How to stop a car without the help of brakes. What to do if the brakes fail at speed: possible causes and solutions

03.11.2019

There are situations on the road that are out of your control. For example, do you know what to do if the brakes fail? Few drivers can cope with this problem. It all ends in an accident - after all, this is a very serious nuisance.

Primary requirements

Not everything is as scary as it seems at first glance, because today they have already come up with a way to avoid a collision. First of all, in no case should you panic. You need to gather your will into a fist and gather your thoughts. It should be understood that there is always an alternative method of braking. Cars are different, so the way that suits one, for the other will be fatal. But we will consider absolutely all options for emergency braking.

In the event that you are a happy owner of a modern model, you should know that the braking system in such cars is dual-circuit. Therefore, if the brake pedal rests against the wall all the way, and no reaction occurs, do not be discouraged! Perhaps one side did not work, and the second one has not yet connected. You need to wait a bit without releasing the pedal. If after a few minutes the car still does not stop, try to release with a sharp movement and also press. Do this several times. Should work. Here the same thing happens as when the tire is inflated: at first the effect is zero, but as the pumping progresses, the air enters the tire with great pressure. So in your case - you just need to restore pressure in the hydraulic brake system. Six to seven strokes will be enough.

But what if the brakes fail completely? And there is a way out: the engine braking method will also help you. At the same time, keep in mind that at a speed of more than fifty kilometers, it is strictly forbidden to brake with a handbrake, otherwise your car may skid heavily. In principle, you can try this method, but then when you press the handbrake, use the "ratchet" button as well. Just be sure to drive the vehicle onto a level road.

With the engine, you slow down the car by successively shifting to lower gears. In order to reduce the idle time, release the clutch pedal quickly. At the moment when the engine speed starts to decrease, shift the gear down again. The speed will decrease along with the speed, make a full stop with the handbrake.

Dangerously safe way

If nothing works out for you with technical means, then what to do if the brakes fail completely? Many people think that emergency braking with a rear-end collision is the most effective solution. And the car should be only a truck.

Some advise to inspect the condition of the roadside and, if possible, it is better to move to neutral territory, where there is no other vehicle. Of course, if there is an empty glade. In winter, the best option, without risk to life, is to drive into a snowdrift.

In the event that the situation is out of the ordinary, so that there is no head-on collision, it is much preferable to crash into a tree or even turn your car over. This will save the lives of others. In such a situation that has arisen, one should first of all think about health and life, rather than about a car.

By the way, there is a unique way to slow down the car aerodynamically, that is, you open all the doors (of course, if the situation allows) and, thus, strong air resistance is created.

Another pretty good method: you can brake by friction. It can be cars standing at the curb or a curb, buildings, and so on. Remember that a car is just a pile of scrap metal compared to life. But it's all an unnecessary risk.

In such an unforeseen situation, there are more options on how to slow down if the brakes fail. You can take the advice of experienced and try to slow down with gas. To do this, you need to press the gas and engage reverse gear. Since the drive wheels will reverse rotation, the vehicle must stop immediately and may even. This method of braking is only effective if you have a sufficiently powerful engine.

If the engine is too weak to brake, try sequential shifting. First, press the clutch, shift the gearbox to a lower one, then immediately step on the gas. By increasing the speed, you can switch without a jerk, which is dangerous at speed. In the next step, simply release the clutch. So repeat three times.

If your car has a manual transmission, then completely turn off the ignition and do not depress the clutch. Of course, braking will be sharp and in the future it will affect the engine, but effective.

When you need to turn off the engine so that the ignition does not reach the stop, otherwise you will automatically turn off the steering system. If you don't feel sorry for your gearbox, just put it in park. There are "automatic machines" that switch to manual switching. If you have this function, use it and brake the engine.

The main causes of brake failure

In order to avoid questions: what to do if the brakes fail - you need to pay attention to the first signs of a malfunction in a timely manner:

the brake signal turns on;
the brake warning light comes on;
slow braking;
sticks the brake;
the pedal gives a lot of travel;
the front wheels brake at the same time;
at the same time, noise appears in them;
the rear wheels stop very weakly and unevenly;
after releasing the pedal, the brake is seized;
the parking brake is released.

If all these signs are present, it is better to immediately contact the service so that there are no emergencies.

In general, the braking system is a complex device that combines many components, so it is simply necessary to approach this issue with all responsibility.

The causes of brake failure can be very diverse. If liquid has leaked from the cylinders, then replace the defective parts, and wash and dry the pads thoroughly. You also need to check the design of the hydraulic drive. A brake malfunction may be due to the fact that seals may be damaged in the main cylinder, hoses in the hydraulic actuator, or air may simply have entered the system. This applies to when you have an inefficient shutdown.

If your engine is running and the car brakes on its own, you need to check for air leaks. Because of this, the seal may warp, and therefore, there will no longer be the necessary fixation and there will be no lubricating oil either. It may well be that the brake light switch is just turned off or the adjusting bolt is in a broken state.

Your vehicle may have a stuck vacuum valve body or clogged cylinder. Also, the cause of the malfunction may be swelling, jamming, lack of gaps, oiling and breakage of various parts. In fact, there can be any reason.

Key points

If you are moving on or mountainous, then braking with the help of the engine will be the most beneficial. When alternating, as well as with turns, it is very important to dampen speed and switch to low gears. In this way, the brake will not overheat and remain in normal working condition.

To avoid a collision with other vehicles, be sure to turn on the alarm, press the horn and flash all the time. This is necessary in order for others to notice you. Naturally, they will understand that something has happened to you and will behave extremely carefully. As for the passengers in the cabin, they must be fastened.

Self-braking through friction was mentioned above, so it should be added that the best way to brake is in close contact with the curb. Of course, tires will suffer, but you will stay alive.

Some drivers in difficult situations measure the distance in meters, but based on experience, this is wrong. In moments of crisis, it is necessary to measure it in seconds. And remember, so that there are no troubles on the road, inspect your own car in a timely manner.

