www.justbrakes.com
February 2007 E-mail Newsletter

Imagine you and your family have loaded down the car with luggage and snacks are headed out of town for a quick spring trip to the nearest favorite vacation destination. You safely get on the highway, and have just crested that BIG hill right outside of town. Your car gains speed going down the hill, you apply the brakes, but wait a minute… nothing happens! The pedal goes all the way to the floor and your car is gaining speed! You are in a state of panic. What do you do?
  1. Most importantly try and remain calm. Panic can only make a bad situation worse.
  2. Take you foot off the gas and turn off cruise control.
  3. Pump your brakes. Even if you have an ABS system pump your brakes and keep pumping, you may be able to build up enough pressure in the brake system to slow down or even stop.
  4. Shift in to low gear. If you have an automatic transmission, this is usually labeled as “1” on the gearshift. If you have a manual transmission, shift into the lowest gear possible at you current speed, and try to downshift once again when you have slowed down a bit.
  5. Gently use the Emergency Brake. Apply slow, steady and even pressure to the parking/emergency brake. If you apply too much force too quickly, you may loose control of your vehicle.
  6. Keep you eyes on the road. Pay attention to what is in front of you and be on the lookout for safe places to try and stop or pull off the road.
  7. Warn other drivers and pedestrians. Turn on you hazard lights and honk your horn to let others know that there is a problem and that they should proceed with caution and keep close attention to what your automobile is doing.
  8. Slow the vehicle however you can.
    1. Use friction to slowdown – driving through gravel and dirt will slow you down considerably. But be careful as sudden terrain changes may cause you to loose control of your vehicle.
    2. Use terrain to your advantage – look for small inclines and hills to go up, also you can utilize runaway truck ramps incase of a brake failure emergency. Remember too though, gravity will also cause the vehicle to roll back down the hill or ramp, so be prepared to do some reverse driving.
  9. Look for a safe spot to pull over (or to crash). Scan the road ahead for a safe area to pull off the road once you come to a complete stop. If you are unable to bring the car to a complete stop, look for open spaces that you can coast across without hitting anything.
Tips:

Several "brake failure" cases are brought about by an object getting stuck under the brake pedal, such as a toy or a soda bottle. Avoid this situation by keeping your car clean and free of debris, especially the area around the driver’s seat.
  • Brake failure is dangerous anyway, but it can be even worse if you’re driving aggressively or negligently. Always avoid "tailgating" vehicles in front of you, proceed with caution in bad weather conditions, and mind the speed limit.
  • Do not shift an automatic transmission into park when moving. The parking pawl that binds the transmission will not be able to support a moving car.
  • Try steering your car so it goes uphill, as gravity will slow your vehicle down. Make sure to find flat ground uphill to avoid causing your car to go backwards due to gravity.
  • That red "brake light" comes on for a lot of reasons! It's not just to tell you that you're parking brake is engaged. Check every time you start the car that it flashes, to make sure it's working. Never use hand brakes to slow down the car when you are going at speeds faster than 40 MPH, this will make you lose control of your vehicle.
Warnings:

  • Do not shut the engine off during a brake failure, as the majority of power steering systems are hydraulically driven and regulated by engine vacuum. If you do panic and shut the engine off, hydraulic systems typically give you three more power assisted pumps. Turn the key to the second position (accessories) so the steering wheel doesn't lock.
  • Once you manage to stop the vehicle, do not attempt to drive it again until you are sure the problem is fixed.
You can avoid most instances of brake failure by regularly checking your brake fluid and changing it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Just Brakes also recommends that you have your entire brake system inspected once a year (20,000 miles) or if you notice any change in the performance of your brakes. Don’t put off making necessary repairs or performing routine maintenance.
Go!
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