At the bottom of page 104 of my copy of Bill Williams' book, "Austin Seven Specials", he says that "the post-1930 brake cross shaft can be reinforced to prevent movement by welding a strip of steel to the underside of the carrier bracket and bolting the other end to the underside of the chassis side member".

1. Has anyone any experience of this?
2. Is it a worthwhile modification?
3. In particular, has anyone any photos that will show the correct way to do it, rather than rely on my interpretation and imagination?

Thanks,
Roger

Location: Dorset UK

I think it's a typo. It should read PRE 1930, and it is worth doing particularly if you're converting an early system to four wheel footbrake.

I put a reinforcing strap on my coupled brake 1930 car. I had a couple of the rivets on the bearing bracket pull out under very hard braking, causing me to spin.
I'll take a photo later.

Charles

Roger,

As suggested this must refer to the early brake brackets.

In the 50's I had no access to welding equipment and devised a simple nut and bold method of re-enforcing the somewhat flexible mountings.

A couple of crude sketches may show how-






Cheers, Tony.

Location: Australia

Many thanks to all for helpful replies. That makes things much clearer!

Roger

Location: Dorset UK

For uncoupled brake cars, the offside bracket can be stiffened as per Tony's top sketch, except that you don't need to drill a hole in the front chassis crossmember. The bolt which replaces one of the rivets in the cross-tube bracket only needs to be adjusted so that the end rests against the back of the crossmember – this is so that it can resist the tendency of the bracket to move forward when the brake pedal is pressed.

The nearside bracket can be supported by a steel bracket formed so that it wraps around the back of the bracket and the front of the front chassis crossmember. It is held in place by a small clip over the lip of the crossmember - see the photo for details (click to enlarge).



Although this is a slightly more complicated method, it does have the advantage that you don't have to drill holes in anything.

David

I suggest that to anyone with uncoupled brakes that you get a friend to press the brake pedal hard while you watch underneath. The amount the cross shaft moves is quite alarming. Without extra bracing it is impossible to get the back brakes balanced. With bracing the improvement is surprising.

How super. Amazing but in a good way. We still discuss and learn on Christmas Day. Like it.