The brake pedal goes down and your car continues to move. Instantaneous, chilling realization of what happened. This feeling is remembered with a shudder by many motorists of the older generation. At this moment, the main thing is not to lose self-control and maintain the ability to analyze and act.

Brake failure with proper car care is extremely rare. But after all, those factors that belong to the category of non-technical ones have not gone away. Pits and stones on the roads can damage the hydraulic drive tubes. What about defective parts or intruders? A modern car enthusiast must be ready for anything, including producing a car without brakes.

If the brake pedal suddenly rests on the mat, and there is no reaction, the first advice is not to stop pressing on it until it stops. The braking system of modern cars is double-circuit. Perhaps only one of them failed, and braking will be twice as bad, and the pedal will still “take”, but at the very floor. With zero effect, you should quickly release the pedal and press it again, doing this several times, without waiting for the result. On the fifth or sixth pitching, it is possible to restore pressure in the hydraulic drive system and still it will be possible to stop the car even at a high one.

The same should be done with the loss of brake fluid, when the car slows down, and the brake pedal slowly falls. The procedure for pressing it should be repeated until the car comes to a complete stop. Although the brake fluid flows out, the working cylinders continue to transfer forces to.

In the event of a complete failure of the service brake system, it remains possible to resort to the help of the parking brake and engine braking. If the speed exceeds 40-50 km / h, then when using the "handbrake" it is possible, caused by the blocking of the rear wheels. Therefore, to dose the force, simultaneously with the use of the handbrake, press the "ratchet" button. Due to the possibility of skidding, it is not possible to stop the machine with the parking brake on a curve. It is necessary to try to transfer it to a straight line before braking.

Engine braking is performed by sequentially shifting to lower gears, quickly releasing the clutch pedal, while reducing its idle time. On a downhill road, the general rule of engine braking is used: downhill gearing is the same as uphill gearing. The next “down” gear is switched on when the engine speed in the previous gear is reduced to 1000 - 2000 rpm. (accelerator released). The speed reduction occurs synchronously with the revolutions, and a complete stop is made by the "handbrake".

In the event that the brakes fail on a steep descent, there is another method tested by race car drivers - braking with the help of wheels or sides on curbs or other structures located along the road. The main thing is that the area to which you have to grind is, if possible, smooth, and the car does not turn around or roll over, catching on the protruding parts. The angle of approach to the surface should be as small as possible for the same reason, otherwise control over the situation is completely lost.

One of the options for a relatively “painless”, as is commonly believed, stopping a car with failed brakes could be a rear impact on a passing truck. At the same time, passengers should secure themselves with seat belts as much as possible and rest against interior details.

When looking for a braking buffer, you should pay attention to the condition of the curb. If the road embankment is low and the ditch is narrow enough, it is possible to simply drive into the field without turning too sharply or at a steep angle so that the vehicle does not roll over. Winter snowdrifts are also a way out. It's still better than a pole or an oncoming car.

You should know that the most terrible outcome in a situation with a sudden failure of the brakes can be a head-on collision. After all, the speeds of oncoming traffic are summed up. If there is still a choice, then hitting an obstacle or even turning the car over is preferable to a head-on collision. It's not up to the safety of the car. The life and health of people is in the foreground.

In all cases, is there a need for an emergency stop of the car in case of failure of the working brake system? This may seem strange, but it turns out that not everyone does. In those cases when the road is free, and a flat area without passing cars or a rise is visible ahead, then you can do without extreme sports. It is enough to let the car roll out by inertia on a free stretch of road and, when it comes to a complete stop, use the parking brake or the lowest gear with the ignition off.

When trying to stop the car without brakes, do not forget about the steering wheel. You need to be in constant readiness to adjust the movement. After all, the car can go skid due to the blocking of one or more wheels. This may well happen if the brake system is damaged.

To avoid such situations, you must always remember that nothing happens suddenly, including the failure of the brake system. After all, the machine signals an imminent problem in advance. This can be expressed in a change in the feel of the pedal: its softness or rigidity, kickback to the foot. Any signs of a change in the behavior of your vehicle's brakes should not be ignored.

Do not forget about the performance of the parking brake. After all, it is not for nothing that the traffic police are interested in him with such persistence. The second role assigned to him as a backup brake is obvious. And so that the “handbrake” does not fail in an emergency, you need to use it constantly. This is the only way to keep his cable in working order. It will not be superfluous to practice emergency braking using the parking brake, of course, in places free from vehicles.

In conclusion, I would like to urge all motorists to check the condition of the brake system of their car more often. Then you will never have to perform all the above steps.

When training in driving schools, future drivers are told little about critical and emergency situations that may arise. Hence the huge number of accidents with sad consequences that could have been avoided. Let's see what to do when the brakes fail in the car. It takes a little practice, and even beginners will be able to stop the car in an emergency.

Causes of brake system failure

The main reason is a break in the line through which the working brake fluid circulates. Such cliffs occur due to strong impacts with stones, due to collisions with curbs, due to heavy wear. As you can see, there are many possible causes of this problem, but the effect is the same - the brakes failed. Due to a broken pipeline, the working fluid will flow out of the system, and the cylinder will not be able to compress the pads. Also, the brake master cylinder often fails. Whatever the reason, the main thing in such a situation is not to panic and not lose your temper. There are effective ways to stop the car in an emergency.

Let's look at what to do if the brakes fail at speed. This is necessary and important information. There are several options for reducing speed without the need to use the parking brake. Many in this situation grab the handbrake, but in a panic, few people think that this can lead to a skid or even a rollover.

Before starting the emergency braking action, it is recommended to press the pedal hard and sharply several times. If the car does not have a standard ABS, then these actions will create the necessary pressure in the system. This will help when the brakes fail due to something other than a broken pipe. Maybe air just got into the system. It is also not uncommon for an object to fall under the brake pedal - it can block pressing.

