If the shoes wern't changed, this is most likely the problem. One or more of
the linings may be coming loose from the shoe. I had some from one of my 60's
that looked ok at first, but looking closer revealed a couple that were coming
unstuck.
John
Maxiudo Ulrich wrote:
> dear hugh:
>
> i write in response to:
>
> >Max: I still have an unpleasant vibration when i'm stopping. very
> >UNimperial.
> >
> >Can you tell us a little more about the vibration? Are you absolutely
> > >sure it is from the brakes. These cars can play mean tricks on you.
> > >There are some struts going forward from the front suspension to just
> > >inside the bumpers. The have a rubber bushing which can deteriorate >and
> >cause all sorts of wobblies you can blame on the brakes. Even if >you have
> >had the front end rebuilt, this element sometimes gets >overlooked. Its
> >just a thought.
>
> i'll be happy to describe it. and thanks for the thought. i'm not sure
> what it is.
>
> it happens when i'm applying the brakes at any speed. it was worse before
> the rear hubs were changed out.
>
> i'm no mechanic, but i have a pretty good one that's done the restoration of
> my '62. he started with the brakes. apparently, it didn't look like the
> rear hubs had ever been removed. they were a bear to get off. my mechanic
> had a special tool built to remove the hubs, got in there and learned that
> it was pretty much a mess. he did what he could to clean and service it,
> but after everything was put back together, the car had a terrible "shudder"
> and increasing "vibration" when the brakes were applied. my mechanic
> swapped out the "like new" hubs from my parts imperial, and that helped a
> lot.
>
> the current vibration appears at any speed when the brakes are applied. its
> like you can feel a circle turning, getting to a certain point, and hitting
> a "bump". the vibration is cyclic in nature and causes the whole car to
> "lurch" forward and backward when the braking cycle reaches the "bump". its
> really annoying. when it gets to the top of the "bump" crest, it also feels
> a little like the brakes are braking away. like a roller coaster coming
> into the station, catching the track brakes along the way, throwing the
> thrill-seeker back and forth, back and forth.
>
> we'll take a look at these bushings that you're talking about. i thought
> that the whole front end had been rebuilt, but maybe something has been
> overlooked.
>
> i've been following the discussions on switching to a dual master cylinder
> as well. again, my mechanical knowledge is sorely limited, but before my
> '62 i owned a '63 newport coupe. i'll never forget the day that its brakes
> failed while i was approaching a busy intersection where i had to make a 90
> degree left or right when i had the red light. i must have had just enough
> brake juice to slow the car down a little more, then i threw it into a slide
> and used the gas to grab the break-away back end, navigate the turn and get
> me into a flat neighborhood where i decided to have a drink at a friend's
> house and wait for the tow truck. using the emergency brake never dawned on
> me, and given my limited understanding of the parking brake "clamping
> system" on these '62 imperials, i'm not sure that i'd be helping my cause
> trying to fool with the parking brake if the main brakes fail. anyone ever
> try this?
>
> i'd be interested in knowing any successful '62 conversions to a better
> master cylinder. i realize that these cars were carefully designed and that
> thoughtful drivers really have no problems, but i've got mountains with no
> guard rails that i love to drive around. if i can inconspicuously improve
> the braking system to lessen my odds of a catastrophic failure, then i
> probably should. as much as i like the mountains and trees, i don't want to
> blend into them with my imperial.
>
> thanks for all the thoughts.
>
> imperial regards,
>
> max
>
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