Brake Problems

In Roseville  Michigan, a twenty-four year old man tried to use his feet to stop his runaway truck that had serious brake problems.  After his brakes failed on a busy street in Roseville, about two miles north of Detroit, the man was unable to use his brakes to stop.  So he continued driving but stuck his feet outside the truck in a futile attempt bring the truck to a stop.  Witnesses said the man reached speeds of about 40 mph and struck two cars after going through a red light.  He continued on and was eventually able to bring the truck to a stop but not before he had hit two more vehicles!

Then there was the firefighter that experienced brake problems when he was approaching an intersection while returning from an early morning alarm.  The vehicle was going less than 45 mph and the roads were clear but the temperature outside was near 9 degrees.  He tried to gear down but the automatic transmission didn’t work and there were two cars waiting for the light on either side of the intersection.  Fortunately, he was able to move as far to the left as possible as he approached the intersection and he made a wide right hand turn onto a two lane road and was able to come to a safe stop in an empty parking lot!

Although brake failure accidents are very rare, ( they consist of 5% or less of car accidents per year) we certainly don’t want to be included in that 5%.  So take the steps necessary to maintain your brakes properly and prevent brake problems from turning ugly.  There may be no sure way to prevent the possibility of a brake failure accident, but you can make sure to do your part.

Make sure that your brakes are inspected and serviced regularly.  If there is a recall notice for your vehicle, affecting the brakes or anything else, take it seriously and don’t ignore it.

Listen for grinding or squeaking noises when using the brake, or difficulty actually stopping the car.  Also be aware if your car veers to one side or the other when you put pressure on the brake pedal.  And last but not least, don’t neglect your brake fluid.  Most experts recommend that you completely change the brake fluid every one to two years.  Brake fluid that has been in the car for a year may contain 2% water, which greatly decreases its effectiveness.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.