How to Deal with Brake Failure in a Car?
2 Answers
Solutions for car brake failure are as follows: 1. Use the handbrake to stop the car, but operate it properly and avoid pulling it abruptly; 2. For manual transmission vehicles, forced deceleration can also be employed to stop the car. First, appropriately lower the gear, release the accelerator, and use the engine cylinder compression to bring the car to a halt. Additional relevant information is as follows: 1. If the first two methods don't work, honk loudly while allowing vehicles or pedestrians ahead to take evasive action in time, especially on highways where it's essential to use the emergency lane. Prioritize personal safety and avoid secondary accidents. 2. If using the handbrake, pull it up slowly, avoiding a sudden full pull to prevent the car from rolling over at high speed. Once the speed drops below 40, the handbrake can be fully engaged. The same applies to electronic handbrakes—wait until the speed decreases sufficiently before activating them.
As a veteran truck driver with over 20 years of experience, I want to say that panic is the worst enemy when facing brake failure. First, turn on the hazard warning lights to alert vehicles behind you, then try pumping the brake pedal rapidly three to five times—sometimes air trapped in the brake lines can be purged this way. Whether you're driving a manual or automatic transmission, immediately downshift to use engine braking. For manual transmissions, drop directly from 5th gear to 3rd gear; for automatics, shift into L or S mode. Most importantly, never yank the parking brake all at once—apply it gently in stages, releasing intermittently to avoid rear-wheel lockup and skidding. Meanwhile, scan for escape routes like emergency buffer zones, roadside gravel piles, or uphill sections. The key is proper maintenance: I change my brake fluid every 30,000 km without fail, and during every service, I have mechanics check brake pad thickness with a flashlight.
