How can a car do a 180 turn without turning the wheel?

Question

My brother was driving my grandmas car a 2002 Honda accord. Approaching a red light he braked, and the car did a 180 turn facing the car in the other lane. How could this have happened? brakes, tires?? (no accident, but could have been fatal)

Answer 1

yes they can, my dodge did this to me and scared me ,it was wet and the rear differential was going out on it on side caught while the other side didn't,and it caused it to do a 180 right in front of a big truck,i wasn't going fast either,posi-trac units will do this if they get in the right conditions,on a wet road,good luck.

Answer 2

Wet or dry pavement?  

Two possiblilities.

1) the rear brakes (drums only) could have been adjusted too tight, allowing them to engage slightly before the front brakes when he slammed on them hard.

2) He activated the emergency brake rather suddenly without using the brake pedal.

3) one of the wheel cylinders (drum brakes) or calipers (disc brakes) is seized up and not applying.  With one side working and the other not, a spinout is entirely possible.   Especially with a person who "runs up" on every stoplight, as most inexperienced drivers do.  They assume the brakes will ALWAYS be prefect at all times.  In this case, I would have to say to him, "your powers are weak, my young apprentice"

Answer 3

I assume it was wet, right...

well this is what happens

when you lock up a tire it slides. chances are the he locked up the rear brakes.

A sliding tire will always move faster than a rolling one. which is exactly what the rear tires where trying to do, hence spining you around. that why tractor trailers always jack knife when they lock up the trailer brakes...add hydro planing and it could be fatal like you said!

Be careful. adust your driving to the road condition. Consider this a lesson.

I hope my explanation helped.