Handling Failure When In Desperate Need for Brake Repair

With a modern vehicle, you've definitely hit a spot of bad luck to run into complete braking system failure. This is quite rare, yet, it does happen. Sometimes it comes about due to completely ignoring scheduled and important maintenance. Other times, it happens because of manufacture defects, which is why you need to pay close attention to recall notices put out by the company. Even a loss of fluid, however, can lead to failure. When failure occurs, you need to know how to respond safely. If you can get through an incident safely, you can take the car in for professional brake repair.

Hydroplaning

Even if you have a braking system in top shape, you can run into trouble when driving on wet surfaces. Unless you have tires specifically designed for wet conditions, you are susceptible to hydroplaning when driving through a puddle. Water gets up into the braking system and renders it dysfunctional temporarily. Depending on your situation, this can lead to trouble in a hurry. Many an accident every year can be blamed on this situation. Try to keep your path as straight as possible in this situation. Jerking the steering wheel all over is going to cause you to lose control. Let your momentum burn out naturally until you can regain full control of the braking system. This will usually not call for subsequent brake repair.

Stick Shift

If you drive a car with a manual transmission, you have an option available to you when your experience braking system failure. As you stay calm and avoid wildly shaking your car all over the place, you can begin methodically downshifting your vehicle into lower gears. This isn't the best thing for your transmission, but if done correctly, it can bring your car to a stop much more quickly than you could otherwise do. Once you reach a speed under 30 miles per hour, you can apply the emergency braking system. In the very worst emergency situation (such as you are about to careen off a cliff or into a group of pedestrians), you can throw the car into reverse. This is probably going to be the ruination of your vehicle, however, so save this as your very last resort. Simple brake repair will be the last of your worries.

Get Off The Road

If you're driving on a road without substantial medians and a safe area by the side, you'll not have this option. Otherwise, make an attempt to get off the road and into the grass. This will slow your car much more quickly and put you out of the way of traffic. If you don't feel comfortable with your level of control, however, avoid any roadsides that lead to a steep ditch or other hazards that could be worse than what you're dealing with on the highway.