Experts recommend in such situations not to turn off the engine. If you need to stop immediately, and the road section is small, then you can enter the car into a skid up to the exit into a ditch or hitting an obstacle. This is justified when there are pedestrians or various dangerous objects in front of the car.

We use the engine

If the car's brakes fail, you can try to stop it using the transmission system. This is one of the most popular and safest speed reduction methods. This procedure is performed by turning on Engine braking is not only as safe as possible under any road conditions, but with the right actions it will not provoke a skid. When performing this operation, you need to remember a few basic nuances.

Do not shift into low gears very abruptly. Doing so can cause the drive wheels to spin and increase the risk of skidding. The lower the gear, the sharper the peck of the car.

How to brake the engine in a manual transmission

If the brakes fail, but there is a manual transmission, you can stop quite effectively. But you need to use the engine correctly. To reduce the risk of skidding, it is necessary to shift only one gear down. It is not necessary to include the third from the fifth gear at once. When driving in fifth, turn on the fourth and wait for the moment when the car will twitch and then turn on the third. When the car begins to twitch on the first, only then you can turn off the engine. If the truck's brakes failed, then this approach will not help. A loaded car spins the engine very well, and there will be no reduction in speed.

There is also a "regasification" - this should be remembered by the owners of Soviet cars. In normal situations, when downshifting, the driver waits for the speed to decrease before engaging in a lower gear. But in emergency situations, there is no time to wait. Therefore, after disengaging the gear, it is necessary to press the gas to equalize the speed and then shift the gear. So we will reduce the "peck", which is very harmful to the elements of the motor and transmission.

Engine braking and automatic transmission

On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, you can perform the same steps. To do this, the automatic transmission is switched to manual control mode. If it is not available in this automatic transmission model, then the lever is moved to the third or second gear position. This is to force the car, albeit slowly, but to reduce the speed of movement. You can also install an automatic transmission in the parking lot. But if the brakes fail, this approach will be effective only if the distance is short, and you need to slow down at all costs.

In this case, the automatic transmission will be blocked. There is a serious possibility that the car will skid, and the automatic transmission mechanism will be broken and it will have to be thrown away. But it is much better and cheaper than someone's life.

How to brake in reverse

This is another way to make an emergency deceleration to a complete stop. This is braking by engaging reverse gear. In real life, this method cannot be used - the method is fraught with a complete replacement of the clutch kit and other transmission parts. However, this method is not always suitable if the brakes fail. Efficiency largely depends on the condition of the gearbox and its type. Some modern transmissions are equipped with special locking mechanisms that prevent reverse gear from being engaged when the car is moving forward.

On simpler gearboxes, you can turn on reverse gear. To do this, release the clutch and press the gas. The effectiveness of braking depends on the speed of the machine, as well as the power of the engine. Often after this you have to change not only the clutch, but the entire power unit - the gearbox and the engine. Also, this braking can cause accidents. The car can bring to the side of the road or into the center of the roadway, into the oncoming lane. In addition, cars moving behind you will not be able to stop as quickly as you.

This method provides for the creation of an emergency on the road, after application, the engine and gearbox become unusable. What to do if the brakes fail at speed? Let's consider all the nuances in more detail.

How to emergency brake

In the case of automatic transmission and manual transmission, you can turn off the engine along with the transmission. However, this method is recommended to be used only in the most difficult cases. If you try to brake in this way, the car can get into a skid. The method also involves turning on as low a gear as possible.

We use the handbrake

Also, along with the methods already described, there is one more. It involves the use of a handbrake. If the reason why the brakes failed did not lead to the handbrake failure, then you can use it. But you need to remember that there is a certain risk of getting into a skid.

The best result, which allows you to stop as quickly as possible, is a combination of engine braking with the use of the so-called handbrake. When the car starts to slow down due to the downshift, apply the parking brake and drive to a complete stop. It is important to press the button of the mechanism before the whole procedure and do not release it. If the wheels are blocked, this will prevent the car from skidding.

How to brake against obstacles

What to do if the brakes fail and the car does not want to stop, and you are moving in the stream? If there is not enough space for braking, then you should try to slow down on some obstacle. This is the most extreme case.

Most professional drivers recommend stopping not with a direct frontal impact, but at a tangent to this obstacle. This will make it possible to reduce the speed, and the damage will be minimal. At high speed, this method can save a life.

Do not slow down on an obstacle next to which there are people. In an imminent collision, the car is directed so as to hit the front car with a bumper. This allows you to pay off the speed, as well as reduce damage for both cars.

How to brake on mountain roads

In the mountains, it is worth remembering that special pockets for an emergency stop are installed before sharp turns. It is worth saying that it is often in such places that beginners have an accident. They think that the brakes will not fail on the descent, but with their active use, it is on the descent that the whole system fails. Usually beginners brake with the pedal instead of the transmission. As a result, the pads are jammed on one of the axles. Therefore, in such cases, we definitely use a lower gear and, if necessary, we stop at the "catching" pocket. This is the only way to safely stop without serious damage.

But it is worth emphasizing only one word in this sentence, “practically”, no car can give a 100% guarantee of safety even in our age of high technology.

Any machine consists of thousands of details, more or less important. Any of them can break, from time to time, from wear, improper operation, or simply from marriage. Including such a nuisance can occur with the brake system.

It's a brake failure. It does not matter how many thousands of kilometers a car owner has traveled over many years of driving experience, his theoretical knowledge, and sometimes even practical skills, do not play any role. The result in most cases, unfortunately, will be one - an accident. Why is the success rate so low? Because what happened is always a big surprise, a person at this moment is simply lost and absolutely does not understand what step to take next. Shock covers his sober view of what is happening. It often takes moments to assess the situation and make the only right decision that will help avoid an accident or at least make the consequences less tragic, but in a panic, drivers cannot take advantage of them.

But there is always a way out, only in such an extreme situation it can be difficult to realize. Opportunities to slow down and reduce the negative consequences are in most situations. Techniques for stopping a car without using the main braking system have been worked out and proven themselves more than a century ago. So let's start studying the problem right now.

