Brake Failure?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 264
From: Quebec, Canada
Brake Failure?
I watched the video of the 1300 HP Mercury Comet brake failure crash. There have been comments about improper brake maintenance being the cause of this crash but, when I watched the video, I saw that he was riding the brakes for quite some time because there was a problem with the throttle linkage not returning properly, and he actually said so. He should have known that brake fade was going to raise its ugly head and he should have fixed the throttle linkage before continuing. When he tells us he has no brakes, the car doesn't seem to slow down at all, the way it normally should, when you take your foot off the gas, but in fact it seems to accelerate, confirming the problem with the throttle linkage. It doesn't take long for brake fade to happen, especially when you've got a mother of an engine like he has. Yes, we need to carry out proper maintenance but we also need to listen to what the vehicle is telling us and not blindly carry on regardless.
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,140
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From: US-PNW
Stupidity has no bounds. He should have shut the engine down as soon as he knew he had no brakes. Downshifted, jammed it in Park even. I'd rather blow the transmission to smithereens than crash into someone and risk their (and my) life.
This overlooks the fact the drive should have ended immediately upon discovering an issue with the throttle. That they recorded and posted it to the world shows just how stupid they are.
This overlooks the fact the drive should have ended immediately upon discovering an issue with the throttle. That they recorded and posted it to the world shows just how stupid they are.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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if you can afford a 1300 hp engine you can afford the correct brakes to stop it. sounds like he skimped on the correct brakes for the car.
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,140
Likes: 4,248
From: US-PNW
I don't know what the general thought is on YouTuber, Uncle Tony's Garage, but he put up a few videos on this crash and the obvious mistakes these guys made. I think for this situation he makes a lot of sense. (I find him entertaining and watch his videos occassionally and forgive him for being a Mopar guy.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Western Massachusetts
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I don't know what the general thought is on YouTuber, Uncle Tony's Garage, but he put up a few videos on this crash and the obvious mistakes these guys made. I think for this situation he makes a lot of sense. (I find him entertaining and watch his videos occassionally and forgive him for being a Mopar guy.)
Dan
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,398
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From: Various places in Southern California.
It's one thing when a single-point failure causes a crash. But here, the guy pretty much had to go out of his way to cause this crash.
--he ignored the sticking throttle
--he rode the brakes for some time
--he didn't even try to shut the engine down or put it in neutral
Many years ago I let my girlfriend drive my car shortly after I had replaced the engine. As she was driving up a hill the throttle stuck (broken return spring). She freaked out. I reached over and shut down the engine. Problem solved. (Now I make sure all my cars have dual throttle return springs...)
--he ignored the sticking throttle
--he rode the brakes for some time
--he didn't even try to shut the engine down or put it in neutral
Many years ago I let my girlfriend drive my car shortly after I had replaced the engine. As she was driving up a hill the throttle stuck (broken return spring). She freaked out. I reached over and shut down the engine. Problem solved. (Now I make sure all my cars have dual throttle return springs...)
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