<VV> Dual master cylinder

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/24/2011 5:44:23 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
bryan at skiblack.com writes:

"No,  *you're* a poopyhead!" :-)   
Then Bill wrote back:

So how  do you decide how much redundancy is "enough"?  If dual m/c is 
safer than  single m/c, shouldn't we all want quad m/c because that would be 
safer still?  But them what if that fails?  Maybe each wheel should have dual 
lines and  wheel cylinders, "just in case".  

Better yet, install giant  airbags and rubber bumpers on the front and rear 
of all cars and have a backup  parachute "just in case". It couldn't hurt 
to install rocket-powered ejection  seats either.

Better yet, just make it illegal to drive faster than 10  mph!

Bill Hubbell


Well, Bill - Now we know who the "Poopyhead" is.  <grin> Unlike most of 
you, I guess, I actually had an accident where  a dual master cylinder would 
have saved my car from hitting a fire hydrant. The  brake line on my 1955 
Chevy ran down the right side frame rail. When the  pressure plate pieces hit it 
(Don't ask!) it sliced through it and removed  all remaining braking. 
(Prior to that point, the engine became permanently  disconnected from the rest 
of the drive train.) A functioning emergency brake  might have stopped the 
car, had there been one. It is hard to comprehend  how fast 25 MPH feels when 
you have absolutely no way to slow down the car. My  choices were limited 
to: 6 foot in diameter eucalyptus trees, the rear  bumper of a car stopped at 
up-coming stop sign, the stop sign itself, with  a telephone pole about 6 
inches to the right of it, and finally, the  space between the car and the 
stop sign. I chose the space and traveled  across the intersection, missing the 
stopped car, the crossing car and the stop  sign, and then stuck my right 
front wheel into the said fire  hydrant. Was it my fault? Absolutely yes. But 
a dual master  cylinder would have placed me on the side of the street, 
with a couple of  holes in the floor, a small hole in the oil pan (nothing 
leaving, just bouncing  parts) and a lot  of pain in my right foot, a much 
smarter teenager. But without the  crash. Our Corvairs are at least 40 years old, 
and internal corrosion,  neither visible from the outside nor "curable" via 
brake fluid replacement,  could result in a system hydraulic failure. That 
is why we do the hard-harder  brake test at every Corvair autocross. I have 
(personally) blown out two brake  systems at a Corsa autocross tech 
inspection. (not my cars) Both  drivers thanked me for it. (well, not initially!) 
Better for it to  happen at the autocross inspection, than driving back to the 
hotel when a  truck pulls out in front of you. As I recall, both drivers 
fixed the failed part  and drove in the Autocross. 
 
If you wish to have your car remain perfectly stock, so it can be shown in  
the "Really, Really, Really Stock" classification, I fully understand. You 
are  unlikely to have a major accident/failure pulling it off or back-onto 
the  trailer.  Otherwise .  .  .  .  .
 
Seth Emerson  





Seth Emerson

C's the Day! -  Corvair, Camaro, Corvette
San Jose, CA