Rear Brake Lock

[omega36]

Hi all,

Last night, while on the way to the movies, I was approaching a set of lights with a red-light camera at 70km/h (80km/h zone).

The light went yellow, I could make it, but didn't want to risk it as it's on a slight incline and I was in 5th gear, so I slammed on the brakes. As far as I was concerned, it would be a bit tight, but nothing to bat an eye lid over.

For the most part it was braking fine, but suddenly my rear brakes locked up and sent the rear of the car around, so much to the point that it felt like using the brakes were ineffective (I thought I was going to slide past the line and trigger the camera.)

When it came to rest, there was smoke everywhere, and I was sitting diagnonally across two lanes. Luckily no one was at the lights, and the car stopped just in time.

Naturally, I'm a bit worried - I wouldn't expect the car to behave like that at all.

I have new tyres that were only fitted about 3 months ago, and brake fluid levels seem OK. Is there a possibility that worn front pads, and not-so-worn rear pads would've caused this? The road was also very smooth.

Should I be checking brake lines, etc as well? Has anyone else experienced this, or could give me advice on this?

[omega36]

Also, as of 2 months ago, the car has new suspension, and all worn/flakey bushes, bearings, boots, joints etc have been replaced, so consider the suspension and general handling components OK.

[GTSBoy]

Did you clutch in as it got slow?

[MrStabby]

Worn pads dont make much difference unless you're all the way through to metal, and if that's the case you'll hear it. Is your ABS broken? (Any pulsing in the brake pedal?) They shouldn't ever lock up. The BNR32 is only a 3 channel ABS so if either rear locks up it should pulse.