding my brake booster under the floor caught the concrete and folded back, deforming the booster and losing the diaphragm seal. As it bent back it pulled the pedal down to the floor so I've got zero brakes. It got exciting for a few seconds as I dodged the pump, the guy pulling away and the pedestrians walking across the lot.
    An embarrassing tow-truck ride home later, I got it raised up and got a look at the damage.

    This morning I got it taken apart, you can see how bent the bracket is:

    Luckily it looks like all I have to do is straighten the plate and replace the booster. And I still need to gas up the damned thing!
     
  2. vtx1800
    Joined: Oct 4, 2009
    Posts: 1,709

    vtx1800
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'm glad you experienced no further damage, with that kind of luck the purchase of a lottery ticket might have been a good choice:)
     
    loudbang likes this.
  3. Never saw a booster pulled apart like that, you were fortunate not to have hit the othercar, the gas pump or the pedestrian. HRP
     
  4. foolthrottle
    Joined: Oct 14, 2005
    Posts: 1,402

    foolthrottle
    Member

    Lets see here, yer not dead, yer not on fire, you didn't kill or injure anyone, you didn't crap your pants, no other property damage, its official!your new name is Lucky!!!!
     

  5. greener200
    Joined: Jan 20, 2009
    Posts: 354

    greener200
    Member

    WHAT HE SAID /\ Good for you ! I'm a big fan of "what goes around, comes around" and you my friend just came around :D
     
    loudbang likes this.
  6. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,301

    oldiron 440
    Member

    Did he say a thing about not crapping his pants?
     
  7. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    happened to a guy I knew in his 41 pontiac years ago, but a different situation, he was driving in town when he had to dodge something and drove over a median and it ripped the booster off, so he couldn't stop.

    Gotta look under the car and "see" potential problems like that, before they happen. The problem is, until they happen, you don't know what to look for.
     
    bobss396, loudbang, trollst and 2 others like this.
  8. Ouch!
     
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  9. partsdawg
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,503

    partsdawg
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Minnesota

    No functional emergency brake?
     
  10. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,819

    BJR
    Member

    I would be trying to mount the booster higher in the frame if it was mine. It is obviously not safe the way it is built now. You have critical parts below the scrub line.
     
  11. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    and, you needed gas for?
     
    loudbang likes this.
  12. Kiwi 4d
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,564

    Kiwi 4d
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    At least you will have time at present to conjure up a substantial bash plate. I imagine relocating it higher is not a feasible option.
     
    VANDENPLAS and loudbang like this.
  13. backwoods96
    Joined: Jun 21, 2010
    Posts: 31

    backwoods96
    Member
    from Mead, Wa.

    Move up higher or smaller booster
     
  14. ken bogren
    Joined: Jul 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,056

    ken bogren
    Member

    Skid plate(s) may be needed
     
  15. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    definitely
     
    loudbang likes this.
  16. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    :rolleyes: :rolleyes: For driving around enjoying the scenery and nice weather and for general mental health.
     
  17. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,517

    5window
    Member

    Not in Pennsylvania.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  18. Brake booster ?

    Tommy
     
    loudbang, dirty old man and bchctybob like this.


  19. ^^^^^^^^ THIS^^^^^^^^ GOOD POST !
     
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  20. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    This was a timely post. I bought an unfinished project a few months back and have been slowly going over it and sprucing things up. One thing I noticed was that the master cylinder bracket extended about 1/2” below the bottom of the frame right where speed bumps will catch it. So I trimmed it slightly above the frame, radiused the corners and deburred everything. A quick shot of paint and I felt better. Now I’m extra glad I took the time.
    Glad the damage was negligible and no one got hurt.


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    loudbang and Unique Rustorations like this.
  21. brokedownbiker
    Joined: Jun 7, 2016
    Posts: 651

    brokedownbiker
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Oh yeah, there is a functional E-brake, there just wasn't time to get hold of it. No power steering so I was rather busy muscling the wheel back and forth dodging crap. And the E-brake is not easy to reach in a '41, it is more of a parking brake than an emergency feature apparently; it is pretty far up under the dash on my car.

    When my new booster arrives, I'll be trimming some of the bracket off. It hangs down about an inch and a quarter below the bottom booster mounting holes. I've been driving this car about 2 years now and I've never had a issue with speed bumps or such, the car isn't super low but the booster bracket does hang below the frame (for another couple of days anyway). There isn't really any way to raise the booster/master cylinder any higher, the M/C lid is almost touching the floor, short of mounting it on the firewall (yuck) and going to hanging pedals.

    It was just a fluke of bad angles and a low (-ish) car but it has taught me that I need to slow down a bit and watch the other folks on the road. I thought I had that lesson already learned what with riding Harley's for over 40 years and still breathing but I guess not, haha!

    Thanks for all the comments and input folks, this is why I lurk around here!
     
  22. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    do you have enough leg muscles that you can do away with the power booster all together?
     
  23. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 3,883

    rusty valley
    Member

    yeah, get rid of it , or make a skid plate
     
    loudbang likes this.
  24. That’s the kind of excitement I can do without these days, glad for you not much damage to all concerned.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  25. Scumdog
    Joined: Mar 3, 2010
    Posts: 630

    Scumdog
    Member


    Here in New Zealand you HAVE to have a hefty skid plate under your booster to prevent what happened to the O.P., ie no skid plate - not road legal
     
    49ratfink and Desoto291Hemi like this.
  26. Scumdog
    Joined: Mar 3, 2010
    Posts: 630

    Scumdog
    Member

    What he said!
     
  27. Or if you drive stock cars on Saturday nights, you LOOK for things like that that will result in a DNF. Murphy's Law always prevails. I take that philosophy into anything I build.
     
    X-cpe likes this.
  28. That’s A good rule and easy to do.
    Not being from NZ, Can the skid plate be bolt on or does it need to be permanently welded?
     
  29. So what is the diameter of the booster?
    I’m assuming there’s an access hole in the floor to fill the reservoir already, perhaps a domed door over the assembly would give you enough room without causing too much bump in the floor board.
     
  30. partssaloon
    Joined: Jan 28, 2009
    Posts: 677

    partssaloon
    Member

    I have a skip plate on my 48
    old glasspaks.jpeg Pair of Spinteks.jpeg
     

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