This tried to kill me yesterday

[bigdrifter]

Well, maybe not quite that dramatic but could have been very interesting if l'd been carrying any serious pace. Out on a road test in a customers Lexus GS430 V8 slowing down in a 30mph zone to pull into a junction when l hear a loud clunk followed by a funny feeling brake pedal, so l gently bring it to a stop and get out for a look to see what the problem was. All wheels were tight, plenty of wind in the tyres and nothing hanging down so l set off again only to hear a constant rumble coming from te N/S/F wheel so l stop again to make sure nothings falling off and drive slowly to the garage.
I pulled into the garage and jacked that corner up straight away, had a good pull at the wheel to find no free play and then spun it by hand.......
Rumble, rumble, clonk and bang goes the wheel. So, looking through the spokes l notice that the wheel is still turning yet the disc is staying still. Off came the wheel to reveal this:



Anyone see a problem yet?

How about now.....





I can honestly say l have never seen this happen before, even more surprised that it would happen at such a low speed and low braking pressure on a very well made car.

[Dann]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

you had a lucky escape dude!you totaly ok, could of been very seriouse!

dann

[mick g]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

Two piece brake disc eh? Is your customer up for a new set of four?

[MK2-JOHN]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

Bloody hell, thats a new one on me

[BazW]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

replied to this on VXON. even at 60 mph that could've been nasty

[Ian T]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

Ouch. lucky escape!

Wonder what it's history has been... reckon it's ever been stood on the discs, or been in an accident at some point?

Ian.

[bigdrifter]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

He's owned the car for years, aside for getting zero maintainence unless absolutely necessary then it doesn't get looked at. Never been in a crash that he know's of and its his wifes motor 99% of the time aswell! Lucky she crawls everywhere in it - somehow manages to average 25mpg from the 4.3 V8

[Ian T]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

I was thinking that it didn't look like new damage, as the crack looks rusty in the photos - a new one would be dark grey probably?

Maybe they are much lighter on the brakes and the experience of a different driver was all it needed to complete the failure.

Ian.

[bigdrifter]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

Well, they've barely been using the brakes at all for the last few weeks due to the rear end being metal on metal aswell....... You should see what its done to the original chrome wheels

[BazW]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

some people don't give a toss. when i sold cars we used to get some right heaps come in PX, they always wanted top money for them too

[Dannyc]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

Bloody hell you were lucky Bigdrifter.

Never seen that happen before.

Presumably there was a crack in the disc already.

Doesn't help that the car sounds like it has been poorly maintained in the past as well.

Glad your ok, could have been a lot worse.

[Sipo]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

Jesus, thats not too clever!!

[F'astra 16v]

Re: This tried to kill me yesterday

jap crap! lol, its got to be just a fault in the casting and its just given up, it isn't neciserily down to poor maintenence ive seen and had some right gyppo mobiles an nothings gone wrong to that caliber!