Hi All
First post here, so please be kind.
I had a v.scary blow out today, just as I was turning left off a v.busy road, then the brakes gave up, couldn't make the turn (it was sharp) so had to get back onto the main road going over one of those island thingies in the process. Nearly scared me half to death. The spare wheel has been attached (thanks to a very VERY kind passing lorry driver) and I drove home, albeit carefully, in case the brakes were to fail again.
My questions: Did the brakes fail because the wheel blew out....or is it more likely that the brakes failed first then the wheel got ruined when I hit the kerb of the island? The brakes did re-engage when I straightened up, and were OK on the 2 mile drive home. Should I be suspect of the brakes now, ie if I take the car on the road am I actually taking a big gamble with it?
NB it was serviced about six weeks ago, and new calipers were fitted just before Christmas.
Any advice on the car's roadworthiness (just to get to a garage) would be most welcome.
Also, any opinions on getting a new wheel from a scrapy...good idea or bad idea? It's five year old Fiesta.
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Possible cause would be a worn wheel bearing. As you turned the wheel would flop to one side pushing the pads apart and the next press of the pedal would only bring them back into contact with the discs again, without any pressure. From what you say it seems certain that the tyre blew when you hit the island.
Jack the car up and see if you have any play in the wheel, but I would not drivr it again till you have got it sorted. If you need to go to a garage, then join the AA or similar if you are not already a member and get it relayed in.
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Did the brake pedal sink to the floor or become solid under your foot?
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It felt solid under my foot, definitely didn't sink to the floor
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I wonder if you suffered brake fade. cause discs and pads overheating.Just a thought but as brakes were ok afterwards-Are your discs vented or non vented?
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Steve
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Hello Steve - I'm afraid I have no idea if my discs are vented or non-vented, I'm in no way mechanically minded. I just know that this has never ever happened in the four years/50000 miles I've owned this car. It's a five year old fiesta, just a 1.3 engine all v.modest, maybe that would provide some clues about the braking system installed?
I just want to drive the car, not far...go and get some groceries rather than walk the 3 country road miles to the shop...is it safe??? Then obviously drop it in with the garage on Monday morning.
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If you hit the island with no tyre, I think the wheel would be pac-man shaped and would have caused other damage, if not, it sounds like the tyre nobily cushioned the blow and was sacrificed in the process.
Sounds to me like the car is overdue for being scrapped for all of our sakes!
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Scrapped??? Even if it's only the wheel bearing?
I shouldn't think the discs on a 1.3 Fiesta are vented. I would check the bearings first as someone above mentioned.
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Adam
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P.S.
Don't drive it.
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Adam
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Rishab, thanks for your email...but I sincerely hope you are joking about the car being scrapped, that is quite a draconian diagnosis to make without even having seen the vehicle or being sure of the fault. Are you a mechanic? Do you get lots of repeat business???
Maybe you have misunderstood my confusion about the sequence of events and which I was hoping someone knowledgeable would be able to advise: ie when I initially braked the car slowed, the brakes then stopped responding though the pedal was hard underfoot, and as the bend was too sharp to take at that speed the best I could do was to straighen up, drive over the island and onto the hard shoulder of the main road...at which point the brakes worked and I was able to stop. So, was this sequence started by a blow out which affected the brakes...or did the brakes fail first and the blow out happen when I hit the kerb. Obviously the 2nd scenario is the worst but is it likely in a Fiesta, or any other car for that matter? NB When the spare was put on the brakes worked, they kept working for the 2 mile drive home involving 1 turn to the left, 1 roundabout and three turns to the right.
The wheel has a big dent in the rim where it hit the kerb, so yes kind of pacman shaped...the wheel on the other side is fine, still inflated this morning.
I just want to know if it's safe to drive the silly thing!!
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Possible thought, if there is a brake servo installed, could the servo have failed, giving the impression of total loss of braking?
Either loss of vacuum or servo diaphram failure ?
Get somebody who knows what they are doing to look at it before you drive it again!
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pmh (was peter)
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Thanks Peter. I had a chat with a mechanic and he thought it would be OK to drive it to him on Monday morning. I appreciate he wants my business and hope that the thought of making a few bucks didn't cloud his judgement of the safety issue. I think I will drop it down Sunday evening when the roads are quieter and in the meantime walk everywhere, or go nowhere (I live in the country).
Thanks for all the replies everyone.
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>>in the meantime walk everywhere, or go nowhere<<
Are you telling us to do that? ;-)
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Adam
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Does it have ABS? Could have been the ABS's pressure release valve not returning and hence not giving you any brake pressure.
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Mike Farrow
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I don't think they had ABS on at that time but I'm preparing to stand and be corrected at the same time.
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Adam
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ABS? In my dreams mate! They did exist at the time but as I was in a hurry to buy a car having had my previous motor wrecked by a joy rider, I took the best of what I saw and could afford at the time. Given that I had just signed for a new kitchen, then had my car nicked/wrecked and then got the sack...all in the space of ten days...ABS was low on my priority list! The car has been a good enough purchase but sailing through the air at about 50 mph yesterday on the edge of a busy dual carriageway has made me not like it very much any more. I would love to get rid, never mind that there isn't a single carpet in the house I've just moved into. Ho hum...
So, no, there's no ABS, it's not a sophisticated model by any stretch of the imagination.
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Scrap yard wheels and tyres? Great. Just check for bulges/ nails and splits on the tyre. My son does it always on his 1.1 Fiesta. £10 a throw...
Sudden brake failure? Could be :
1. a split vacuum feed to servo.. giving no servo action.. check pipe from inlet manifold.(whistling noises?)
2. Brake master cylinder failure. (unlikely as pedal firm and still ok
3. Pads in new calipers sticking giving brake fade (no they are unlikely to be vented disks and certainly no ABS on a 1.3) Get mechanic to check.
4. Oil/grease on disks from a failed oil seal on one drive shaft. Surprisingly common. You will see oil/grease under wheelarches all over inside of wheel. May burn off on a stop. Very very dangerous.
5. Leak in brake system. Try brakes on the drive. If there is a leak, you may see fluid on ground under car. Ver dangerous.
6. Failure of rear wheel cylinders at rear leading to fluid loss. But solid pedal means this is unlikely.
Personally I would get mechanic to check over thoroughly entire system and find cause before driving it again.
5 year old Fiestas are young. My son's is 11 and does just a baby. Still does 250miles/week (had new disks/pads/front hoses and brake master cylinder. Brakes superb.
madf
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Apart from what pmh mentioned.It could have been brake fade.Its not likely wheel bearing caused it as you drove for a while afterwards..I would be inclined to have the vacuum pipe checked out to Servo/and have servo checked.. and whether your discs are within limits..From what you said.I would say its servo failure?
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Steve
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If the servo failed you would notice straight away,the brakes would be so ineffective you would be grabbing for the handbrake.
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Are you sure the brakes failed or did the deflated tyre just skid along the surface and feel like brake failure? If the brakes worked on the way home then there is no reason not to travel to the garage if you take care.
Scrapyard wheels are an excelent buy but inspect the tyre for cuts, bulges and uneaven wear it is also a good idea to have the wheel balanced!
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