The best way to hone your stopping skills in a critical situation is, of course, practice, such counter-emergency skills can be obtained in schools where emergency response training is applied, it is not worth honing such skills on public roads. But in order for you to roughly understand what measures, in theory, need to be taken in such a situation, we have made this article. In which we recall the main ones that you need to try to avoid.

Why do the brakes fail?

Brakes can stop working for a number of reasons. The two most common are related to the brake fluid and the operation of the brake mechanism that presses the pads against the brake disc. Both causes can be easily diagnosed with regular maintenance. In order for the brake calipers to work for a long time and not cause problems, try not to overload them and overheat the brake system by braking too often and for a long time. Always start braking early, from a greater distance, it will be safer from a driving point of view, and will not put additional stress on the calipers and brake lines.

Diagnose the problem yourself

Listen to your car, try to feel it. The car itself will tell you that something is wrong with it.

In the first case, the first swallows, screaming that it is time to examine the brakes, are an increase in the braking distance, changes in the course of the brake pedal, it becomes wadded or uninformative, it also happens that extraneous sounds are heard from the mechanisms when braking, which was not there before.

In the second case, the brakes suddenly stop functioning. This is what motorists are most afraid of. Sudden failure and already rushes without brakes. It seems that everything is gone, but the chances for a happy ending remain. It is important to control yourself and act according to the scheme worked out in the school of extreme driving, taking into account the environment.

First moments...

Some fractions of a second will pass, and a person will panic, he will need a certain time to concentrate, so it is so important to slow down in advance, keeping a safe distance. In this case, the distance between the out-of-control car and the obstacle ahead will give you time to handle the car and bring it to a safe stop.

What NOT to do in times like these

Some from the Internet advise to start intensively steering from side to side to reduce speed. In this kind of instructions, the algorithm of action is described. The increased tire friction caused by the vehicle moving left and right will help reduce the vehicle's speed. BUT, under no circumstances do such maneuvers, it is extremely dangerous!

Firstly, you will become an even greater threat to other motorists, losing control with such a “taxiing” is easy.

Secondly, such ones will instantly lead to an accident, the car can skid, it can be deployed on ice or carried out into oncoming traffic ...

Thirdly, if it is a Jeep, rocking can lead to a rollover.

Panic is a very bad thing and it usually covers us at the most inopportune moments. In an extreme situation, people do reckless things. If your inner voice is screaming that you should jump out of your car, DO NOT do it! If he says that the best way out is to drive into that tree over there ... don't believe him! And certainly not, thereby cutting off your path to salvation.

Effective ways to stop a car

1. Bleed the brake lines.

For reinsurance, the brake system consists of two circuits. One did not work, the second can help solve the problem. To do this, bleed the brakes with intermittent movements to build up pressure. It doesn’t matter what condition the brake pedal is in, even if it is “wadded”, even if it is jammed. The first task will be to push the brakes.

2. Vehicles with manual transmission

Its essence lies in the fact that, in which the fuel stops flowing, the car starts to slow down on its own, provided that the gear is engaged and the clutch is not depressed. So, gradually downshifting, you can achieve a very impressive deceleration. But you need to act quickly, the clutch disengagement / engagement time should be minimal, the shifts should be fast, but smooth. If you “drop” the clutch, then the sharp effect of slowing down the car can go into a skid.

3. Cars with automatic transmission

The following tricks can work: shifting, when you turn it downshifts, as you can do on a manual box. If this mode is not provided, switch from mode "D" to position "1".

4. Parking brake.

It must be used very carefully, constantly monitoring the blocking of the wheels. Short-term inclusion and as an assistant to engine braking, it’s not bad at all.

5. And finally, the most dangerous, contact braking.

You can slow down on not solid obstacles, it can be snowdrifts, chippers, bushes ..., in extreme cases, the sides of other cars.

The main thing when making an extreme maneuver, make sure that there are no pedestrians and people on the way. A car can almost always be fixed... but a person may not have a second chance.

By the way, sometimes foreign objects can get under the pedals, a bottle, for example, so it is very important not to litter the car! In this case, you will most likely have to act according to the same algorithm that we described above. But if there is time (drive on an unloaded highway, for example), and a passenger is sitting in the next seat, ask him to remove the object from under the pedal.

Sometimes situations on the road get out of our control. Unfortunately, such unpleasant cases can be found quite often. Brakes can fail at any time, even if a minute ago everything was in perfect order. Today, very few drivers are able to cope with such a problem. Most often, brake failure ends in an accident. And only some motorists know how the driver should behave in case of brake failure, the main causes of this malfunction and how to care for the brake system in order to prevent this. Such information will be not only interesting, but also useful for every motorist, because no one knows what difficulties may lie in wait for you on the road.

Do not remind the driver that the vehicle's braking system is a system that requires constant attention and routine maintenance. In the brake system, the conditions recommended by the manufacturer must be observed:

The thickness of the brake discs must match the thickness specified by the manufacturer.
It is necessary to change the brake pads at the first symptoms of their wear, and they themselves must meet the stipulated standard.
The brake fluid must be of the recommended type and must be changed at the time specified by the manufacturer.

It is equally important not to save on the elements of the brake system, since such amateur activity is fraught with unpleasant or even dangerous consequences.

Brake failure, causes of failure

There are many reasons why brakes can fail:

If there is a leakage of brake fluid as a result of mechanical damage to the seals, gaskets, hoses and pipelines of the brake system.
If the brake fluid is not replaced on time, which entails a loss of performance. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, so its untimely replacement leads to a set of high levels of moisture, which affects the decrease in the boiling point.
When filling in brake fluid that is not designed for your vehicle system. Such inadmissible mixing can lead to leakage of brake fluid and failure of the rubber elements of the brake system.

Brake fluid, what condition should it be in?

