I was driving the car and had to slam on brakes now they feel locked up what can it be
I was driving my aunt's Dodge Charger and I had to slam on the breaks because someone pulled in front of me and now when trying to drive the car it feels like it don't want to go like if the brakes are locked up or something do you know what it could be
My car has 25180 miles.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
There are some recalls from Dodge for the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) which can possibly pertain to your vehicle. I recommend having the vehicle checked by a mechanic to assess the condition of your brakes or try having the dealer reprogram the system.
If you’d like a second opinion on this issue, feel free to enlist a qualified mobile technician who can come to you and diagnose the issue with your brakes firsthand.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Common Reasons Brake Lock Up
Overheated braking system. Using the wrong brake fluid. Damaged or broken parts (calipers, brake pads, pistons, rotors, or others) Defective ABS components.
The heat and pressure generated when slamming on the brakes can cause tears and cracks in the hoses. Such damage can result in fluid leaks that eat away at your brake pads. Left unchecked, brake fluid levels can become low and render your brakes completely unresponsive—severely compromising your safety on the road.
Before anti-lock brakes (ABS), brake systems locking up while driving was much more common. When speeding over black ice or wet leaves, it is tempting to slam on the brakes when you need to stop. However, that will lead to the system locking up and send you sliding down the road.
What to do if your brakes have seized. Depending on the level of seizure, it is often the case that rocking the car can release the brakes. To do this safely, turn on your vehicle and drive forward and reverse in succession.
The ABS is supposed to prevent your brakes from locking. The system operates through a computer in your vehicle to send messages when it senses unusual wheel decelerations. The computer reduces pressure on the wheel so the brakes will stop the vehicle. Brakes can lock up if your ABS system is faulty.
A restricted brake line or brake hose often causes self-applying brakes. The fluid gets stuck in the hose and cannot return to the reservoir. So when releasing the brake pedal, the brakes remain engaged because the hydraulic pressure is still applied.
Without ABS, your front wheels will lock if you brake hard and the car will skid in a straight line, irrespective of what way the front wheels are pointing, unless you release some brake pressure and allow the front wheels to spin again. ABS does the same thing, you just don`t have to think about it.
slam on the brakes
: to press down hard on the brakes of a car to make it stop suddenly.
Unfortunately, if one of your brake calipers has seized up, the working discs and pads on the other side of the vehicle will have to take over. This is why you may feel your car pull to one side whenever you brake hard (which can cause you to become a hazard on the road).
If you lock the brakes when braking suddenly, you lose steering ability. Communication with others to reduce risk in a possible conflict situation involves making sure others see you. When braking in an emergency stop, you should avoid locking the brakes.
Slamming on the brakes can throw a person`s body forward and jerk it at odd angles, which can cause serious injuries to the driver and the passengers inside the vehicle. Head, neck, and even brain injuries can result.
If the piston is stuck within the caliper, or the pad is stuck, the car can feel down on power (as if the parking brake is on). You may also notice the car pulling to one side with the steering wheel pointed straight, when cruising and not applying the brake. As you drive, the seized brake may also get hot – very hot.
Brake System Damage
Slamming on the brakes also damages the brake system. It can overheat the brake pads, causing them to glaze and causing you to lose control of your vehicle when the brake system fails. Slamming on the brakes is also damaging to the brake hoses.
The most common injuries from hard braking are whiplash and neck pain. The most common damage from panic breaking is a concussion. Hard braking can also cause injuries, such as seatbelt burns, broken bones, and internal bleeding. Panic braking can also cause head-on collisions.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I replaced the brake light switch. Gear lever unlocked because it had locked. Now the brakes feel hard.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. You need to check the brake switch install adjustment. You may have the switch adjusted too tight and it is holding the the brake pedal partly down. This will cause the brake master cylinder to not release the brakes when you let off the pedal. Readjust the switch away from the pedal until you feel some free play again in the pedal. This should fix the problem. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
I was driving the car and had to slam on brakes now they feel locked up what can it be
ANSWER : There are some recalls from Dodge for the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) which can possibly pertain to your vehicle. I recommend having the vehicle checked by a mechanic to assess the condition of your brakes or try having the dealer reprogram the system.
If you’d like a second opinion on this issue, feel free to enlist a qualified mobile technician who can come to you and diagnose the issue with your brakes firsthand.
MY BRAKES LOCK AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP ANY IDEA WHAT THAT IS?
ANSWER : Hi there. It’s possible that you have a failing brake master cylinder or brake caliper that is causing the brake issues you’re experiencing. In some cases, when a master cylinder is leaking, you’ll get that smell you are noticing; however it can be something entirely different – ranging from a damaged ABS sensor or a brake module. Due to the multiple possible causes of these issues and since brakes locking up is a significant safety concern, it would recommend having a professional mechanic come to your location and complete a brake system inspection to start the diagnosis process.
Brake sensor is to sensitive causing brakes to flicker while driving. 2005 Mercury Montego
ANSWER : Hi there – your brake light switch needs a minor adjustment. It is adjusted too "tight" or close to the brake pedal lever, or possibly has failed. Adjusting/replacing it will eliminate this flickering problem. I recommend a brake light isn’t working inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
abs light on brake line broke have been replace I bleed brake line but brake pad still go to the floor now wheels lock up
ANSWER : Hello. If the brake pedal is going to the floor then that means that it is not building pressure. If the brake system has been fully bled and there is no air in it then most of the time it is a bad master cylinder or it can be caused by a bad ABS module. If the brake fluid was low and if air got into the system then the only way to properly bleed it is with a scan tool that would allow you to open and close the valves in the ABS unit. Air gets trapped in these easily if the brake fluid gets low. This can also explain why the brakes are locking up. I would usually use my scan tool to bleed the system out first before going any further. I would also scan the brake control module to see what it is reading as a fault. If there is no air in the system and if there is no prominent code then I would replace the master cylinder first. If you want to check out why your brakes are locking up, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair this.
Brakes lock up during driving, if the car is stopped fast
ANSWER : Hello. If the vehicle has anti-lock brakes, then it should not lock up like this. This will only occur if there is a sensor problem with the vehicle. I would start by installing a scan tool that can read the brake module information. Once this is installed, then I monitor the wheel speeds to see if they are correct. If they are, then it may have an issue with the yaw sensor. If you are not sure about the ABS, then you can turn on the key and see if there is an ABS light. If there is not, then the vehicle does not have ABS. If you want to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to inspect your brake system and make a diagnosis.
EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
When I put my foot on the brake my back left brake light goes off, when I take it off the brake the brake light comes on
ANSWER : I would suggest trying to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the rear lights. I have seen these older Toyota vehicles rear lighting short out on the lights themselves due to the way the light circuit was made on the lamp housing. Look at the housing circuit on the light to see if one is touching another, and that could tell you why it is malfunctioning. There could also be a problem with the brake light switch. If you are not comfortable dealing with wires, I recommend getting in touch with a certified mechanic who can look at your brake light issue for you to see what’s going on.
