What Causes Brake Failure When Driving Through Water?
1 Answers
Braking is achieved through intense friction between the brake pads and brake drums. When wheels are submerged in water, a thin layer of water forms between the brake pads and drums, acting like a lubricant that makes the surfaces slippery and reduces friction, making it difficult to control the vehicle's stopping. Countermeasures for brake failure while driving: 1. Friction deceleration: Use rigid parts of the vehicle such as the bumper or body to rub or collide with natural roadside obstacles (rocks, large trees, or slopes) to force the vehicle to stop and minimize accident damage. 2. Downshifting: When experiencing brake failure while going uphill, promptly downshift to medium or low gear to maintain sufficient power to reach the top. If stopping on a slope is necessary, keep the vehicle in low gear, engage the parking brake, and have passengers secure the wheels with stones or wooden blocks. If the vehicle starts sliding backward, turn the rear toward the hillside or a safe direction, and turn on the headlights and emergency flashers to alert other drivers.