Firstly, the brake fluid must meet operational requirements - the optimum boiling point, viscosity, no negative impact on rubber elements, corrosion protection of metal parts, lubrication of friction pairs, stability at any temperature, and so on. In short, it must be of high quality.

Secondly, the brake fluid must be designed specifically for your car system. It is advisable to consult with a specialist when purchasing this material.

Thirdly, the brake fluid must be changed regularly and in a timely manner. What the untimely replacement of the brake fluid can lead to is indicated above.

Brake caliper, caliper condition

The caliper performs the braking process.

If the caliper guides go sour or the piston seizes, it will cause uneven brake pad wear, causing the brakes to seize.

Brake pressure regulator, regulator status

The reason for the failure of the front or rear brakes may be incorrect adjustment of the distributor.

According to the brake force distribution scheme, 70% should be on the front axle, and only 30% on the rear. If the distributor is not properly adjusted, the front or rear brakes may fail.

Vacuum brake booster, what condition is it in

There are situations when the vehicle stalls while applying the brakes and it seems that the brakes are whistling.

The vacuum brake booster does not increase the pressure on the brake pedal, passes air to the intake manifold, hisses, which leads to a lean mixture. Usually, the cause of this is a valve in the vacuum brake booster that does not work. This can happen at low temperatures. And when the vehicle warms up, everything is getting better. However, this is a signal that you need to prepare for the repair of the vacuum brake booster or its replacement.

Air in the brake system, how to remove air

Air entering the brake system can also cause brake failure.

The brake fluid is housed in a sealed system, but is easily disturbed by air, causing the brake to not actually work and the pedal to come out soft.

The brakes failed, the actions of the driver while driving

In order not to get into such unpleasant situations, it is necessary to notice the first symptoms of a breakdown in a timely manner:

The parking brake is loose.
The brake sticks after the pedal is released.
The rear wheels stop unevenly and too weakly.
The front wheels slow down at the same time and noisily.
The pedal can give a lot of travel.
The brake is stuck.
Braking is slow.
The brake warning light comes on.
The brake signal turns on.

If you notice that the brake is not working, there is no need to panic, collect your thoughts and remember that there are several alternative methods of braking.

Modern cars have a dual-circuit brake system, so if the brake pedal does not respond, you need to wait a bit without releasing the pedal. It is possible that one side did not work, and the second did not have time to connect. If the vehicle does not stop within a few minutes, try releasing and depressing the pedal with a sharp movement. This procedure must be done several times - about six or seven.

If the brakes have completely failed, the engine braking method or using the parking brake will help you. However, do not forget that it is strictly forbidden to brake with a handbrake at a speed of more than fifty kilometers, as the vehicle can skid heavily. When applying this method of braking, it is necessary to use the "ratchet" button while pressing the handbrake. In addition, the car should be brought to a level road surface.

The motor can slow down the transport by gradually shifting gears to lower ones. To reduce downtime, release the clutch quickly. When the engine speed decreases, the gear must be switched down again. The speed will begin to decrease along with the speed, a complete stop is made by the handbrake.

There are several less safe ways to brake, and some of them are completely absurd:

Many drivers believe that the most effective solution for emergency braking is to brake by hitting another vehicle from behind, but this should only be a freight vehicle.
In winter, you can drive into a snowdrift, which would be the best option.
In order to avoid a head-on collision, it will be much more advantageous to crash into a tree than you will protect the lives of other traffic participants.
There is a unique method of braking - aerodynamic - if the situation allows, open all the doors in the car, which will create a strong resistance to the air.
It is also possible to slow down the vehicle by rubbing against curbs, buildings, cars standing by the side of the road, and so on. However, such a risk will not be justified.
Some experienced motorists advise braking with gas. To do this, you need to squeeze the gas and engage reverse gear. This method will only work if the motor has sufficient power.
With a manual gearbox, you can brake by turning off the ignition completely without depressing the clutch.

When driving on a mountainous or slippery road, engine braking will be most beneficial. So that you do not collide with another vehicle, it is necessary to turn on the alarm, press the horn and constantly flash the high-beam headlights. This is necessary to be noticed by others. All passengers in the car must be fastened. And of course, so that this does not happen, pay attention to the main signs of malfunctions in a timely manner, carry out regular diagnostics and repair of such important vehicle components as the brake system.

News websites and emergency programs are full of information about accidents.

One of the common causes of such incidents is the failure of the vehicle's brakes.

Naturally, few people understand in advance what needs to be done in this case. Classical driving schools also don't bother to teach prospective drivers in detail how to deal with brake failure. The reason for all this is a large percentage of accidents that could end less sadly for car owners. Try after reading the tips of the site to independently perform emergency stop options. This practice will pay off handsomely if you suddenly find yourself in a similar situation. The main rule is not to check emergency braking options yourself - because they can lead to loss of vehicle performance.

Let's look at what a driver can and cannot do if the brakes fail. Before considering possible ways to interact with the machine, you need to immediately remember - do not panic and do not grab the handbrake. The statistics in this case are not in vain saying that most likely the car will skid and even most likely turn over after such actions.
Now about useful actions.

To begin, if time permits, depress the foot brake pedal a few times.

For many cars, this will give a chance to get additional brake fluid, because the cause of brake failure can be the so-called "air". Also take a quick look at the pedal to see if anything has fallen under it, preventing you from fully pressing your foot on the brake.

Plus, remember - do not turn off the engine, only in the most extreme case this can be done. After all, any hydraulic power steering can only work when the engine is on. Before moving on to more common solutions to the braking problem, let's recap. Do not panic! Do not immediately grab the handbrake, press the brake pedal several times until it stops, check that the pedal is not blocked by foreign objects. And also you do not need to turn off the engine, especially if you have power steering.
The next important rule is only a gradual decrease in speed, otherwise skidding and overturning of the car cannot be avoided.

The only option when a sharp speed reduction is justified, for example, using a handbrake or a head-on collision with an obstacle, is if there are people in front of the car or a tank with a combustible mixture. To avoid catastrophic consequences, you have to take significant risks to your own life.

