Brakes

[loobie]

This morning I had to stop on a rather steep hill, I put on my handbrake and when I took my foot off the brake I rolled back big time. My actual footbrake doesn't seem to stop the car very well (takes a lot of sudden pressure to come to a halt) and now this has happened. i have only been driving for a few weeks so it really shook me up when I nearly rolled into a car!! Anyone who has any ideas of what is up please help and also the kind of cost of fixing it.

Cheers

[v64paul]

no easy answer i'm afraid loobie. what i will say is get it checked out by someone whose ability you trustas soon as humanly possible. you by your own admission are relatively inexperienced at driving but even you know something aint right. get it checked, cos i'd hate to lose a fellow ab'er...

[jake-the-peg]

Cars do vary but as you've only been driving a short time its a good bet its a fairly small car  a few years old (but not ancient).

I'd guess you've got drum brakes on the back wheels that the handbrake locks and assists in breaking when driving.

Drum brakes are like a cake tin attached to the wheels with semi-circular brake pads or "shoes" inside them. These are pushed out against the inside of the drum which is where the additional braking effort comes from and how the handbrake works.

Although in older cars these used to need adjusting to take up wear, this is automatic in more modern systems so it's a fairly good bet that the shoes need replacing. It could be the drums too (which is more expensive) if they've been like that for some time

However this is just speculation you need to get them checked out - most tyre outlets like ATS do brakes as well and will do a free "safety check" and tell you what needs doing.

[Jackson74]

Looks like new shoes on your back brakes, or may be corroded pads.

Shouldn't be too expensive just the labour that costs, providing you do it sooner rather than later, so discs aren't affected. Put you car in first gear when parking (this will stop car from rolling), but remember you have done so as you'll jump forward when starting.  This is a temp measure until fixed.

Ta

[ianess]

Great advice by v64paul.    Don't hang about....get your brakes checked out immediately.....the day before tomorrow if possible.  You, or someone else, may live or otherwise to regret any delay.    Pick someone you can trust as opposed to some well-known names who have a perhaps unjustified reputation as rip-off merchants.  DO NOT GAMBLE WITH BRAKES.

[criag]

possibble causes of your brake pedal un-responsiveness is perhaps a seized wheel cylinder or brake calliper but sounds like you need a complete brake system overhaul