Cars brakes are failed then what we do?
Discussion
That would surely depend on many variables!
Manual or auto?
Electric handbrake or manual?
Icy or not?
How fast are you travelling?
How much room have you got?
Etc etc
But I would suggest that if you have no brakes and are 'out of control' as well , you should brace for impact!
Manual or auto?
Electric handbrake or manual?
Icy or not?
How fast are you travelling?
How much room have you got?
Etc etc
But I would suggest that if you have no brakes and are 'out of control' as well , you should brace for impact!
Edited by Shuvi McTupya on Monday 22 May 08:55
leoparker990 said:
If your car is out of control and brakes have failed then in this scenario what would be the best thing to do ?
Posting on PH for suggestions wouldn't be high on my list, I don't think.Are you still speeding along, out of control, or have you managed to stop yet - one way or another?
Anybody else remember this story...?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4796264.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/50948...
Cars are at their most unstable when changing speed and changing direction. First thing, dump it in 3rd gear and either steer or accelerate the car so it's in a straight line. If you're going around a corner, dump it in 3rd before you get to the corner; if you're halfway round then you're screwed and you should learn to drive in the replacement vehicle.
Once in a straight line, foot off the accelerator, start notching up the handbrake a notch at a time, that will scrub enough speed off to decelerate to a manageable speed. Don't wrench on the handbrake if the car is changing direction, you'll spin out.
At the earliest opportunity, drop in to second and then first, use engine braking to slow to below 30 then slowly apply handbrake till the car stops.
The crucial point is don't change gear or apply handbrake when the car is going around a corner or changing direction. You'll find it easier to maintain control slowing in a straight line.
If however it is impractical to maintain a straight line, eg on a roundabout then just steer around in a circle, losing speed through natural deceleration alone.
As for the dumb cluck who was on the motorway and said switching the engine off would affect the power steering or whatever, that's bull. It's just harder to steer. Again slow down in a straight line, no need to steer.
Having only ever driven one auto in my life (and hating that with a passion) I can't advise what to do in an automatic car. I guess use the selector to select third? I have no idea.
Once in a straight line, foot off the accelerator, start notching up the handbrake a notch at a time, that will scrub enough speed off to decelerate to a manageable speed. Don't wrench on the handbrake if the car is changing direction, you'll spin out.
At the earliest opportunity, drop in to second and then first, use engine braking to slow to below 30 then slowly apply handbrake till the car stops.
The crucial point is don't change gear or apply handbrake when the car is going around a corner or changing direction. You'll find it easier to maintain control slowing in a straight line.
If however it is impractical to maintain a straight line, eg on a roundabout then just steer around in a circle, losing speed through natural deceleration alone.
As for the dumb cluck who was on the motorway and said switching the engine off would affect the power steering or whatever, that's bull. It's just harder to steer. Again slow down in a straight line, no need to steer.
Having only ever driven one auto in my life (and hating that with a passion) I can't advise what to do in an automatic car. I guess use the selector to select third? I have no idea.
oldcynic said:
Strudul said:
Am I seriously the only one who can't downshift into first unless I'm doing <4mph??
Perhaps you should learn to double-declutch? I advise learning to drive a mini with no synchromesh - you'll soon get the hang of it.Strudul said:
Am I seriously the only one who can't downshift into first unless I'm doing <4mph??
My car tends to object when the downshift will place it near the rev limiter. So in 1st gear, that's about 30. However, I can force it through the grating (I successfully downshifted from 35 and used the clutch to avoid over-revving), so if I needed to I'd kill my engine rather than myself. Naturally, I'd be using my clutch to control the braking force.Wiccan of Darkness said:
As for the dumb cluck who was on the motorway and said switching the engine off would affect the power steering or whatever, that's bull. It's just harder to steer.
That's bull too though. Some cars are really hard to steer without power assistance. My old BMW has a steering box instead of rack and pinion and that is very heavy. Also some people are smaller and less strong than others, they might have no chance of maintaining control of the car without power steering. A lot of cars have electric steering now and I don't know what happens there when you turn the engine off, presumably you still have assistance. Anyway killing the engine you also lose power assisted brakes- this is a very bad thing even if you think your brakes have failed- one circuit will be working and it will help you stop the car.
In fact the only reason I can think of for turning off the engine would be for marginally better engine braking but I'd much rather have the engine running.
HustleRussell said:
That's bull too though. Some cars are really hard to steer without power assistance. My old BMW has a steering box instead of rack and pinion and that is very heavy. Also some people are smaller and less strong than others, they might have no chance of maintaining control of the car without power steering. A lot of cars have electric steering now and I don't know what happens there when you turn the engine off, presumably you still have assistance.
Anyway killing the engine you also lose power assisted brakes- this is a very bad thing even if you think your brakes have failed- one circuit will be working and it will help you stop the car.
In fact the only reason I can think of for turning off the engine would be for marginally better engine braking but I'd much rather have the engine running.
<shrug> Fine. So at least stick it in neutral...Anyway killing the engine you also lose power assisted brakes- this is a very bad thing even if you think your brakes have failed- one circuit will be working and it will help you stop the car.
In fact the only reason I can think of for turning off the engine would be for marginally better engine braking but I'd much rather have the engine running.
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