Braking a car with low gears

The best place to start when attempting to brake is to apply engine braking in low gears. This is the best option. After all, it carries a minimal risk of a car tipping over, in any road conditions. It is enough to follow the rules of such braking:
1. If you turn on a lower gear without intermediate gears, but slippage of the running gear of the machine is possible. And it threatens to overwhelm.
2. If the current speed of the machine is too different from the speed that the gearbox will give, then the result will be a hard jerk.

How to brake on a car with "mechanics"

The main rule with a manual transmission is to take your time and shift down one gear at a time. Don't skip transmissions. If the fifth gear is now on, but the first action is to turn on the fourth, slow down, release the gas. Only when the car starts to move in jerks, only then is it already switched to third. So you need to get to first gear, let off the gas, and turn off the engine.

Braking for the owners of the "machine" - automatic transmission

Tips for owners of a car with an automatic transmission differ in the presence of a manual mode.

If you have such a mode, you need to turn it on and follow the above advice. If there is no such mode, then you need to try to switch from position "D" to position 2, then 1. This will reduce the speed, albeit not by much. In extreme cases, you can turn on the "P" position. This is an option for emergencies when there is a risk to the lives of others. As a result, the automatic transmission will be blocked, and the entire car may tip over. The loss of gearbox performance is almost 100%, but there are options on the road when this can be justified.

Braking with reverse gear

Let's consider such a solution to the problem of brake failure as braking by reverse gear. We’ll warn you right away, many modern foreign cars have a special module that will not allow this to be done. For the rest, the instruction is: moving forward, turn on reverse gear, drop the clutch, press the gas pedal. The result is difficult to predict, everyone is individual. But you will definitely slow down, as if the motor and gearbox will become faulty. Possible options - in which direction the skid will be, an accident involving other cars is possible. Especially if the skid is in the direction of the oncoming lane.

Emergency engine braking

Do not forget that there may be a situation on the road when there is no time to think. Then you can just turn the ignition key, turn off the engine. It doesn’t matter what transmission was at the same time, and what gearbox you have installed. The result will be a completely uncontrollable skid that cannot be influenced. If there is still time, it is better to downshift first, and therefore turn off the starter already. So the consequences will be less dire.

Emergency braking with handbrake

Braking with a handbrake - a parking brake, is the simplest and most commonly used emergency method.

With a working parking brake, it is advisable to stop only in combination with other methods. For example, using engine braking. Then there will be less chance of an uncontrolled skid. At the first stage, we extinguish the speed of the car with the help of braking by the gearbox, then we already pull the hand brake. But the lock button does not need to be released. Then, when the wheels of the car are blocked, it will be possible to slightly release the hand brake, and reduce the incipient skid.

Emergency braking with an obstacle

Braking on an obstacle is not a method for the faint of heart.
In this case, first check the seat belts of the driver and passengers, then look for a soft surface.
Experts for this method strongly advise not a frontal, frontal impact on an obstacle, but a weaker, tangential one. The stop will not be as abrupt, but the chances of serious damage to health are reduced. And it is possible that auto repair will not be so capital. Look for bushes, fences, non-residential buildings on the side of the road. In the city, a high curb can serve as a means of lateral braking. The main thing is to follow the chosen plan and hold the steering wheel firmly in your hands.

Be careful - if there is a risk that there may be people in the way of braking, then look for another obstacle. In a collision with another car, it is better to choose to hit the front bumper of your car into the rear bumper of someone else. It will be a less traumatic choice both for the people in both vehicles and for future repairs.

How to notify other drivers of brake failure.

With any choice of braking method, you must report the fact that the car has a problem.

Immediately turn on the emergency alarm, and change lanes to the far right lane.

Starting to slow down, constantly watch the rear mirror, because the speed of other road users will be much higher than yours. No need to be embarrassed to use the car horn.

Once you've managed to stop, you don't need to keep moving. Even if your car successfully slowed down without obstacles. It is best to either fix the brake system on the spot, or call technical assistance and evacuate the car to the nearest service station.

After stopping - call a specialist, in some cases with, because even if you stay on the move, your car could get new breakdowns in the process of maneuvering and braking.

Summing up:

Keep an eye on the car, especially the parts that go into the braking system. Do not exceed the speed limit, in the city and beyond. Do not brake at the very last moment, and the chance that you will have to use the listed braking methods will be minimal.

Brake failure is an extremely dangerous event because it can happen unexpectedly, at high speed, near crowds, and so on. At the same time, the driver has very little time to assess the situation, make any decisions and take action. The most common cause of an emergency failure of the brake system is a break in the brake hoses or pipelines.

In addition, this break is accompanied by a drop in air pressure or fluid level in the system. In almost all modern cars, in such a situation, a special signal lamp on the dashboard lights up.

Many cars produced today have a separate braking system along the axes. But in our country there are vehicles equipped with a single-circuit brake drive system. If during the operation of such vehicles a rupture of one of several pipelines occurs, this will inevitably lead to a complete shutdown of the entire working brake system.

If you want your brake system to always work flawlessly, buy quality brake fluid. But, as you know, it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy a quality product in Russia - there are a lot of fakes on the market. When using fake brake fluid, your car's brake system can fail in as little as a week.

There are also cases when the brake system is in excellent condition, but it is not possible to stop with the brake pedal. These situations may seem ridiculous, but the driver at this moment is most often not laughing.

Once one owner of an ordinary "Lada" crashed into a lighting pole at high speed right in broad daylight and in front of numerous passers-by (among whom, by the way, was a local police officer). The reason for this incident turned out to be banal. It turned out that the driver had previously driven into the market and bought a couple of zucchini, which were stacked on the back seat. While driving along a city street, some zucchini fell to the floor, and one of them rolled under the brake pedal ... This can happen with bottles, slippers, and so on.

