Flat spot

[RadRacer]

So....I was cruising down the road today, and some idiot decides to pull out in front of me. Pull the e-brake so I don't hit him and do a pretty nice slide. But, it left a flat spot on my tire now. It's only 1 tire (isn't the e-brake supposed to lock up both rear tires?), and I don't really feel like replacing it. Cuz, if I replace one, then I'm gonna say, well why not go ahead and get all four. And I don't have the $$ for that (can't even afford one). So, is there any fix for a flat spot? I was thinking a nice burnout would kind of round it up abit more and help some. I know it's gonna run my tread down, but it's better than buying a new tire. Any suggestions? You can feel the flat spot when you drive, and I'm kind of afraid something's going to happen to my car. Am I in any danger driving with a flat spot on 1 tire? Is there any fix to it?

Thanks in advanced guys.

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Flat spot

Why did you pull your ebrake? the normal brakes stop you faster...

[Rob Bell]

Re: Flat spot

Why did you pull the e-brake instead of just hitting your regular brakes? Then you would have had all four wheels working to stop you, plus the ABS would have been helping out too. I doubt there is any fix for a flat spot, especially when it is worn into the tire.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Flat spot

Why did you pull your ebrake? the normal brakes stop you faster...

LOL we were thinking the same thing at the same time

[RadRacer]

Re: Flat spot

cuz for some reason my regular brakes don't work as well. I think they may need to be bled, but I'm not sure. I used the pedal last time some one pulled out in front of me, and my brakes haven't been the same since, so I thought using the e-brake would be abit better. Plus, when you've got 1/10 of a second to respond, you don't have much time to think, so you do what you can.

[FireBird_Fr3ak]

Re: Flat spot

My brother tends to rest his hand on the e-brake while driving, it kinda scares me. he got two bald spots on his tires from braking too but it was b/c his abs fuse blew.

[HokieBird]

Re: Flat spot

Fix your brakes the fronts do all the work. You shouldn't be on the road if your brakes aren't working properly.

A flat spot is only going to get worse. They tend to lock the tire up under regular braking and proceed too make the flat spot bigger.

[auto666]

Re: Flat spot

a big fat burnout worked for me just have to make sure the right tire spins and the reason only one tire locked up is because either your rears arnt ajusted evenly or your ebrake cable isnt adjusted equally. your brakes dont work well:spank:

[auto666]

Re: Flat spot

what year or motor do you have

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Flat spot

what the **** kind of redneck deathtrap are you driving? Your ebrake works better then regular brakes.


fix your brakes.



as far as I know no fixes for flat spots, I had an ABS sensor issues and my tires were at the wear bars so I had fun and would lock them up on backroads for fun, flatspotted them in several spots bad, causes HORRID vibration in my steering. So I just bought cheap set of wheels/tires off a z28 guy.

[BobDoLe]

Re: Flat spot

how much tread is left on the flat spot?
sounds like you need new tires.

[RadRacer]

Re: Flat spot

It's not a redneck death trap. I just don't have time (or the know-how) to adjust my brakes. I think all they need is a good bleeding, but I'm not entirely sure. As for year and all, it's a 97 3.8 Camaro. I did a quick burnout and it rides alot better now. I'm going to have to do a better one on the way to school, and hope it fixes it.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Flat spot

It's not a redneck death trap. I just don't have time (or the know-how) to adjust my brakes. I think all they need is a good bleeding, but I'm not entirely sure. As for year and all, it's a 97 3.8 Camaro. I did a quick burnout and it rides alot better now. I'm going to have to do a better one on the way to school, and hope it fixes it.

then take it somewhere...

front brakes do like 70% of braking
Rear brakes do like 30% of braking.

and being a 97 if its a non-Y87 it may even be less thent hat since you have drums.


If your car stops better by pulling the e-brake(especially locking it up, vs, slowly engaging it), then that means your regular brakes are doing less then 30% of their job.

fix it, or have it towed to a shop, and warn the guy driving it on the lift, because he might not be able to stop the car driving it and might drive it right off the other side.

[Vanquish]

Re: Flat spot

My brother tends to rest his hand on the e-brake while driving, it kinda scares me. he got two bald spots on his tires from braking too but it was b/c his abs fuse blew.

I guess I'm just used to southern driving, I thought it was manditory to drive with your hand on the e-brake. I know I do, but that's just because you always have to be ready to turn sideways on a curve to scare the living hell out of the people behind you.

I don't know why I drive with my hand on the e-brake, just gives me a since of control, knowing that if anything happened in the blink of an eye, I am ready to avoid it.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Flat spot

how does making your rear wheels lock up make you feel better?


I have been driving in the "south" and never had to worry about my e-brake.


The only reason it is called an "EMERGENCY BRAKE" is if their is an emergency and your brake hydraulic system fails.

It is not in the least bit effective in slowing you down.


go outside, go 60, then slam the brakes. Now repeat it by throwing the e-brake and come back and tell us which one stops the car better.