What to Do When the Brakes Lock Up Immediately?
2 Answers
When pressing the brake pedal, you should use intermittent braking to gradually slow down the vehicle. The signal lights will flash multiple times with the brake pedal, alerting the vehicles behind. For slowing down or stopping within a short distance, you can press the brake pedal faster and with a longer stroke. However, braking too sharply may cause discomfort, so try to avoid excessive braking force. After rain, the road surface becomes slippery. Be sure to reduce your driving speed and press the brake pedal gently to prevent accidents.
I've been driving for two years, and recently the brakes lock up with just a slight touch, making my heart skip a beat—especially on slippery rainy roads where I almost rear-ended the car in front of me. It was really terrifying. I asked a friend with extensive car repair experience, and he said the issue might be a stuck brake caliper failing to retract or an ABS sensor sending faulty data, causing the system to overreact and slam the brakes too hard. I tried checking it myself: I looked to see if the brake fluid level was in the middle of the reservoir under the hood (if it's too full or too low, it needs adjusting) and used a tire pressure gauge to ensure all four tires had even pressure (a big difference can affect balance). But honestly, DIY is only suitable for those with some basic knowledge. After struggling with no results, I immediately went to the 4S shop for a full diagnosis—safety comes first, and you can't gamble with this. If something went wrong halfway, it'd be a disaster.
