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4 ways to manage when the brake fails: How to brake for your life?
An accident is unexpected and can happen at any time. Regardless of how careful we are, having to share the road with others will increase the chance of getting involved in a road accident.
Brake failure is one of the accidents that can be fatal to the driver and all passengers. However, if you know how to manage such a situation, avoiding deadly dangers will no longer be difficult.
Today PTT Lubricants will help you take a look at 7 causes and 4 ways to manage if the car brake fails so that you can be ready when it happens. Let's see what you should do!
The causes of a failed brake
1. Deteriorated brake fluid
Deteriorated brake fluid may also cause the rubber seals in the braking system, such as the brake master cylinder and brake pistons, to deteriorate as well. As they are responsible for preventing oil leaks, deterioration in these parts may result in the leaking of brake fluid as well. This can be easily checked by removing the wheels, disc brake and opening the dust-preventing rubber covering the pump cylinder body to see if there is a trace of brake fluid leaking. If yes, it is recommended to have the rubber balls replaced as soon as possible.
2. Leaking brake fluid hose or pipe
If stains or leaks of brake fluid are found coming from the hose, it means that the brake fluid is leaking.
3. Too low brake fluid pressure in the system
This is caused by the presence of air in the brake fluid system. It can happen if the air is not completely repelled from the system when changing the brake fluid, resulting in an inefficiency in transmitting the brake fluid pressure.
4. Too low brake fluid level
When the brake fluid level or the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir drops below the appropriate level, the brakes will not be able to work at their full potential. This can result in either the brakes not working properly or the brakes sinking deeper than normal. If such signs are found, it is important to check and refill brake fluid to the specified level for safety.
5. Moisture in the brake fluid
As brake fluid can absorb moisture from the atmosphere (Hygroscopic), its boiling point tends to gradually decrease over time. Regularly, the temperature of the brake fluid increases due to the fluid pressure generated in the braking system as we apply the brakes and from the friction between the brake pads and the disc brake. When moisture accumulates excessively in the brake fluid, some of it may evaporate, or a vapor lock can occur inside the oil flow pipe if the temperature of the brake fluid rises higher than its boiling point. Consequently, the piston will not work effectively, and the brakes may not be able to function, eventually leading to brake failure.
Therefore, it is recommended to change the brake fluid at every appropriate distance or period of time to prevent the brake fluid from accumulating too much water.
6. Broken brake fluid line
This can be checked easily by observing under the car to see if there is any oil leak or not. Also, every time before driving, try stepping on the brakes to see if they still work or not.
7. Brake pads
If the brake pads are burnt or worn out, there is also a chance that the car won't brake or the brakes will fail.
4 Ways to manage the brake failure
1. Stay calm
If you are nervous, shocked, or panic, it can lead to a serious accident. Therefore, the first thing you should do is to remain calm. This will help you assess the situation so that you can solve immediate problems as well as take control of the vehicle.
2. Release the accelerator.
When the brakes fail, release the accelerator and shift into a lower gear to reduce the speed of the vehicle. It is recommended to use the Engine Brake system for cars with regular transmission. For manual transmission vehicles, step on the clutch and slowly lower the gear position. For automatic transmission cars, change gears slowly in descending order. DO NOT suddenly shift gears to reduce speed as it may damage the engine.
3. Keep to the left as quickly as possible
After reducing the speed to the point where you can control the car, try to change to the left lane as quickly as possible. It is important to get the car to the side of the road to avoid blocking other people's paths. Don’t forget to also turn on the emergency lights and honk to warn other cars.
4. Use the handbrake to help stop the car
When the brakes fail, using the handbrake is another way to slow the car down as the handbrake will reduce the speed of the wheels. However, DO NOT pull the handbrake too fast; instead, pulling it slowly all the way to the end will effectively assist in slowing down the car.
It is highly important to always check the brake system as it can save our lives from serious accidents. In case you need to be more sure, PTT Lubricants recommends going to any of our FIT Auto branches to have your brake system inspected for safety in driving on every route. With care from PTT Lubricants💙
Source :
https://www.tlt.co.th/news-detail/V1qPMO3LxY