VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 490 Brake Experiment

I wanted to test a modification to the brakes on my 490. I fabricated a second attachment point on the brake pedal and I moved the brake cable that normally attaches to the clutch pedal over to the brake pedal. The brake pedal now pulls on both cables at the same time activating both the rear inner and outer brake band assemblies simultaneously on both rear wheel drums. This modification has made a huge improvement in my overall braking. I was wondering if anyone else has tried this. I am driving my 490 quite regularly to town and back - an 18 mile round trip. ...the majority of roads in my area are flat and level with very few grades except for one I must travel to get to town. This is a 40 foot hill with a 45 degree rise and a blind turn about 2/3rd the way up ! This is an
evil hill that I must travel each time I want to go to town. Last week a car pulled out of a driveway just as I was 2/3 up the hill. I had to stop going up the hill on a 45 degree angle.
The car did not have enough power to climb the remainder of the hill, ...far too steep. My only choice was to back down the hill a good 80 feet and do the hill again. Not for the faint of heart. Using the above brake modification I made allowed me full control while backing down the hill with no problems with the car running away on me. Wondering if anyone else has tried this brake mod. This steep hill is what originally prompted me to make this modification as I knew someday I may not make it up the entire hill and might need to back down. Brandon

You haven't mentioned what year your 490 is. There was a hand brake kit available which supplied the hand brake lever and mounting bracket which attaches to the top of the gearbox. This is then connected to the internal emergency brake shoes, seperating them from the brake and clutch pedals. Thus allowing the driver to apply the internal brake linings by hand, as well as the external brake linings by the usual brake pedal.This also gives you a parking brake .

Brandon,

In situations where I must stop in a timely manner, I simply step on both brake pedals at the same time with both feet and that works quite well. As I near to a stop I revert back to using just the clutch/brake pedal making sure the parking brake is fully released before heading on.
Backing up on a hill in these old cars can be hair raising due to the degree of positive caster. You really need to have a good grip on the steering wheel and go slow as I'm sure you already know.

Cheers,
Gary