[ad_1]
A Facebook posting tells the story of a Bronco driver who stopped to avoid hitting a deer. Then, the Bronco fried a few more miles. The fire consumed most of the SUV. Fortunately, the two passengers were not hurt. The question remains whether this is yet another, another safety issue or a fluke occurrence.
Could the Bronco’s brake line be causing the failure?
It happened in Iowa according to the Bronco 6th Gen Facebook page. A friend of the Bronco’s owner drives it with a passenger. “He had to close his brakes to miss a deer, and seven miles down the road the ABS locked the brakes and broke the brake line, and then it shorted out and started a fire,” the poster said.
If the ABS system pressure is enough to break the brake line, that is a major safety concern. But it doesn’t seem possible, especially since stainless steel brake lines combined with ABS systems have been around for decades. If the brakes are partially engaged from the system not working, then the brakes can heat up. But only seven miles away, it didn’t seem like enough to start a fire.
Broncos equipped with the 2.3-liter engine had vacuum booster brakes. Those equipped with the 2.7-liter have electronic power brakes. We don’t know which engine this particular Bronco came with.
Have there been any reported Bronco brake issues?
There have been reports of brake issues. One is for vacuum lines that become contaminated on 2.3-liter models. The brake will precharge but then release quickly. Precharging occurs when there is contact from an object with the bumper, or optical sensors detect a possible collision.
Precharge reduces the time for applying the brakes when a collision is imminent. The brake warning or brake system warning lamp is an indication, and the described “ABS locked up” is probably the ABS module that is powering the brakes.
In looking at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recalls and complaints we are seeing nothing similar to this incident. Bronco Sport models had a brake recall in late 2021 over improperly manufactured rear brake linings.
Is the brake fluid burning?
So without pointing fingers, we wonder if there is more to this story than has been reported. Brake fluid is flammable because it is a glycol-based fluid. So it can be thought, if it comes into contact with the exhaust, it can catch fire. It has a 1 flammability rating which means a flashpoint of 73.4 F degrees and a boiling point of 95 F degrees.
But the question is how does a stainless steel brake line crack? PSI ratings indicate that there is not enough pressure to do that. That’s why copper lines are prohibited. However, today’s copper-nickel brake lines are legal. They are rated only slightly higher than stainless steel.
If we hear anything more about this incident, we will update this post.
[ad_2]
Source link
