gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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1964 FAN
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Post by gary350 on Mar 20, 2016 15:32:23 GMT -8
I had my SUV serviced the week before we left home. We drove 150 miles to go camping and had a great time for 4 days. This morning we packed up and took off for home. 20 miles down the road the vehicle brake pedal went to the floor trying to stop at a traffic light. Trailer brakes were not slowing us down very much so I pushed the Parking Brake also known as Emergency Brake 55 years ago. We came to a stop. I pulled into a parking lot to check the master cylinder and it was dry. I drove to auto parts store where I bought a bottle of brake fluid. I filled the master cylinder then pumped the brake several times and the master cylinder was dry again. OK no brakes, now what it is Sunday and nothing is open around here? I drove slow across the parking lot and got the trailer brakes adjusted a little stronger but apparently trailer brakes are not designed to drag a 2500 lb SUV loaded with 500 lbs of camping stuff plus it own trailer weight to a stop. I can slide the trailer tires but tires don't grip the road good enough to stop the SUV. Next I tried the SUV emergency brake and it stops us good enough to drive 135 miles home. We took off for home driving in the right lane and not over 60 mph in the 75 mph traffic on I-65. We had no trouble getting to I-840 where we turned east and another 20 miles home. There is an Arby's in K-Mart parking lot plenty of room to slow down and park for lunch so we stopped and had lunch 3 miles from home. We drove on home no problem. I had to anticipate what traffic was doing up ahead and plan to slow down before I get there. We made it home fine.
Before your next trip make sure your emergency brake works and is adjusted correctly.
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Post by danrhodes on Mar 20, 2016 15:54:42 GMT -8
I think I probably would have stopped and gotten the brakes fixed, but I'm a wuss
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Post by cardinal1957 on Mar 20, 2016 18:07:51 GMT -8
It sounds like a broken brake line. Did you look under your SUV to see if there was brake fluid on the ground? Brake lines get rusted and they will leak. I wouldn't have drove it without getting it fixed. You were lucky and I am glad you didn't have an emergency stop behind someone.
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Mar 20, 2016 19:10:48 GMT -8
I think I probably would have stopped and gotten the brakes fixed, but I'm a wuss I second that. I'm glad you're safe. |
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Post by bigbill on Mar 21, 2016 5:23:26 GMT -8
Looks like a GM truck was the line broke behind the gas tank? They are known for rusting where it goes between the tank and frame rail. You were very lucky no one got hurt.
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Mar 30, 2016 14:19:32 GMT -8
Better check the rear brake pads after using only the rear brakes all the way home (and the ones on the camper).
Also, brake fluid can catch fire under the right conditions. If you don't know where it's escaping from, it's risky to keep driving.
You said it was "serviced" right before you left. Did they do anything underneath? They could have damaged something.
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bpmcgee
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Post by bpmcgee on Apr 6, 2016 11:59:20 GMT -8
You're a better man than I am Gunga Din!
I wouldn't have driven 135 feet without vehicle brakes, let alone 135 miles on the highway!
B
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Post by bigbill on Apr 7, 2016 3:52:41 GMT -8
You're a better man than I am Gunga Din! I wouldn't have driven 135 feet without vehicle brakes, let alone 135 miles on the highway! B I would have to agree with the above statement, as even as old as I am I don't wish to die or worse yet have to live with the death of my loved ones or someone elses loved ones on my mind for ever. I would suggest that anyone who would consider such a thing get there vehicle up to 30 mph not 65 mph then try to make a panic stop. But if you do this be very careful as it may cause your vehicle to spin out and it will definitely do some serious sliding before it stops. This is why it is called a parking brake now instead of an emergency brake, because it is worthless in an emergency. |
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Lola53
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1953 Westfield Westerner
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Post by Lola53 on Apr 7, 2016 7:57:56 GMT -8
Did you determine the cause of the failure yet?
Mark
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