*Something* has been done in the past few years to improve corrosion protection/resistance. I know quite a lot of panels are plastic (gave me a start when I leaned on my Scenics front wing and it popped in and out :) ) plus tailgates. And presumably paints are much tougher.
But chassis in general. I can't remember the last time I saw a rusty sill.
Since you are such an expert, I'd have thought you'd have exact numbers as a percentage of pre 1976 cars. In the contest of this discussion. Or even as a percentage of red herrings.
But I'll make an educated guess. Most of the cars left with only two wheel brakes that are still taxed and insured for road use will only be seen at shows. And very likely trailered there.
Yes - that design is pretty common now. Although may be restricted to cars with large enough rear discs to have room for the drum. So perhaps not so common on smaller cars.
My last BMW - an E39 - had that handbrake system. It was truly pathetic when I got the car at 3 years old. With a new first MOT from the dealer. But being an auto, not really ever needed.
Next MOT it failed on the hendbrake. So decided to investigate myself. One adjuster on the drum firmly jammed on zero - and the cables adjusted to try and compensate. So much for main dealer servicing.
Removed the adjuster and freed it in the vice. Then set up the brake by the book. Still not brilliant, but more than adequate as a parking brake.
True, but at the expense of much greater labour bills for replacing discs (have to dismantle drive shafts) and probably a bit more for replacing pads because they are less accessible.
I suppose it depends whether the manufacturer decides that more costly brake repairs will dissuade people from buying the car, and balance that against simpler suspension with lower unsprung weight.
How much does a disc brake weigh as opposed to a simple hub without disc, bake and callipers attached, given that presumably the biggest unsprung weight is the wheel.
Briggs & Stratton Flyer, aka Smith Flyer. Spoon brakes were common on very early vehicles - the flyer was a later throwback, but primarily it was an exercise in how could one make the cheapest possible car.
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