Paul Messam, ContributorTOTAL BRAKE failure can happen to anyone. Don't panic or attempt to drive your way out of trouble.
Cars have a two-part braking system, one for the rear wheels and one for the front wheels. If one part fails, the other part still brakes.
If both parts fail at the same time, you will have no braking power at all. But, panicking is not the answer to this situation.
The seriousness of actual brake failure depends on where it occurs. Should you lose your brakes on a steep hill, you are in big trouble. Try to stop the car as quickly as possible rather than attempting to drive your way out of the problem.
The longer you permit the car to roll, the more the momentum increases and the harder it will be to stop.
SPEED A CAUSE
The first indication of brake failure is a limp pedal that goes to the floorboard. Try pumping the pedal vigorously to see if some stopping action can be activated. If you are not going too fast, drop into a lower range or gear.
Be careful that speed is not excessive when you try the downshift. By dropping into a lower gear at high speeds, you run the risk of blowing a clutch or even the engine through over-revving, and this will leave you without any engine braking.
Don't hesitate to use roadside barriers for stopping, should your brakes fail. By swiping the side of the car along guard-rail, fences and so on, you can reduce speed radically.
Forget about the side of the car being damaged. Doors and fenders are inexpensive compare to your personal safety. If you lose brake in heavy traffic, you should be able to downshift and come to a halt with the parking brake.
Should this be impossible, hit the car ahead rather than risk a head-on collision by trying to pass. Because the relative speeds of your car and the one in front will be close, his bumper will cushion you to stop without serious damage.
When total brake failure occurs, the driver is usually braking hard for a stop.
FIVE STEPS
If brake failure occurs follow these steps immediately:
Step 1: Pump the brake pedal fast and hard. Pumping may temporarily restore enough brake fluid pressure to slow or stop the car. You will know in three or four pumps if the brakes are going to hold.
Step 2: At the same time, apply the parking brake. While applying the parking brake, hold the parking-brake release lever or button at 'off'. This allows you to quickly release the parking brake for a moment if the car begins to skid. The parking brake, which is a separate braking system, brakes only two wheels. On most cars, the parking brake brakes the two rear wheels.
Step 3: Downshift to the lowest gear. This action helps slow the car by using the braking power of the engine.
Step 4: Stay aware of the traffic situation. You can still steer and swerve. If necessary, rub the wheels against the left curb or steer into bushes or something soft to reduce speed. If a collision is unavoidable, steer for a sideswipe rather than crashing head-on into something solid.
Step 5: When you no longer need to change direction, turn off the engine.
In the case of a car equipped with power brake, common brake 'failure' is the result of the loss of power that helps you to brake. The power stops if the engine quits running. The brakes have not failed, but without the engine's power, you must brake harder.
Motorists should be reminded that in case of other brake failure, when brakes over-heat, they may lose some of their effectiveness. This is known as 'brake fade'. Brake fade occurs after long, continuous hard braking.
"To regain full braking force, the motorist should stop and allow the brake to cool," advises experienced mechanic Maurice Edwards. Driving in deep water can also cause temporary brake failure.
