When I was much younger, an old man that had worked for my grandfather, on the farm, told me of a time he and my grandfather had gone to the hay field and loaded the truck with hay and carried it to the barn. Andy, the hired hand, said the breaks had a high pitched sound to them every time they were applied. If you have ever hauled hay, then you know you have to stop about every 10 feet. With an old 1 and 1/2 ton flat-bed truck, no air conditioner, 110 degrees in the shade (not much shade in a hay field in East Texas), no rain for two months, dust and particles flying around in the cab with you is not a good time to have to listen to a pig squealing every 30 seconds. It was close to dinner time (lunch to some of you) when they got the truck unloaded. My grandfather told Andy to take the truck to the shop and grease the breaks, then come get something to eat. Now, my grandfather was about 60 years old. He had never learned to drive, and knew nothing about the mechanical operations. The only driving he ever did was in the hay field. Andy told me he took the rear tires off and removed the brake drums. He said he looked at the shoes for a long time, but decided to go ahead and do what the old man told him to do...after all, he was the boss. Andy was only in his teens. After dinner they got into the truck and started back to the hay field. There were three gates they had to stop and open before they got to the hay field. Notice I said they *had to stop* and open? There was no squealing, or high pitched sound when he tried to stop...just the sound of the timbers meeting the front of the truck when he hit the gates. There are other, and better, ways to stop the brakes from squealing...try them first! |
