Faulty brakes can lead to accidents on the road. If your brakes die on you, here’s what you can do.
Don’t panic
Panicking while you’re behind the wheel will only make things worse. Stay on an even keel. Take your foot off the gas and look for a convenient place where you could pull over, the Auto Blog says.
Regular brakes?
One of the first things you need to know before you buy a car is whether you have anti-lock brakes or regular brakes. If you have regular brakes, you’ll want to downshift to a lower gear. Pump the brake pedal as fast and hard as you can. This will build brake fluid pressure to get the brakes to work. If that doesn’t work, apply the parking brake. Be prepared, though. This will cause the car to skid.
Look for guard rails
If the parking brake doesn’t work, drive in a direction where there are few obstacles. Do this until the car finally stops. If you’re driving along the highway, be on the lookout for a guard rail or divider. Scrap the car against this. The resulting friction should hopefully be enough to slow the car down. Don’t slam into the rail, though. Try to rub against it with the car as gently as you can.
Anti-lock brakes?
If you have anti-lock brakes, be sure to practice sudden stops. Remember to press the pedal all the way down to the floor. That should get the ABS to work.
Take preventive measures.
It’s best to take your car to the shop for brake repair in Beltline East of Preston, TX as soon as you see any signs of problems. Also, maintenance checks and inspections can easily prevent your brakes from going bad. Timely brake repair in Beltline East of Preston, TX will keep you from getting into major problems down the road.