Brake failure to think about

Hi!
That time of year when part time Alfa drivers like me dig car out of the garage for the summer sun. I have and S4 spider which is a fab little car but almost mangled it on second run of the year. I am posting this as a warning to others as gave me fright of my life and can happen to any one.
I had just come off motorway and was slowing down approaching traffic lights in town when brakes failed completely requiring me to yanks on handbrake and go into bit of a control side slid, Then drift to road side. I had a mechanic come to look at it before I took it any further but by the time he arrived all was good. Front drivers side wheel was however very warm. On further investigation it would seem that front brake was binding maybe as car had not been used regularly and this had caused brake fluid to heat to the point that it thinned so much that it passed and brake hydraulics failed. Once car had sat for a few minutes it had cooled enough to allow operation again. For all car buffs who run their classics now and again worth giving brakes a good overhaul before putting it on the road every summer. Apart from fright you will save yourself you also won't need to pay for as a minimum a new set of brake shoes. Drive safe.

Cheers,

John

One other thing to watch out for is the master brake cylinder. It is positioned virtually over the exhaust manifold and exposed to a lot of heat. This causes the rubber seals in the cylinder to harden over time and reduce braking efficency. Regular fluid changes and replacement of the cylinder when your brakes 'soften' will avoid a potential disaster. Also brake fluid, if not changed regularly on a car, will absorb water!