My oh Sh!t moment
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Evolving Member
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: TX
My oh **** moment
Today on my way to Microsoft I had one of those EZ moment where you really wish you had just stayed home. I turned off of MacArthur on to Royal Ln and my brake pedal went to the floor!
My first reaction was that I was mistaken....my brake pedal doesn't do that. So I press on it again and it still goes to the freaking floor! Then I think "wow, this is what EZ must have experienced." By this time it was too late to turn in to MSFT's parking lot so I continued around, found a parking lot to land in using the E-Brake.
When I walked around the car, the front passenger side wheel was coated in brake fluid. No idea how it happened. I do autocross, but I service the car regularly.
Turns out I left my cell phone at home, so I had to walk back to MSFT to find a friend and a phone. Got a wrecker to come pick up the car and take it to Fifth Gear fix things up.
Anyway, for people who were wondering: yes, brakes can suddenly go away.
My first reaction was that I was mistaken....my brake pedal doesn't do that. So I press on it again and it still goes to the freaking floor! Then I think "wow, this is what EZ must have experienced." By this time it was too late to turn in to MSFT's parking lot so I continued around, found a parking lot to land in using the E-Brake.
When I walked around the car, the front passenger side wheel was coated in brake fluid. No idea how it happened. I do autocross, but I service the car regularly.
Turns out I left my cell phone at home, so I had to walk back to MSFT to find a friend and a phone. Got a wrecker to come pick up the car and take it to Fifth Gear fix things up.
Anyway, for people who were wondering: yes, brakes can suddenly go away.
brakes are needed for stopping now? seriously though glad nothing worse happened than getting brake fluid all of your car sometimes luck is on your side
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: TX
Don't think it is the master cylinder. there was a lot of fluid around the passenger front tire, so I think something happened there. I'm on my way to Fifthe Gear now to get them started. I need my car back next weekend so I can go autocross (f a bunch of brakes).
most likely your brake line got cut open, and you spilled all your brake fluid out, that's why you lost pressure and your brake pedal didn't come back up. It should be an easy fix as long as it is a line, if it's the actual caliper, then that's more expensive. but as long as none of the brake fluid got on paint, then you should be happy, cause it'll eat up paint real bad, make sure not to wipe it, but rinse it off with water.
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From: TX
Fifth gear called: time for SS Braided lines. Rick said the line had burst. Guess that sasquatch braking technique takes its tole on the lines....
The fluid mostly got on the inside of the wheel. Then the sprinklers came on where I had parked the car, so most of it was rinsed off while we waited on the wrecker to pick me up.
I sort of doubt you could cause the calipers to fail if they are installed and mainted correctly. The weak link in the system is the brake line. I mean: take a look at those freaking Brimbo's they are huge. Short of stuff plastic explosive in them they are not going to fail.
In hind site I should have been inspecting my brake lines before and after each event. I suspect I would have noticed that the one line didn't look like the others and taken in for closer inspection. As it is I've learned me lesson for the low cost of a having a tow truck haul my car around Dallas.
The fluid mostly got on the inside of the wheel. Then the sprinklers came on where I had parked the car, so most of it was rinsed off while we waited on the wrecker to pick me up.
I sort of doubt you could cause the calipers to fail if they are installed and mainted correctly. The weak link in the system is the brake line. I mean: take a look at those freaking Brimbo's they are huge. Short of stuff plastic explosive in them they are not going to fail.
In hind site I should have been inspecting my brake lines before and after each event. I suspect I would have noticed that the one line didn't look like the others and taken in for closer inspection. As it is I've learned me lesson for the low cost of a having a tow truck haul my car around Dallas.
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It was similar, except my pedal was still firm, and I was flat out at the top of 4th...not to mention the tree. Glad you were able to stop safely. This is a lesson that I keep telling people. If one is going to push a vehicle, one must put the critical safety components first in all respects...or pay the consequences. I did not do that, and I paid (and am still) paying the price. A lot of folks get away with it..some like me don't.
Originally Posted by tweekscratch
Today on my way to Microsoft I had one of those EZ moment where you really wish you had just stayed home. I turned off of MacArthur on to Royal Ln and my brake pedal went to the floor!
My first reaction was that I was mistaken....my brake pedal doesn't do that. So I press on it again and it still goes to the freaking floor! Then I think "wow, this is what EZ must have experienced." By this time it was too late to turn in to MSFT's parking lot so I continued around, found a parking lot to land in using the E-Brake.
When I walked around the car, the front passenger side wheel was coated in brake fluid. No idea how it happened. I do autocross, but I service the car regularly.
Turns out I left my cell phone at home, so I had to walk back to MSFT to find a friend and a phone. Got a wrecker to come pick up the car and take it to Fifth Gear fix things up.
Anyway, for people who were wondering: yes, brakes can suddenly go away.
My first reaction was that I was mistaken....my brake pedal doesn't do that. So I press on it again and it still goes to the freaking floor! Then I think "wow, this is what EZ must have experienced." By this time it was too late to turn in to MSFT's parking lot so I continued around, found a parking lot to land in using the E-Brake.
When I walked around the car, the front passenger side wheel was coated in brake fluid. No idea how it happened. I do autocross, but I service the car regularly.
Turns out I left my cell phone at home, so I had to walk back to MSFT to find a friend and a phone. Got a wrecker to come pick up the car and take it to Fifth Gear fix things up.
Anyway, for people who were wondering: yes, brakes can suddenly go away.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 277
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From: TX
drige11 - I'm not really in a good position to answer this, but I will anyway :^)
The lines they are installing on my car have stainless steel braiding on the outside. That limits the expansion of the hoses during braking. This should result in a firmer pedal feel and less brake fade for the guys who race on tracks.
My recommendation is to inspect your brake lines occasionally. If you autocross regularly do it while you are swapping your wheels before and after each event. It shouldn't take too long.
If your car is only used on the street and you are not mashing the brake pedal a lot then checking the lines every time you change oil should suffice.
The lines they are installing on my car have stainless steel braiding on the outside. That limits the expansion of the hoses during braking. This should result in a firmer pedal feel and less brake fade for the guys who race on tracks.
My recommendation is to inspect your brake lines occasionally. If you autocross regularly do it while you are swapping your wheels before and after each event. It shouldn't take too long.
If your car is only used on the street and you are not mashing the brake pedal a lot then checking the lines every time you change oil should suffice.