What should we do in case of brake failure?

Shift down (whether you have an automatic or manual transmission) and use the emergency/parking brake. Pumping the foot brake may help also. If you have a hand lever operated emergency brake, push the release button so you have some control over the braking. THe emergency brake is very weak compared to the regular brake - it only works on two of the wheels and is mechanical rather than hydraulic.

If your brakes fail descending a steep mountain road, there may be a runaway truck lane, which is a short gravel road that goes uphill. Use that.

Modern brakes are really reliable. Since the 1960s, I think, there has been a requirement on new cars that there be two hydraulic systems, each operating two wheels. This way even if one fails, you can still stop.

Keep your brakes maintained and you won't have any problems. Flush the brake fluid as recommended and replace the pads/rotors as needed.

Andrew O

shift the car into a lower gear,and use your emergency brake

Tim H

The emergency brake works via a cable so if you loose your hydraulic brake system the E-brake will still work. Just make sure you ease it on and dont pull it too hard.

You can also downshift to slow down first. This works best in a standard transmission car. In an automatic you can damage the transmission by downshifting, but it is better than crashing. I had to do this once in an old POS truck. I even had to put it into park when still going about 5mph. It did stop and I didn't ever notice any harm done, but it had a tough truck transmission. I would never reccomend this unless you absolutely had to do it.

Mary Jo W

gear down

Duff C

Use the handbrake .. and brace yourself !

dogydoorman@sbcglobal.net

take your foot off gas slow down and pull emergency brake years ago my gas pedal stuck and at that time we could turn car off with the key thank god

Ian L

dip the clutch to disengage the engine - select a lower gear , then slowly re-engage the clutch to allow the engine to pull your speed back.
personally i would go from 5th down to 3rd, then to second, and when the speed was right down, apply the handbrake!

S M

Try the handbrake/emergency brake. Use engine braking if manual or in an auto change down to lowest selectable gear. This may help It may work depending on the fault. The best way to deal with it is to get your brakes serviced so that there is no chance of you killing anyone.

bungee

use the emergency brake slow and easy does it

Stephen

1.Pump the foot pedal
2. Pump the hand/parking/emergency brake located on the right center consle or if your in a bigger car it may be by your feet.
3. If that fails go into a runaway truck lane (if available), coast to a stop on the side of the road if you dont need to stop immediately, if your approaching an intersection hit something like a fence, shrub, garden, or any structure that will "give" on impact to slow you down
4. If your about to fly through and intersection and theres not enough time to stop or you cant stop honk your horn and flash your lights

shakedown

if you have a manual you can put it in low gear and use the clutch for a brake.

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