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I just had my brakes checked 2 weeks ago. They said there ...

Sent to Car Experts October 14 10:14 AM

I just had my brakes checked 2 weeks ago. They said there was no problem - my front brake pads were 50% and my rear brake pads were 40%.   I own a 1999 hyundai elantra - asked a transmission question and expert was right on target - thanks.

Anyway, today, I was at least 2 car lengths on a highway when car in front of me stops for no reason.   I slammed on my brakes, they failed to lock totally, and I hit the car in front of me - lucky there was no damage.

Why could my brakes have failed to totally lock - and what should I have mechanic watch out for.

Thanks!

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $10
Answer
October 14 10:23 AM (8 minutes and 57 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Your car is probably equipped with ABS (Anti Lock Brake System)

ABS uses wheel speed sensors to determine if one or more wheels are trying to lock up during braking. If a wheel tries to lock up, a series of hydraulic valves limit or reduce the braking on that wheel. This prevents skidding and allows you to maintain steering control.

Kevin Krause -- Auto Mechanic -- 100% Positive Feedback on 6 Car Accepts
Not certified but have worked as a Mechanic in the past.
Reply
October 14 10:36 AM (12 minutes and 24 seconds later)
         
Reply to Kevin Krause's Post: Maybe I did not ask question to get answer I need - how am I to avoid this problem in future - is there a problem with my car that can be fixed and if so, what does a mechanic need to fix?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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October 14 11:02 AM (25 minutes and 54 seconds later)
         
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Kevin Krause -- Auto Mechanic -- 100% Positive Feedback on 6 Car Accepts
Not certified but have worked as a Mechanic in the past.
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October 14 11:10 AM (8 minutes and 9 seconds later)
         
Why did my car skid 2 car lengths and hit another vehicle after me slamming down the brakes if there is no problem???

There has to be a reason the car's brakes did not work/car skidded - otherwise I would not have bumped another car.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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October 14 11:20 AM (10 minutes and 25 seconds later)
         
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Dan -- Auto Service Technician -- 97% Positive Feedback on 159 Car Accepts
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October 14 11:36 AM (15 minutes and 58 seconds later)
         
No, that is not what happened, I hit the brakes instantaneously, the second I saw the car brake abruptly, not 100 feet, that very second - very good reflexes - if you can't answer the question, just say so, and please do not assume, I did not handle the car properly. I hit brakes the second I needed to - NO DELAY - and the brakes did not act properly/kick in properly - and I need to know why!
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 14 11:45 AM (8 minutes and 38 seconds later)
         
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Dan -- Auto Service Technician -- 97% Positive Feedback on 159 Car Accepts
master tech
Info Request
October 14 1:21 PM (1 hour and 36 minutes and 13 seconds later)
         
Did your brake peddle feel as if it was pusulating?
Kevin Krause -- Auto Mechanic -- 100% Positive Feedback on 6 Car Accepts
Not certified but have worked as a Mechanic in the past.
Reply
October 16 1:23 PM (2 days later)
         
No it was not pulsating.

I was happy with the prior question answered regarding the transmission - which was right on target, but no one on this board has been able to tell me why brakes which previously had split second timing reflexes - I slammed them on the brakes locked and there was no skidding, even in rainy conditions.

This one time that did not happen, and a minor accident occurred - thank God - not serious enough to report to cops or insurance.

I want the right answer and not a gloss over answer because I do not want to die because mechanics ignore an obvious problem.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 16 3:56 PM (2 hours and 32 minutes and 54 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Is it possible that your anti-lock brake light was on previously?If the anti-lock brake system light was on previously before all this happened it means that the system is in bypass meaning you now have regular (lock-up)brakes.Many people who do not like the anti-lock system disable it by pulling the fuse or unplugging it.The car then returns to normal,what I like to call WINDSHIELD BRAKES.When you step on the pedal the brakes lock up.Is this why you had the brakes checked 2 weeks ago?What was the reason you had them checked 2 weeks ago?I hope you can understand what I'm conveying to you here.If the brake light is on it does not mean you have no brakes,it only means that the anti-lock brakes won't go into effect and you will have normal lock up brakes.Which incedentally I prefer.Never did like anti-lock.From your description of events it sounds like the anti-lock system was previously inop(in bypass) and was restored somehow during the brake inspection or service and now active and not locking up anymore like you were comfortable with.It's realll the only thing that makes sense here.To test this possibility find and remove the ABS fuse.Take it for a drive and make a couple good stops and you will feel the difference.At that point the ABS warning light should be lit on the dash meaning it's in bypass.If not lit,the light is out or otherwise disfunctional.But I'll bet you like the way the brakes feel at any rate.Let me know how that goes.

Edited by railman on October 16 2005 at 4:01 PM

"It is much wiser and cost efficient to ask a question than to stumble blindly through your auto repairs".Please Click Accept if my answer was helpful.
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Michael -- Auto Service Technician -- 99% Positive Feedback on 598 Car Accepts
21yrs.Foreign and domestic driveability diagnosis and repair/ ASE Cert./Fuel Injection Specialist.
Reply
October 16 4:15 PM (19 minutes and 10 seconds later)
         
Reply to Michael's Post: This answer is best I had so far. This problem happened the day just after I picked up my car from having major transmission work performed - is it possible for that problem to have been fixed at this time???

You reminded me, that 2ce, right before I took car into having it checked for brakes, I did not slam the brakes down, eased them down and it seemed like the back of the car would not stop and pushed me forward, like a jerking motion, even after brakes were gradually applied.


By the way - at no time did the anti-lock brake light ever come on.

How could the system have been inoperable - would not someone have had to tamper with it to disable anti-lock system?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 16 4:35 PM (19 minutes and 23 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Yes!Absolutely.I don't think there was any tampering involved though.ABS will go into bypass when it does not recieve information from the circuit that povides the info. to it.e.g.,shorted or open wheel speed sensor/circuit or even just dirty corroded sensors or broken wires etc.I would make sure the light is functioning at all right now.It should illuminate when you turn the key to on position and go out when you start the vehicle.The lurching motion you describe could be quite a few things maladjusted,warped brake components or even the ABS system itself may give that sensation to someone who is not used to it.There are far too many factors involved here to speculate what is/was occuring on your vehicle.The best we can do over the internet is to give you some insight or rational experienced opinions on the problem as many of the experts really have done with the available information.I would be willing to bet that any one of us given an hour on the car would be able to isolate any of the brake concerns here.It is just really difficult to do that over the internet with this particular issue.Granted some things are common among all cars and some things are common among specific makes and models of cars but this is not one of them.

Edited by railman on October 16 2005 at 4:44 PM

"It is much wiser and cost efficient to ask a question than to stumble blindly through your auto repairs".Please Click Accept if my answer was helpful.
Picture
Michael -- Auto Service Technician -- 99% Positive Feedback on 598 Car Accepts
21yrs.Foreign and domestic driveability diagnosis and repair/ ASE Cert./Fuel Injection Specialist.
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