Had The Scare Of My Life Tonight

[gweg_b]

This may have happened to some of you guys before, but this was a first for me, so I was a little freaked out:



I was in my LeSabre tonight, going to a friend's place and I was heading down a hill towards an intersection, and I'd say I was probably going about 20mph, and as I was pressing my brake pedal to slow down, I heard what sounded like a deep 'pop', and my pedal went all the way to the floor. Well, at that moment, I knew I blew a brake line, problem was I was headed towards that intersection and I wasn't stopping fast enough.

I couldn't hit the e-brake cuz I had sprained my left ankle the other day moving some furniture, so my only option was to keep going. Problem was there were 3 other cars moving through that intersection. They must have seen me, because they slowed down, and I just kept going through that intersection. I had a death grip on that steering wheel, expecting the worst.

I just feel extremely lucky tonight. I can't even imagine what could have happened had I been on the interstate or in a much busier, crowded city.

So, I limped the car back on home, and have it parked for the time being. My brother and I might get to fixing it this weekend. Kinda of surprising though, 14+ years old, and this is the first brake line that has gone on this car. I knew it had to happen someday, just didn't know when.

[00Beast]

Did you try downshifting? I would reach down and hit it with my hand, or something. I'd rather risk hurting my ankle again than killing someone. (I had a severe sprain last spring, I was on crutches for 2 weeks).

[bonnevillain]

If he was only going 20mph, downshifting wouldn't do much.

[00Beast]

True, but it've still bogged some going into first.

[J Wikoff]

Looks like one popped around the proportion valves like mine did last spring when some kid stepped into the street in front of me...

Disconnect the battery and put something on the brake pedal to push it down so the master cylinder doesn't go dry.

[GoldenBullet]

wow, glad everyone is okay.

[gweg_b]

Thanks guys.

I thought about downshifting, but by the time I hit the intersection I was probably traveling a little over 10mph - not sure how much it might have helped. I'll have to keep it in mind next time.

If I could have pushed that e-brake I would have, but I just didn't have the strength in my foot to do it. Plus, the e-brake on this car has TONS of resistance (much harder than the Bonneville), and it's even hard to push down with a good foot (it has always been like that, no matter the condition of the rear brakes).

J Wikoff, that's the first thing I'll do tomorrow morning. Yeah, I don't need to damage that master cylinder, I just replaced it a few years ago.

[gonzo4191]

remember the number one way to communicate is your horn

i hope you were laying into it

[JMH1950]

In 42 years of driving, I've never had a brake failure, and I've driven some real high mileage junk. Then again, we don't have the rust problem you guys do out in the cold part of the country. Glad everything turned out OK.

[wjcollier07]

Scary as hell isn't it? I still have flashbacks to when i almost put myself in the path of a semi truck when mine failed at a stop sign, but luckily was able to cut the wheel and get the hell out of the way.

Nasty stuff. Good luck with those new lines!

[LeSabreUltra]

Whoa, that's scary! Glad you're okay.

I haven't had a brake line fail on me and I hope I never do!
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[01bonneSC]

Down shifting totally helps, have you guys never driven a manual vehicle?

[bonnevillain]

It doesn't help if you're already in first. at 20mph, he was probably coasting in second, or maybe even first. shifting down to first might slow you a little, but it's certainly not going to get you below 10.

[gweg_b]

I've only driven a manual once. I just keep thinking what I might have done if I did shift into first. And the only thing that keeps popping back into my head is the fact that I would slowed down, but not completely stopped. With my drums adjustments out of whack, I can barely stop that car at 5mph with the blown line. I'm thinking now, what I could have done if I had to was take a quick right turn, which would have gone up another hill, and then turn off that. But in that short time period, I don't think I was thinking too straight.

Yeah, I hope I never have to go through that again! New lines go on tomorrow, and I think when I finally tear this car down for its rebuild, I think I'm gonna do all new lines, just for the sake of having everything new.

[screwstonjay713]

Wow glad you are ok

Back when I had my 96 Aurora my brake booster went out as I was approaching a red light and I almost ran into the intersection. The brake pedal became so hard that when I finally got the car home I had a sprained ankle from pushing down on the brake so much.