Urgent Brake Repair Needs

Brake repair needs are always important as these devices are what makes a rapidly moving vehicle stop. If a motorist didn’t have the ability to come to a stop, any number of crashes could occur. It is for that reason that brakes should always be well maintained and kept in tip top shape. Sometimes urgent needs occur or even downright emergencies. Here are some things to think about and some helpful hints.

- A car won’t stop when the brakes are pushed: This is definitely an emergency. When a motorist pushes down on the pedal, he or she just assumes that the brake lights will go on and the vehicle will stop. If they don’t, this is indeed a catastrophe. The first thing a driver should try is the emergency braking system. Pulling the lever should do the trick, unless it isn’t working either. If the lines have been cut by a criminal, chances are none of the systems will be able to halt the car.

One trick a driver can try is to pump the pedal to see if they can get enough pressure to force the piston to push enough fluid in order to halt the vehicle. If this doesn’t work, downshifting will cause an engine to slow down. An automatic can be brought into lower gears, as can one with a standard shift and clutch. Driving onto bumpy terrain off the side of the road will also cause the vehicle to slow down. Running into bushes might be a good idea, too, if there are some off the road. Just try to get the car off the road safely and away from other vehicles. And try not to panic.

- Locked up braking system: If a car begins to careen out of control on a wet or slick surface, a driver may stamp on their brake pedal. Unfortunately, this may make the situation worse as the mechanism will likely lock up and not work at all. This was a common occurrence in snowy or ice climates until anti-lock devices came into vogue. If an auto doesn’t have the anti-lock capability, they should just slowly pump their pedals in regular intervals instead of using one hard punch. The slow pumping should get the car to stop.

- Failure when towing a boat or trailer: A towing task can put more pressure on a vehicle’s braking system than it can take. Towing a boat or trailer requires a bit more skill and knowledge than many people realize. For one thing, a driver should allow a much greater time and distance to stop the car when a heavy item is in tow.

Other concerns include safety chains that must be fastened, the ball and pin mount in the hitching device must be secure, as well as the coupling device. Last but not least, the electrical connection to the rear signals should be wired correctly. Don’t forget to distribute all weight evenly in the boat or trailer, too. If the halting system fails while towing a heavy load, a driver should find his or her way off the street, preferably onto a runaway truck pathway, empty field or vacant lot.