Brake Failure
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Brake Failure
I had the brakes on a '94 coupe fail. I had plenty of pedal pressure but she wouldn't stop. The brakes were replaced about 2 months earlier and exhibited no signs of problems until the catastrophic failure. The new pads were Performance Friction Carbon Metallics. Everything looked good when the brake job was done.
Any Info is appreciated.
Thanks
Any Info is appreciated.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
The C4 Forum, brake capital information of the world.
As said could be a booster. Does engine RPM increase when brake pedal is depressed.
Do you hear any hissing or vacuum leak.
If you shut down engine, can you press pedal 3 times and have it come up higher and harder every time.
As said could be a booster. Does engine RPM increase when brake pedal is depressed.
Do you hear any hissing or vacuum leak.
If you shut down engine, can you press pedal 3 times and have it come up higher and harder every time.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I wish I could show you. I broke a bone in my knee trying to get the old girl to stop. The result was http://www.deltaperfsys.com/vettepix...ska3%20568.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Oh my god! I thought you were using hyerbole when you said "catastrophic"----the pic tells the story though. Hope you're on the mend.
I shudder to say it but it looks like someone's going after the shop, either you or your insurance company.
I can only think of the two things already mentioned or some kind of influx of air in the system.
Good luck.
I shudder to say it but it looks like someone's going after the shop, either you or your insurance company.
I can only think of the two things already mentioned or some kind of influx of air in the system.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
That car should be moved to a more secure impound location
before critical components mysteriously disappear.
If possible, a professional accident investigator should be called
upon to perform an inspection and write a report.
.
before critical components mysteriously disappear.
If possible, a professional accident investigator should be called
upon to perform an inspection and write a report.
.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,845
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
OUCH! 
sorry to hear.
Did the emergency brakes fail too? or did it happen to fast to try?
EDIT
Either way I'd say you have a law suit against the mechanic who redid your brakes.
sorry to hear.
Did the emergency brakes fail too? or did it happen to fast to try?
EDIT
Either way I'd say you have a law suit against the mechanic who redid your brakes.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,835
Likes: 30
Originally Posted by BrianCunningham
OUCH!
sorry to hear.
Did the emergency brakes fail too? or did it happen to fast to try?
EDIT
Either way I'd say you have a law suit against the mechanic who redid your brakes.
sorry to hear.
Did the emergency brakes fail too? or did it happen to fast to try?
EDIT
Either way I'd say you have a law suit against the mechanic who redid your brakes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
So sorry to see this. It must hurt more than your knee. Got to be master or booster. If the insurance company gets it, you might never find out what failed.
And it is a parking brake, you need a mile to stop with it, I've tested that.
Very best of luck, feel better.
And it is a parking brake, you need a mile to stop with it, I've tested that.
Very best of luck, feel better.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: Hartselle Al
I was just in small, (compared to yours), accident. My breaks didn’t stop for me either. However, the pads had a good bit left on them though I don’t think it mattered, the abs kicked in and the car just made a weird noise. I second pumped the brakes and then the car just slid. The old fart (97) just kept coming at me past another woman into my side.
My problem was the abs made my brakes react too slow and way too poorly during that emergency stop.
Yes, the road was hot and very dry, no wet spots.
My problem was the abs made my brakes react too slow and way too poorly during that emergency stop.
Yes, the road was hot and very dry, no wet spots.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,845
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Originally Posted by Da Mail Man
....not an emergency brake but only a parking brake......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Originally Posted by Slalom4me
That car should be moved to a more secure impound location
before critical components mysteriously disappear.
If possible, a professional accident investigator should be called
upon to perform an inspection and write a report.
.
before critical components mysteriously disappear.
If possible, a professional accident investigator should be called
upon to perform an inspection and write a report.
.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 26,598
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
Cruise-In 8-9 Veteran
aka/Trunk Monkey/Banned For Life/Corvette For Life
it sounds like a booster to me. also i am happy that you are ok. are you going to try and fix teh vette? it looks like the frame is really bent
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Originally Posted by elefkow
"A public adjuster"
Public Adjusters are professionals who are employed exclusively by a
policyholder who has sustained an insured loss. They handle every
detail of the claim, working closely with the insured to provide the most
equitable and prompt settlement possible. A Public Adjuster inspects
the loss site immediately, analyzes the damages, assembles claim
support data, reviews the insured's coverage, determines current
replacement costs and exclusively serves the client, not the insurance
company.
What I had in mind is someone with technical knowledge of crashpolicyholder who has sustained an insured loss. They handle every
detail of the claim, working closely with the insured to provide the most
equitable and prompt settlement possible. A Public Adjuster inspects
the loss site immediately, analyzes the damages, assembles claim
support data, reviews the insured's coverage, determines current
replacement costs and exclusively serves the client, not the insurance
company.
physics and automobile mechanical systems, I believe (but do not know)
that such specialists are engaged when there are truck, bus or other
road vehicle accidents. Kind of a forensics accident investigator.
I have had boosters go bad on me - mine have failed with advance
warning. I did not understand what was happening the first time but
there was still notice that SOMETHING was deteriorating in the brake
system. A weak booster really increases an already stiff pedal effort
but I am large and seem to have been able to deal with it. Someone
with a different stature may not be as fortunate.
If the booster failed, who knows about the likelyhood of recourse.
However, the suggestion about the investigator is to have an
independent professional determine whether the recent mechanical
work on the brakes was somehow associated with the issue.
.
.
Last edited by Slalom4me; Sep 26, 2006 at 10:17 AM.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by JohnyH
THAT was catastophic! Glad to know it was only one bone in your knee, the vette sadly is another story! Hope you heal quickly! 
I spent 2 days in Shock Trauma. Broken Left arm (plates, pins & screws), Fractured Sternum & several right side ribs (from belts), Face looked like I made George Foreman mad (airbag). The good news is: I'm still here. The car did her job!! She crushed where she was supposed to, bags & belts did their job. The low seating position saved me from head injuries.
This car went over a 50-100' cliff, then collided head on with mother earth and flipped on its roof. In a lesser car and without the help of the MAN ABOVE
I wouldn't be here!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Dave - dude! You are a lucky man... roof landings in a C4 usually = dead.
I am glad you are ok.
You need to secure that vehicle and get a pro to check it out. I am betting on a failed booster, but if you put as much energy into that brake pedal, even a failed booster would have slowed you.
I am beginning to wonder if you were even pushing on the brake anymore... any sign of skid marks? Or something got jammed under the pedal.
Disc brakes will function, maybe not perfectly, in rather adverse conditions... even with bad (or non-existant) pads, they will still slow a car down.
I wish the car was closer to me, I would check it out for you.
I am glad you are ok.
You need to secure that vehicle and get a pro to check it out. I am betting on a failed booster, but if you put as much energy into that brake pedal, even a failed booster would have slowed you.
I am beginning to wonder if you were even pushing on the brake anymore... any sign of skid marks? Or something got jammed under the pedal.
Disc brakes will function, maybe not perfectly, in rather adverse conditions... even with bad (or non-existant) pads, they will still slow a car down.
I wish the car was closer to me, I would check it out for you.