Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Attention EVERYONE. I had a near Peter Biondo/ Woodro Josey top end crash in Ennis, TX LODRS DIV4 this past weekend. The master cylinder rod that attaches to the brake pedal (the factory style that has a standard clip style retainer) came out when the clip fell off. No brakes! Thankfully the Texas Motorplex has a long shut-down area and I ended up in the sand trap just feet away from the net.
I am posting this for the same reason Woodro Josey posted his...to REMIND everyone to climb under your dash and check for this. We are going to modify this to have a lock nut on it.

I was lucky and sustained no damage.

Gary Emmons
Lucas Oil Products
4403 C/SA

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Thanks for the heads up............ and very glad your situation had a happy ending.
Defintely a good idea to get under your car and look for loose fasteners.

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Gary, which car were you driving? Glad you are ok! It can be a horrifying ride. Jim

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Jim,
It was my 1998 Firebird.
Thanks,
GE

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Gary, glad you came out ok, and at least you had a good sand trap. Gary, let me add this observation, mine had a lock nut and apparantly over the years mine backed out so i would reccomend a clevis pin with a cottor pin and the pin needs to be very hard! Good Luck Gary, again Glad you came out ok!

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

glad you made it home safe Gary. Hate to see anything bad happen to good people. Tell your dad I still have the red 38' trailer for sale.

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Could someone post some pics of brake rod set-ups that did NOT perform as planned? Such as the ones that we're hearing about on here.

And then could someone post pics of stuff that DOES work? So far, my set-up has not caused any unplanned change of underwear. I'm in Woodro's age bracket and I'm not looking for any huge increase in the pucker factor! Thanks.

P.S. It just occurred to me that maybe a system like Allen Johnson's P/S'er would work real well as a back-up to the foot pedal brakes. I like it for staging too. All you'd need would be dual caliper rear brakes. Right?
Ken

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

We had dual caliper rear brakes on one of the Camaros, and they always gave some sort of trouble. We took off the second pair of calipers, and the problems went away.

I do not think there is any one particular "set up" that is giving problems.

I have often considered hanging a heim joint from the pedal bracket and running the rod through it, so that the rod could not fall out. However, that would not solve the problem of the rod getting out of adjustment.

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Gary, I sure did'nt know what happened till you told me, glad you were ok. Makes me think I need to go to the last turn, I sure would have made sure sure you were ok and help if I could. Always enjoy racing you and your brothers. See yall at next month.

Re: Another Brake Failure in Stock @ ENNIS DIV4
 

Glad to hear you are alright and it sounds like you got out of that one with minimal collateral damage.Always like hearing all the good stories about you guys and your dad.Thanks for the reminder to periodically inspect this kind of stuff. Hope to see you all sometime soon.