# My car brakes failed today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 5, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166 "2010-10-05T19:41:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/1 "2010-10-05T19:41:50Z")
I was driving to work when the light changed to yellow. I decided to stop (a bit suddenly) and my foot went to the floor and the car went through the intersection. Luckily, no one was in front of me when it happened. I limped to a parking lot and called AAA; the car is now in the shop. I just remember thinking, “I have no brakes! Pull over!” ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/2 "2010-10-05T19:46:19Z")
My first thought…morbid as it may seem - was “Sweet! That actually happened!”. But only because I knew you were ok, since you posted your story. I always kinda thought that was one of those movie scenarios, or get-out-of-a-ticket stories. But I guess if the rubber brake hose totally blew apart…then you would completely lose control. So, when you know what caused it - let us know. I’ll be sure to have that particular component checked on my car. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/3 "2010-10-05T20:42:32Z")
Are you sure that someone didn’t cut the break line to do you in? It happens. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/4 "2010-10-05T20:50:17Z")
Let that be a lesson to you _touches side of nose_ ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/5 "2010-10-05T21:19:07Z")
> [@echo6160](#): > > But I guess if the rubber brake hose totally blew apart…then you would completely lose control. You don’t really even need a catastrophic failure like that. A slow leak will deplete the master cylinder of fluid until at some point you pump air into the lines instead of brake fluid resulting in much excitement. In my experience though there is a switch inside the master cylinder that is triggered by a float inside the reservoir. When the switch is tripped the brake light comes on. But I suppose stuff can get gummed up and the switch malfunctions. No brake light OP? Glad you’re ok. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/6 "2010-10-05T21:43:58Z")
Glad you’re okay. That had to be pretty scary. I don’t even want to talk about my current car problems (including brakes) and what it’s all going to cost me. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/7 "2010-10-05T22:03:51Z")
I lost all braking power on my first car, a 1950 Plymouth. I was 14 and it scared me senseless. It happened just as I turned into the driveway of my parent’s brand new house; I smacked the garage door and cracked it from bottom to top. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/8 "2010-10-05T23:10:38Z")
No brake light – it didn’t even go on after the failure. I had to creep about a mile for a place to pull over and it didn’t light until then. The guy driving the tow said it’s because there was still fluid at the right level in the master cylinder. I wasn’t scared, just surprised. Luckily, I was in a spot where I could manage. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/9 "2010-10-05T23:17:43Z")
Your first thought should have been to pump the brakes. However, in this case, that would not have worked either. It sounds like the valve in your master cylinder crapped out and “bypassed.” Ever use an old bike pump where you pump and nothing happens? Same thing here only with liquid as the fluid. Of course you could also have had a failure of the anti-lock brake system. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/10 "2010-10-05T23:54:35Z")
What? You’re alive! Well… well great… that’s great… I’m glad you’re OK. …grumble… Someday **RealityChuck** … some day… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/11 "2010-10-06T01:51:31Z")
I tried pumping, but it did no good. I could slow things if I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor, though. That, and driving slowly, got me to a place I could pull in. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/12 "2010-10-06T01:58:36Z")
Glad you’re fine. Now if you just send me $500, you’ll stay just fine, if you catch my drift. Be a shame if your brakes “failed” again. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/13 "2010-10-06T02:05:58Z")
My first car (28 years ago) was a dodgy old Volkswagen Beetle (circa 1958), and I encountered the exact scenario that **RealityChuck** faced. The only things that saved us (I had a baby and a toddler in the car with me) were a) It was about 10am and therefore just _after_ the early rush-hour on the roads b) The light ahead was red, but changed to green on our approach and there was no traffic queue waiting. Otherwise, I’m sure we would have all been very badly injured. Scared the living shit outta me but. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/14 "2010-10-06T06:28:40Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I tried pumping, but it did no good. I could slow things if I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor, though. That, and driving slowly, got me to a place I could pull in. Did you pump the brakes multiple times to regain some of it? All cars have dual lines you you should retain at least some of the braking action. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/15 "2010-10-06T07:23:32Z")
I had this happen once – just used the parking brake when I needed to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/16 "2010-10-06T08:21:10Z")
What make and model? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/17 "2010-10-06T11:30:06Z")
Them’s the breaks… …and at least you spelled “brakes” correctly, so bonus points! ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/18 "2010-10-06T12:16:04Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Are you sure that someone didn’t cut the break line to do you in? It happens. Pretty sure that only happens in the movies. Backing up/slowly pulling out of a driveway requires braking, and you would notice its absence before reaching any sort of dangerous speed. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/19 "2010-10-06T14:06:33Z")
I don’t understand how cars work, but shouldn’t something important like brakes have some redundancy? Would that be unnecessarily expensive/complex? I wouldn’t expect full duplication, but it would be nice to have 50% (even 25%) of normal stopping power in a typical mechanical failure. (No, I don’t think the parking brake is adequate redundancy.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166/20 "2010-10-06T14:25:08Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > > [@Wilbo523](#): > > > > Are you sure that someone didn’t cut the break line to do you in? It happens. > > Pretty sure that only happens in the movies. > > Backing up/slowly pulling out of a driveway requires braking, and you would notice its absence before reaching any sort of dangerous speed. It could probably be done if you cut the line enough to weaken it (but not cut through). Braking creates a lot of pressure, so a weakened line could burst. Of course, it’s not a very good way of accomplishing your goal – there’s no way of being sure when the brakes would fail. Hitchcock did it right in **Family Plot** – the brake line was weakened when the car was at the top of a mountain and the first time they hit the brakes, it burst. There was some braking if you pushed the pedal to the floor, enough to stop the car if it was going slowly. The car is a 1993 Saturn. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-brakes-failed-today/556166.md?page=2)