Archive for May, 2009

Fresh cars:


by Magnus Bosserent

Unless you need to replace your brakes because of wear there should not be any problems with coming to a safe stop when you need to. The existence of the newer calliper brakes instead of the old fashioned drum type ensures that you can feel comfortable behind the wheel. Tyres also contribute to your ability to come to a stop in an effective manner. There can be times though when your brakes could falter and you should understand what to do if the brakes fail.

1. Stopping Your Vehicle if You Have Soft or Spongy Brake Pedals

Soft or spongy brakes are a condition which occurs when a leak in the system exists. It could be that your brakes are leaking fluid, so that when the brake is depressed the force behind the movement is less than normally desired on the brake callipers. As the brake is depressed the pads move onto the disc to create a situation with friction. The wheel begins to slow. The stopping mechanism of the vehicle is a closed loop, which means fluid should not be able to leak.

When a leak exists the pressure is less, but it is not nonexistent. Instead the brakes will feel soft under your foot. They may not react as quickly to stop the car as they have in the past.

If the pedal is sponge like you will need to pump the pedal. The action of pumping the brake pedal allows pressure to build up in the system to allow for a safe stop. After you have stopped the car it is imperative to have the brakes checked by a qualified professional. A lack of inspection could result in complete failure of the brakes.

2. How to Prevent Brake Fade and What to Do if it Happens

Brake fade occurs when the brakes have overheated and lose some of their stopping potential. In normal driving conditions you are unlikely to experience brake fade, however it can occur after repeatedly heavy braking from high speed, or during frequent braking on a long down hill section. Both scenarios will cause your brakes to heat up significantly and could even lead to the brake fluid boiling.

Brake fade is not a permanent problem and can be quickly cured by giving your brakes sufficient time to cool down. You can also reduce the chances of it occurring by staying in a low gear on prolonged hill descents and using engine braking as much as possible when stopping frequently from high speed.

3. What to Do in the Event of Total Brake Failure

If you are confronted with total brake failure you need to pump the pedal to see if you can get back some brake pressure. This works to help you stop, but just as importantly lets drivers behind you know that you are trying to stop your car. As fast as you can change gears descending to a lower gear, you will also want to apply the handbrake in an effort to come to a complete stop.

If a crash is inevitable because you cannot get the car stopped, try not to panic. Look ahead to see what is in your path. You may be able to cushion the blow by choosing a parked car or low wall to hit. This would keep injuries to a minimum and damage to your vehicle minimal as well.

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by Sam Lin

RC Helicopters are one of the most popular rc toys. His popularity is not entirely surprising. Imagine full filling your dream of flying a plane without too much cost or effort. And most importantly: with your feet on the ground. Well that’s a factor if you do not want to risk your life flying in the sky.

RC Helicopters usually come as either gas or electric. Here are some differences between the two types:

Electric RC Helicopters are a better choice if you are a beginner with rc’s. The reasons are simple. Electric RC Helicopter is easier to use than other RC helicopters, especially the gas type. With electric you will not have to worry about how much gas it will consume and you would not be required to have good knowledge of the mechanics. You do not need to spend too much time reading manuals just to understand how it works. And if the device crashes, it should not be too hard to understand how to fix the problem.

If you believe that electric RC helicopters do not fly long enough, then you should have a look at your perspective. Most electric RC use lithium and coupled are with brushless motors. This will allow a much longer flying time.

Another benefit is; it is very quiet in the air so you should not disturb other people

RC helicopter pilots with more experience prefer gas RC Helicopters for several reasons. Gas RC helicopter fly like a helicopter would fly, due to the size of the engine, and creates more excitement. Oh! One might think it is absolutely absurd. But no! The sound of the engine makes the flying experience very exciting. Another reason is that gas RC helicopters are more complicated, the driver of the dependency itself. Why? This is because the pilot not only needs to fly the helicopter alone. The driver is in control of the mechanism of RC. This gives even more reason to be happy about the RC Helicopter.

Choosing between an electric RC helicopter and a gas RC helicopter is up to you. Evaluate carefully so that you get the most out of your RC flying experience.

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