Jump to content

what to do if brakes fail?


p24-1953

Recommended Posts

while driving...... other than praying. my master cylinder went out a few years ago but luckly i was on the highway so i just kept on going till i rolled to a stop, but what about if i was intown.. what should i do? how can i stop.

i just installed new lines, cylinders and pads, but the M. cylinder is a older rebuild job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Uhhhh, E-brake? I'm guessing, but if you lost your M/C a few years ago, and you've just installed new lines, shoes and cylinders, but didn't rebuild the M/C this time around....then you must have rebuilt it when you lost your M/C? If you expect your M/C to still be in good shape since last rebuilt, then give 'er a whirl.....but remember the e-brake if you haven't replaced the M/C since it let go a few years ago.....cause your probably gonna need it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pump brakes real fast to build up pressure. Downshift to a lower gear. Shut off engine while in gear to slow down with engine compression (won't work on fluid-coupling transmissions). Honk the horn. Use the (marginally effective) hand brake. Scuff tires against curb. Pray.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do what Jersey Harold said, it works. My brakes didn't work when I bought my coupe. I rebuilt the whole system except the MC. Couldn't get the thing off in my garage. I drove the car to the shop with no brakes about 2 or 3 miles away. Had 2 stops signs and two traffic lights to go through to get to the shop. Had no trouble getting there. That was before my engine rebuild, and I had not rebuilt the E-brake either. It was frozen open and didn't work at all at the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pump brakes real fast to build up pressure. Downshift to a lower gear. Shut off engine while in gear to slow down with engine compression (won't work on fluid-coupling transmissions). Honk the horn. Use the (marginally effective) hand brake. Scuff tires against curb. Pray.

A fluid coupling trans with an M-5/M-6 will compression stop in 2nd and 4th gears down to about 5 MPH .

A fluid coupling trans with a 3-speed stick will do so as well. However, if it has an OD on it it will only comression stop while the OD is active and in OD.

I know this due to a MC failure about 2 years back on hills here in San Francisco.

James

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Be thankfull no one was in the way. Happen to me just recently in my van, started slowing down for a yellow light, when the brake pedal went to the floor. I proceeded thru the intersection. Broke a front steel line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, maybe your e-brake won't stop you and maybe it will, but it will slow you down, and no matter what, yanking on that e-brake handle should still be one of the first things that enters your mind and should do if you loose your brakes......that and cut your ignition...

i dont know about you guys but my ebrake is as tight as i can get it and im lucky to keep it still on a slight incline. there is no way it would stop the car.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

kinda like the questions Jed and Jethro had to answer to get their OTR license..what do you do if your emergency brake fails?..Jethro said he was going to wake up Jed. For what reason would you wake up Jed...Jethro says, "he ain't never seen a wreck like the one we gonna have."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Terms of Use