Gangus2006

Well, long story short, my brakes suck. Today I went to the hardware store to pick up a UniBit, and I was following around 2-3 car lenghts behind the car in front (A bimmer convertible). We were going around 45MPH or so. The bimmer gets cut off by another car, slams on her brakes, forcing me to do the same. I get to within 3-5 feet of her car, and it seemed as if my brakes just quit, like they let go. So I had to slam th etranny into P and try to steer away. Well, acident avoided, and about two minutes later, one of my friends call me. Turns out she was driving the bimmer, and she wanted to know if I was trying to kill her or something.

HOW THE HELL DO I MAKE THEM STICK AGAIN? The stopping distance sucks, and once in a while it just lets go.

What should I do? Get new front rotors/pads and rear shoes? What kind should i get, and where?

User 051420

If the pedal suddenly goes away, that's called brake fade. Get your system checked. I've had a brake nightmare but it turned out to be a master cylinder and rear axle seals.

How's your tranny now?

4RUNR

That is not following, that is tailgating.
What other maintenance (besides slamming it in P) did you do to the truck so it stopped braking correctly?

4Runner 4Play

On a side note (sorta hi-jack) I belive 2-3 car lengths away from the car in front would not be considered Tailgating. I dunno bout the rest of the world, but tailgating would like 1 car length and less. But in regards to the brake issue, Yeah I would completly check the whole sys. Just like Gapguy said Its called brake fade, I've had issues with it too. And what I eventually did was replace Calipers, new rotors, and drums and then bled the hell out it. Well is much better now, But still, your trying to stop a 5000lb beast so it will not stop on a dime. Just my two cents.
Cheers, Lee Hathaway

4RUNR

45mph = 132 ft in 2 seconds. 2-3 car length is 30-45 ft.
1 car length would be adequate for 5mph according to the 2 second rule, but I don't know how your math down there in Canada works

Brake fade should not even come into the picture on an initial and first emergency stop.

Gangus2006

Well, the pedal pressure is stil there, but it seems like the brakes just let go, like they stopped braking. I think Im gonna ask my parents for money to do a full brake overhaul.

On regards to my tranny, it seems fine. Im gonna do some testing to make sure though. I dont think the tranny was made to stop the car going at ~20MPH, but I dont htink it is a twig either. Hopefuly I dont have any tranny damage, but thats how I learned to drive. Apparently its better to have a busted tranny then to kill someone because you cant stop..