Brake Fail

[H]

Someone crashed his car into a building in an attempt to turn onto an uphill street after finding his brakes inoperative; this makes about ½-dozen times something similar has happened in the past few years. I've had brakes fail, myself (different vehicles but the master cylinder gave out both times). However, only the first time resulted in a fender bender because I was already at the parking spot, on a downhill, when it happened.
The second time I was also on a downhill but on a road in the back woods of nowhere. I quickly held out the emergency brake handle (so it wouldn't lock up) while pushing hard on the emergency brake pedal. Of course, from then on I drove rather slowly until I got somewhere to be serviced -- coming to complete stops by putting the gearshift in Neutral while employing the emergency brake in said manner; much better than using a building, tree or such...

[BLAZE]

I had my fair share of that scary situation. once in my Ford 9000 tri-axle dump truck and once in my Mack Roll-off. The roll-off was due to
break fade. It happens folks! I had to lay on the horn while I rolled right through a red light. I was---> Not for me, for the other people
But no harm done thank god! That's very scary when your rolling 70,000+ pounds down a long hill and your smacking the floor with the
break pedal and ya got nothing. Yes truckers.. I was down shifting, as fast as I could.

The tri-axle was due to a blown out rear break chamber. in other words, I had no air to stop with. I was using the 11 speed trans as my break
system until (Like you said H) I got somewhere to be serviced. That one was also fine, No casualties.

Its amazing.. We take them for granted (Breaks). We just push that middle pedal (or stop peddle thingie for the ladys) without thinking about
how un-believably important it is or what we will do in the event of it not working. But some of us remember huh H?

Dwayne ...... Always keeping my eye out for a little thing I like to call "A way out!"

Oh yeah 2nd lieutenants DROP AND GIVE ME TWENTY!!

[Fozzer]

Give us a BREAK, Dwayne... ...!

...we are talking BRAKES here!... ...!

Paul....on my dinner break!...!

[BLAZE]

Good morning Paul! Or should I say good evening? Sheeez, what time is it exactly in your neck ah da woods Mr. Fozzer?
its 8:16 Am right now fer me.

P.S. What are we eating tonight?

ooops sorry!

[OldAirmail]

When I hit a sudden stop in traffic and have to jam on my breaks suddenly, I always look in the rear view mirrors to see if someone is about to hit me. If so I can usually take some action such as steering off to the side.

On one such day, ol' dumb ass is driving down the highway when the traffic up ahead comes to a complete stop. So I jam on the breaks and look in the mirror. Dwayne, or someone else, in a great big tri-axle dump truck is barreling down on me.

Brainless me is looking in that mirror and wondering "Why is all that smoke coming from his tires"?

As this isn't a ghost story I can tell you that Dwayne, or someone else, was able to stop that truck in time. Thanks Dwayne. Or someone else.

Morning Dwayne.

[BLAZE]

Good morning Rich

[Hagar]

I quickly held out the emergency brake handle (so it wouldn't lock up) while pushing hard on the emergency brake pedal. Of course, from then on I drove rather slowly until I got somewhere to be serviced -- coming to complete stops by putting the gearshift in Neutral while employing the emergency brake in said manner; much better than using a building, tree or such...

H. What type of vehicle was this? Where are these emergency brake handle & emergency brake pedal of which you speak?

[dave3cu]

Doug,

Many cars and pickups, in the US anyway, employ an emergency/parking brake pedal located under dash next to the left (driver side) knee wall. When depressed it locks in place. The handle (pull) releases the brake, unless you accidently pull the hood (bonnet) release which is located in the same general area. .......

Dave

[Hagar]

Doug,

Many cars and pickups, in the US anyway, employ an emergency/parking brake pedal located under dash next to the left (driver side) knee wall. When depressed it locks in place. The handle (pull) releases the brake, unless you accidently pull the hood (bonnet) release which is located in the same general area. .......

Dave

Ah, thanks Dave. I've driven hire cars in the US but not experienced that before. An emergency braking system is not fitted to British vehicles to the best of my knowledge.

[H]

Many cars and pickups, in the US anyway, employ an emergency/parking brake pedal located under dash next to the left (driver side) knee wall. When depressed it locks in place. The handle (pull) releases the brake, unless you accidently pull the hood (bonnet) release which is located in the same general area.

Ah, thanks Dave. I've driven hire cars in the US but not experienced that before. An emergency braking system is not fitted to British vehicles to the best of my knowledge.

Since much of this country -- at least that bordering the oceans -- has steep inclines, it was beneficial to have a parking brake rather than chock the tires; early vehicles were standard shift and there was too much potential for the gearshift to get bumped. Now this brake system, mechanically cabled to the wheel brakes, is as often called an emergency brake and some, if not most, states require it operational for vehicle inspections.

[Hagar]

Since much of this country -- at least that bordering the oceans -- has steep inclines, it was beneficial to have a parking brake rather than chock the tires; early vehicles were standard shift and there was too much potential for the gearshift to get bumped. Now this brake system, mechanically cabled to the wheel brakes, is as often called an emergency brake and some, if not most, states require it operational for vehicle inspections.

8)

So, is this emergency brake separate from the parking/hand brake? Parking brakes are fitted to all British vehicles.

[H]

So, is this emergency brake separate from the parking/hand brake? Parking brakes are fitted to all British vehicles.

Surely we're speaking of the very same thing since all of your imports I've seen have them.

[Fozzer]

I'm still confused.... .....

Does that mean that American vehicles do not have a hand-operated "Parking Brake" (similar to the Parking Brake on aircraft)?
..and only rely on either chocking the wheels, or placing the vehicle into gear (low gear) when stationary?

In addition to the foot brake pedal, all British vehicles have a hand-operated Parking Brake, with a trigger latch, (or twist) to lock it firmly into place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_brake

Paul....taking a short break on the subject of brakes... ...!

...I have an idea that the British driving test recommends applying the parking brake if the vehicle is to be stopped for a short period...traffic lights, traffic queue, etc,....

[Hagar]

So, is this emergency brake separate from the parking/hand brake? Parking brakes are fitted to all British vehicles.

Surely we're speaking of the very same thing since all of your imports I've seen have them.

8)

OK. It's just that I'm not familiar with the term 'emergency brake'. Like Fozzer I'm still confused.

[Bass]

Parking brake!

Here's a little story.

I once had a Volvo with very dark windows.
I also had a Rottweiler, who had the habbit to jump over on the front seats.
My woman parked the Volvo at the store, went out, turned to the cars rear window and said:
"Now you stay there".
At the same time a man came by and said:
"Lady, dont you think its better to pull the parking brake?!"