But when you are driving at high speed and suddenly find that the brakes have failed, there is no time to think about the reasons. We need to act! The most important thing in such a situation (and indeed, in any other) is not to panic.

The very first What needs to be done by the driver of the car is to "stretch" the time, taking advantage of maneuvering and avoiding obstacles. Losing self-control is strictly prohibited! Everything needs to be done in just a few seconds: assess the situation, determine the sequence of your actions and turn on the alarm. It's good to have some spare time.

In this case, you can stop the car with the engine, quickly downshifting to lower gears. This must be done sequentially. Trying to shift from 5th gear straight to 1st can just take you so much precious time. There is another option - parking brake.

It is better not to do this too abruptly, the wheels must be kept straight. But you need to remember that with a sharp inclusion of the parking brake, its parts may break. Most often this occurs due to a peak increase in load at high speeds. This activation is recommended only in situations that require a quick (albeit short-term) speed reduction in order to avoid a collision with pedestrians or a collision with any obstacle.

A loose roadside, snowdrifts, curbstones can also help in the implementation of braking. If you have special skills, then you can brake with a side slide. In some extremely dangerous cases obstacles can also be used to stop the car. Not, of course, like a pole or the nearest parked car, but something less dangerous: not a very deep ditch (only if there is even space behind it), young forest plantations, various bushes, and the like.

There are also situations when, in the event of a malfunction of the brake cylinder at the moment of pressing brake pedal sinks to the floor cabin of the car, but does not return back. In this case (especially if you have a certain amount of time left), you need to restore the pedal's performance. To do this, you need to raise it to its original position, and then, with a strong and sharp blow, press it.

Most often, after such a procedure, the brakes resume their work. Well, if this does not help, you need to act in accordance with the descriptions above.

Sometimes only the exit from the road can help to avoid serious consequences. In order to avoid a car tipping over, it is necessary to drive off a country road (unless, of course, there is a shallow ditch) at an angle that is closest to 90 degrees relative to the ditch.

If you take care of yourself and your passengers, exclude from your own practice driving a car "coasting" (especially in winter). Do not think that in this way you will save engine and fuel life. You will simply increase the risk of getting into a dangerous situation.

There were also cases when the brakes failed on long descents. When the car is moving downhill at a speed of thirty to forty kilometers per hour on a slope of six percent and with the transmission disconnected from the engine, it can accelerate to sixty to seventy kilometers per hour. In this case, you just need to immediately shift the gear, gradually moving from the highest to the lowest. Well, if they do not turn on, it is necessary to use regassing, which is needed to synchronize the engine and transmission speeds. But do not forget that due to overgassing, the braking efficiency of the engine is reduced.

Practically on all roads in the mountains or near some long slopes there are specially equipped catchers necessary for effective speed damping. In order to benefit from this catcher (represents the road up), you need to reach it if the brake system fails, and when the speed is almost zero, put the car across the road so that it does not roll back down, and then engage reverse or first gear And of course the parking brake.

In extreme cases, you can use the truck in front to stop your car. You can try to run into him from behind (only in cases where the difference in speeds is insignificant) or catch on the side. Then you need to signal the driver of the truck to stop.

If the failure of the brake system caught you while driving on rough terrain, you should turn on the minimum gears and by any means (for example, along the slope of the ditch or along the side of the road) drive to the nearest rise. After that, it is necessary to act in the same way as on the mountain road in the catcher.

What does the statistics say? She says that accidents caused by failure of the brake system or some parts of the car are relatively rare. But, of course, such incidents on our roads happen much more often. This happens because when an accident is caused by several reasons at once (especially if there were gross violations of the Rules of the Road), brake system malfunctions are recorded only as concomitant.

Remember that traffic accidents due to a malfunction of the car lead to more serious consequences than accidents due to the fault of the driver.

The driver of the disabled car must act as quickly as possible (especially if there are passengers). Confidence in actions can only be provided by an understanding of its impact on the car and the ability to safely get out of this situation.

As a conclusion, I would like to give one simple advice - as often as possible check the condition of the brake system of your own car. This is especially true for components such as pipes and hoses, the breakage of which can cause all the actions described above to be carried out.

The key to safety can be the habit of depressing the brake pedal on every long descent to ensure that the brake system is in perfect condition. And do not save, please, on brake fluid, and transport zucchini only in the trunk!

The car must be carefully looked after, but even this does not give a 100% guarantee of safety for the driver and passengers during its operation. It's like a classic about a stick and its shooting once a year. Therefore, it is impossible to insure yourself against a situation where, one not very fine day, the brakes fail in the car. And you should prepare for this in advance.

How can you stop a car without brakes

What to do if the car does not respond to pressing the brake pedal? To begin with, put aside any panic, this is the first rule - pulling yourself together, promptly take all necessary and possible measures to minimize negative consequences. The brake system of a car is the most important part of the overall safety on the road, there is nothing to replace it, by and large. However, in this case, experts recommend using a couple of methods, which, of course, cannot be called super-efficient, however, in an emergency, the choice is not very large.

Engine braking

This method of emergency braking will be effective only if the vehicle speed is not very high, and there is a sufficient distance to the obstacle. What to do: a clear and quick operation of the gearshift lever, but not immediately to the first one, the car can be carried into a skid. We lower the gears sequentially, minimizing the unpleasant consequences of these actions. Remember, such manipulations are available only on machines equipped with a manual transmission, in rare cases on machines with a manual switch and the presence of a low gear mode. Simultaneously with the beginning of speed manipulations, we turn on the emergency signal, high beam, and also, if possible, actively use the horn to attract the attention of the other participants in the DD.

Parking brake

A hand or parking brake, as a rule, has a completely different design, and usually works due to the tension of the cables. So, if the main braking system fails, the handbrake does not lose its functionality from this. This method is more effective, you just need to follow a couple of rules.

