[DUMBGRUNT]

Many miles on many beaters, never a total braking failure.

An ancient and faithful IH Travelall that I gave my brother, had a wheel cylinder fail and it kissed bumpers with another vehicle.

Can happen.

[rfp1234]

Useful if you get stuck in deep-sand banks on backroads (e.g. Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah).

[foundedonpurpose]

Down shift, get it in neutral and find a grade or some thickets if need be. There are ways! Be as safe as you can be!

[NWFree]

Just what I needed - a complex automobile expensive to maintain with even more CRAP to go wrong. 🤪

[PIF]

Great for rush hour on the freeway where every one is going 70+ with 10 feet between vehicles. Gotta love those pile ups in the morning, in the dark as the hits just keep coming ...

[Seruzawa]

Lol. And when the sensor glitches while you are doing 80mph?

[dayglored]

I had brakes fail completely once on a hilly city street, going downhill in a big SUV loaded to the roof with heavy band PA gear, behind two other cars and coming up to a light that had just gone red. Hit the brakes and my foot went to the floor.

Steered hard into the curb and slowed down just enough that when I contacted the car in front of me I was only going about 10 MPH. Everybody was okay, just a little shook up.

I'm not sure that having the tires go flat would have helped much.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I once drove a friend’s Pontiac Bonneville on its final trip to the wrecker, because nobody else would. Drove it with absolutely no brakes (not even the parking brake), clear across a medium-sized city without hitting anyone. When I had to stop, I’d downshift the automatic into low, then slip it into reverse to stop completely, then into park or neutral until the light changed.

Today, I’d tell her to call a tow truck, but I was 44 years dumber then.

[No.6]

>the tires will go flat to help slow the car down if the braking system fails.

You have violated the limits set by your VaxxGreen Social Score, citizen. Your tires are now being deflated remotely to prevent you from exceeding your carbon and/or social limits.

[DannyTN]

I can't think of anything that would help more in an emergency situation than 4 flat tires.

• I know you're water has broke and you want to get to the hospital, but I can't do it. Four flat tires.
• I know you'd like me to help you move, but four flat tires.
• You want me to move out of your parking spot that you paid for? Sorry four flat tires.

[dinodino]

I had the brakes go out on me in a ‘50 Ford…there’s a reason they’re called “emergency brakes.”

[Deaf Smith]

"total braking failure"

The Lincoln line of MKVII (1988-92) had a hydroboost braking system with no redundancy.

When it fails, usually daily driving symptoms (increased stopping distance) gave you a week before total failure if one had not crashed before then.

I changed out mine ('90 MKVII HO) to a '95 Mustang GT vaccumm booster, any '90's V8 Cougar master cylinder, machined the proportioning valve to mate new brakeline connection.

Looked and drove factory when completed.

[Openurmind]

By the time it stops you the car will be on fire. Friction is a real thing.

[Revel]

Flat front tires make the car very hard to maneuver.