YACT: brakes dont respond for a second after hitting a bump

[Leros]

This has happened to me on numerous occasions. Whenever I hit a bump (defect in the road or whatever) my brakes dont respond for about a second.

Today, I was gonna turn into my bank, but there is big dip in the road right before the turn. I hit my brakes as usual and my car kept going right past the bank. This is really scaring me, cuz it could be dangerous.

Other than the bumps, the brakes work just fine. A bit squeally, however the brake pads are almost brand new. What could this be?

 

[MaxFusion16]

did you check the brake fluid?

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: MaxFusion16
did you check the brake fluid?

Of course, its fine.

 

[jlee]

Weird. Have you checked the brake fluid? Year/make/model?

What happens..does the pedal go to the floor..have resistence..feel normal..?
Edit: Dialup..bah 😛

 

[MaxFusion16]

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: MaxFusion16
did you check the brake fluid?

Of course, its fine.

then i'd suggest you take off the wheels and inspect the brake calipers and pads

can't think of anything else

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Weird. Have you checked the brake fluid? Year/make/model?

What happens..does the pedal go to the floor..have resistence..feel normal..?
Edit: Dialup..bah 😛

The pedal goes down normal (there is resitance), but it pushes back kinda bouncy.

The car is a 2001 cavalier. Im only gonna be driving this thing for about another month, so i dont wanna put too much money into. On the other hand, I dont wanna kill myself.

 

[bootymac]

Your car recoiled from the bump and it was actually flying for a second

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: MaxFusion16

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: MaxFusion16
did you check the brake fluid?

Of course, its fine.

then i'd suggest you take off the wheels and inspect the brake calipers and pads

can't think of anything else

I got new pads installed a month ago. How easy is it to check the calipers?

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: bootymac
Your car recoiled from the bump and it was actually flying for a second

A car shouldn take 100ft to regain traction.

 

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Weird. Have you checked the brake fluid? Year/make/model?

What happens..does the pedal go to the floor..have resistence..feel normal..?
Edit: Dialup..bah 😛

The pedal goes down normal (there is resitance), but it pushes back kinda bouncy.

The car is a 2001 cavalier. Im only gonna be driving this thing for about another month, so i dont wanna put too much money into. On the other hand, I dont wanna kill myself.

Sounds like your car is bouncing a little bit after the bump and the anti-lock system thinks you're skidding when you try to brake. It happens sometimes when I turn into my driveway.

Try holding down the pedal after the bump (even if it's "bouncy") and see how long it takes the brakes to grip.

 

[jlee]

Even if the calipers were loose, I don't see how it would cause this problem..

You could pull a wheel and wiggle stuff -- nothing except the brake line itself should move..

Edit: Ah..think jumpr might be onto something..

 

[Black88GTA]

When was the last time you looked at the shocks? Could be that the shocks are old and not rebounding like they should be, keeping the wheels off the ground longer than normal when you hit a bump.

The "bouncy" feeling could be the ABS kicking in - if the front wheels are still in the air when the brakes are pushed, they will stop spinning almost immediately. The computer will see this, see that the rears are still spinning, "think" that the front wheels are locked up, and activate ABS.

Just something to check out.

 

[m2kewl]

do the suspension test.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Weird. Have you checked the brake fluid? Year/make/model?

What happens..does the pedal go to the floor..have resistence..feel normal..?
Edit: Dialup..bah 😛

The pedal goes down normal (there is resitance), but it pushes back kinda bouncy.

The car is a 2001 cavalier. Im only gonna be driving this thing for about another month, so i dont wanna put too much money into. On the other hand, I dont wanna kill myself.

Sounds like your car is bouncing a little bit after the bump and the anti-lock system thinks you're skidding when you try to brake. It happens sometimes when I turn into my driveway.

Try holding down the pedal after the bump (even if it's "bouncy") and see how long it takes the brakes to grip.

Once it gets bouncy, I floor the brake. Even then, the car goes 100ft or so. Im not sure on the distance, but its definently long enough that if the car in front of me suddenly stopped I would have no chance at braking in time.

Hopefully I can survive another month.

 

[jlee]

See if any shops around you have free brake checks -- brakes & tires are the most important parts of the car..

 

[Koenigsegg]

Just don't jump out your window if your brakes fail.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Koenigsegg
Just don't jump out your window if your brakes fail.

Does the emergency brake actually help at stopping a car? You always hear about people driving with the emergecy brake on, so im not sure how much stopping power it has.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: Koenigsegg
Just don't jump out your window if your brakes fail.

Does the emergency brake actually help at stopping a car? You always hear about people driving with the emergecy brake on, so im not sure how much stopping power it has.

it's called drifting 😉 it doesn't work, they just put it there for looks 😛

 

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: Koenigsegg
Just don't jump out your window if your brakes fail.

Does the emergency brake actually help at stopping a car? You always hear about people driving with the emergecy brake on, so im not sure how much stopping power it has.

Well, if you're pressing on the gas pedal it won't help you stop very well, but if you yank up on the e-brake in a true emergency, it'll certainly slow the car down a good bit.

 

[Leros]

Alright, now if only my airbag light would stop blinking, I would feel semi-safe.

 

[jlee]

The emergency brake will definitely help..

 

[hemiram]

What are you driving?

If it's a full size GM Truck, they (GM) claims it's normal.

 

[sao123]

You hit the bump. went airborn for a second. while in the air, your brakes locked the wheels tight. Sensing the immediate stop, the antilocks kicked in, (why the pedal was pushing back.) Next time dont hit the bump so hard.