The first rule - in no case do not pull the handbrake sharply and all the way. Otherwise, there is a big risk of blocking the wheels, and an uncontrolled skid with obvious consequences is provided for the car. We pull the handbrake confidently, smoothly.
The second rule, before using the handbrake, bring the steering wheel to its default position, the front wheels should only look straight ahead. You can control the behavior of the car by steering after some time, when the real braking has begun.

For owners of cars whose parking brake instead of the usual lever has a fashionable button, alas, this method is not available. It is not possible to activate the electromechanical parking brake while driving.

What to do in case of brake failure

Lapping braking

Competent prioritization is a virtue for any driver, and if the situation is critical, there is no time to save the shine of the body paintwork. One way to stop without brakes is to grind sideways against an obstacle. Be it a wall of a building, a road fender, a fence, a fence. The main rule here is not to overdo it. Otherwise, the car can be thrown, deployed and taken into a skid. The method is quite tough, but it's still better than at full speed to catch up with a slow-moving vehicle in front and, moreover, a standing one. There is no mention of people (pedestrians) here.

According to statistics from the American Institute for Highway Traffic Safety, the average driver presses the brake pedal 75,000 times a year. In the city, this figure grows many times, and for drivers who prefer an aggressive driving style, even more. When subjected to a heavy load, the braking system or one of its elements become vulnerable and may fail unexpectedly. And if this happens on the go, it gives a lot of discomfort to the driver and creates a threat both for him and his passengers, and for other road users.

The most common cause of brake failure is loss of brake fluid due to a leak in the system. But regardless of the reasons, the consequence is the same - the car cannot be stopped in the usual way. Therefore, one of the following options must be used.

"Push" the system

Precisely because the brakes are the most important safety system, it is divided into two circuits. If there is a problem in one circuit, then the second one may work. Therefore, it is necessary for some time to continue to intensively press on the pedal (both in the case when it failed, and in the case of its stupor), but not constantly, but with translational movements, creating pressure in the system.

By car with "mechanics"

It is necessary to apply engine braking, that is, gradually downshift one after another. In this case, the clutch pedal must be depressed for a minimum time so that the connection between the engine and the gearbox is not lost. When downshifting, the tachometer needle should not enter the red zone. Abrupt shifting to 2nd or 1st gear can cause skidding or damage the transmission.

Photo: flickr.com / Latemodel Restoration

By car with automatic

Switch to manual mode and gradually reduce the speed as with a manual gearbox. If this is not possible, you can move the gearshift lever from position "D" to position "1" (range limitation) or into first gear when the mechanism itself makes a decrease.

Parking brake

For more effective braking, you can apply the parking brake. It can be a "handbrake" between the seats or a separate pedal. You need to turn it on smoothly and be ready to let go when the wheels lock.

Engaging first gear or "parking"

If there is no other way out, then you can slow down the car by shifting into first gear and turning off the engine. The key must not be turned all the way so that the steering wheel does not lock. Engaging reverse may be more efficient, but it will be extremely difficult to do so. Many modern boxes are protected from reverse gear on the go, and then they need to turn on the “parking” mode. All three of these methods are very likely to damage the transmission, so it may be cheaper to damage a body part rather than an expensive unit.

contact inhibition

Stopping with obstacles is of two types. The first is when there is no threat to life, and it is possible to slow down the movement. This can be done by pulling onto the side of the road or rubbing against the curb. Such a maneuver must be done very carefully, since a change in grip properties can cause a sharp change in the trajectory of movement.

The second is the most critical situation, when continuing to move can cause irreversible consequences. You need to slow down into an obstacle. Bushes or snowdrifts are optimal for this, fences and fenders are worse, and last but not least, other cars, lampposts, stops, etc. But before you send the car into an obstacle, make sure that there are no people nearby. And it is better to demolish the sides of several cars than to fly into a busy intersection or oncoming traffic.

Photo: flickr.com/Jack Lyons

Object stuck under the pedal

If during a trip a bottle, a can, a child's toy or some other solid object rolls under the brake pedal, then this is no less dangerous than the failure of the brakes due to their breakdown. If possible, try to stop the car with the engine. If there is someone else in the cabin, ask the passenger to remove the object from under the pedal. Do not take your eyes off the road for a long time, otherwise you will not be able to react to a change in the situation. But so that this situation does not arise, keep an eye on the items in the cabin. Keep bottles and cans in cup holders or door pockets. Tie shopping bags or put them in the trunk, as an object that slips out can roll on the floor and end up under the pedal. If the likelihood of such a situation is high (for example, the child dropped a toy), it is better to stop and remove the dangerous object.

If it is impossible to slow down in the usual way, it is important not to panic and not to make very abrupt maneuvers. A sharp change in any vector can lead to a skid, and then the car will no longer be steerable at all.

When trying to stop the car without brakes, you need to be aware of the steering and be constantly ready to adjust the movement. The car can go into a skid due to the blocking of one or more wheels.

In the absence of brakes, try not to turn off the engine. Many elements of the car (electric power steering, lighting, windshield wipers, etc.) will not be able to work without his participation, which will complicate an already difficult situation.

Open doors and a sunroof can slow down movement, creating additional aerodynamic drag (on cars that set speed records, parachutes are even thrown out).

Side-to-side lane changes create additional rolling resistance, which also reduces vehicle speed.

Warn passengers of the problem. They must be fastened and ready for non-standard situations.

In the event of an emergency, try to inform other road users about this with sound signals and high beams.

Prevention

In time, be like MOT, during which the operation of the brake system is checked, among other things.

Pay attention to the "bells" - a change in the length of the pedal stroke, "emptiness" when pressed, which then disappears, the appearance of puddles under the car after stopping, etc.

Before starting an active movement, check the effectiveness of the brakes by stopping at a slight increase in speed.

Smooth driving in quiet mode reduces wear and damage to vehicle parts, and predicting the situation provides more options for action if some kind of failure occurs.

Periodically check the reviews on your car model, even if you are not being serviced by an authorized dealer. Among the companies there may be one in which they fix malfunctions - including the brake system.

Manufacturer's press release