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The stop function of the car is a very important to the car for its safety and that of the passengers. Whether your vehicle is equipped with disc or drum brakes, you expect them to work when you hit the brake pedal.

Causes of Brake Failure

Functioning brakes stop a vehicle by using friction. In this way, they are unlike the engine, which must always be kept lubricated to run smoothly. In front brakes, friction stops the brake callipers and pads. In rear brakes, friction hits the brake drums and shoes.

1. Grease or oil on brakes causes brake failure, because it interferes with friction. If oil leaks, it may indicate that an oil seal has failed.
2. When the brakes overheat to a great degree, the metal in the brake rotors or drums develops hard spots. These are known as hot spots. The hot spots resist the friction from the brake shoes and pads. Because the shoes or pads have nothing they can grasp, there's no friction. Consequently, braking power is lost.
3. Brakes that squeal indicate that the brake pads are wearing thin. By the time the brakes begin making a grinding sound, they've worn down past the pads to the rotors, which will cost more than pads to replace.

Signs of Brake Failure

Inspect brake pads and shoes annually and replace them if they are worn. Change the brake fluid every 48,000 miles, every four years, or during regular brake servicing.

1. The anti-lock brake system light comes on.
2. When accelerating, you feel a lot of drag.
3. The brake pedal pulses when you brake.
4. You hear clicking, grinding, or squeaking when you apply the brake.
5. The car grabs, or pulls to one side

Danger Caused by a bad break
If the brake system is failing, the vehicle may pull to one side. This situation can cause accidents that range from fender-benders to serious collisions. You might also feel pulling if there's been a leak of brake fluid, if the brakes aren't adjusted properly or if the brake has locked.

The most apparent danger in brake failure is the possibility of injury or death. As a result, it is important to wear a seat belt and to be certain that guidelines for infant and child car seats are met to ensure safety. Don't forget to be alert to and aware of pedestrians on or near the roadway.

Another concern is property damage. This includes the vehicle itself but also trees, power lines, highway signs and telephone poles. Damage to private or public property will need to be compensated, which can affect your auto insurance premium.

How to Handle Brake Failure

Complete brake failure in modern vehicles is rare, but it can happen. This can be the result of a defective brake system from the manufacturer, so pay attention to recall notices. Total brake failure could also occur if all the brake fluid has leaked out. Fortunately, most of us would notice either a leak or a sound before that happened.

One common temporary brake failure occurs when the vehicle hydroplanes. This happens when the brakes are wet, usually after driving through a deep puddle. If you experience this, remove your foot from the accelerator. Hold the steering wheel straight. Do not swerve or jerk the vehicle. This way, the vehicle will slow down and you can regain control of the car

Remain Calm - Perhaps the most important action a driver can take when the brakes fail is to remain calm. Panicking doesn't help.

Lift Foot off accelerator - the first action step is to lift the foot from the accelerator. Notice the flow of traffic and any obstacles or pedestrians, and look for a place to pull over safely.

Down shift to a lower gear - This is called engine-braking. Whether your vehicle is an automatic or a standard. As the vehicle slows down, keep shifting to lower gears.

Use the Parking brake - Once the vehicle is moving at 30 mph or less, you can try engaging the parking brake. Because it is a separate system from the regular brakes, it should still work.

Put car in reverse - this should only be done in last resort as it could destroy the car, so never use it as a first response.

Try to maneuver the car off the road if possible as you come to a complete stop. Turn your hazards on and call or wait for help.

Source: https://autofactorng..com.ng/2016/04/how-to-handle-brake-failure-and-its.html

Very educative

Nice post... thanks

Extremely informative...this will save many. FP material.

Great Post!

oga lalasticlala let's help educate more people.

Down shift to a lower gear - This is called engine-braking. Whether your vehicle is an automatic or a standard. As the vehicle slows down, keep shifting to lower gears.

How do I achieve this with a car with automatic gear that it's just conditioned to move forward when gear Is on D?

In an automatic gear vehicle, can't the gear be moved to Park position to stop it. My car was rear ended by an SUV who lost his brakes and that was my argument. So I'll like to know if it's okay in such situation to engage the gear in Park

By trying to put a car in motion in P is a death sentence to your Automatic Transmission.

There is a 'Pin' inside your transmission, positioned near the valve body, which engages your different driving selections ( This is coupled to your Inhibitor/gear selector switch). It would break and the resultant broken pieces have a high probability of being sucked in from the valve body.
( note that the oil filter lies at the bottom and the pin or even the valve switches lie a little above it)
So, your transmission would sooner or later fail.
Also, note that with your forced shifting, you are exerting unnecessary pressure on the Solenoids of the valve body. Specially the BIG ONE called SLT solenoid or TCC solenoid or Force motor Solenoid.

With shifting to N neutral position, you don't do much harm except for the little extra load on your brakes when you intend to stop your vehicle.
Long term usage might harm the Torque Converter due to the inadvertent Engaging and Disengaging

femi9naija:
In an automatic gear vehicle, can't the gear be moved to Park position to stop it. My car was rear ended by an SUV who lost his brakes and that was my argument. So I'll like to know if it's okay in such situation to engage the gear in Park

AutofactorNG:
By trying to put a car in motion in P is a death sentence to your Automatic Transmission.

There is a 'Pin' inside your transmission, positioned near the valve body, which engages your different driving selections ( This is coupled to your Inhibitor/gear selector switch). It would break and the resultant broken pieces have a high probability of being sucked in from the valve body.
( note that the oil filter lies at the bottom and the pin or even the valve switches lie a little above it)
So, your transmission would sooner or later fail.
Also, note that with your forced shifting, you are exerting unnecessary pressure on the Solenoids of the valve body. Specially the BIG ONE called SLT solenoid or TCC solenoid or Force motor Solenoid.

With shifting to N neutral position, you don't do much harm except for the little extra load on your brakes when you intend to stop your vehicle.
Long term usage might harm the Torque Converter due to the inadvertent Engaging and Disengaging

He should have used that and destroy his own transmission instead of ending my lovely first car

Who do I call to move this thread to Front Page?
Lacasera! Sorry, Lalasticlala!

Mr Marpol Do the needful

Haryor3:
Mr Marpol Do the needful

The topic is under autos It's outside my jurisdiction.

Nice one. Thanks for the info.