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Question

Difficulty: MediumBrake Failure Management

You are driving on a suburban roadway at 45 mph when you press the brake pedal and find it sinks completely to the floor without slowing the vehicle. What is the proper sequence of actions you should take to safely bring the vehicle under control?

  1. A
    Shift immediately into Park and pull the parking brake lever firmly to lock the rear wheels.
  2. Pump the brake pedal rapidly several times, downshift to a lower gear, and gradually apply the parking brake.Answer
  3. C
    Turn off the ignition key to stop engine power and steer gently toward the road shoulder.
  4. D
    Hold the brake pedal down firmly while swerving the steering wheel back and forth to create tire friction.

Answer

Pump the brake pedal rapidly several times, downshift to a lower gear, and gradually apply the parking brake.
When experiencing total service brake failure, pumping the brake pedal may build enough residual fluid pressure to slow down. Downshifting to a lower gear utilizes engine braking, and applying the parking brake gradually provides mechanical stopping power without causing the vehicle to skid.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Pump the brake pedal rapidly
Attempts to build up remaining hydraulic pressure in the braking system.
If brake fluid is low or pressure was temporarily lost, pumping may restore sufficient pressure to slow the vehicle.
2
Downshift to a lower gear
Engages engine braking to slow forward momentum naturally.
Selecting a lower transmission gear forces engine resistance to reduce vehicle speed safely.
3
Gradually apply the parking brake
Provides direct mechanical braking force to the rear wheels.
Applying the parking brake smoothly prevents sudden rear-wheel lockup and skidding.

Key Concept

Brake Failure Emergency Management
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Brake Failure Management

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