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He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

wired.com

21–30 of 56 posts

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#21
post #3

This is odd since most cars require stepping down on the brake pedal to start the car. Even my UTV (side-by-side) requires this. I can't even remember the last vehicle I owned that did not require this. If my foot starts sinking down it will be obvious my brakes are failing. Cutting just enough into the last part of the brake line that is flexible hydraulic line to burst after a few miles would require quite some ski…

My car doesn't require stepping on the brake to start but this car does sound like a newer one with weird "features" like that. I think the following car modifications indicate maliciousness and competency in the sabotage that could explain lack of alerting the driver, >Since then, Berulis has laid low. He filed a police report, included in the suit and viewed by WIRED, and had the car seen by a mechanic who, accordi…

> newer one with weird "features" like that

Anything with push button start. It has been around a while.

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#22
It's pretty hard (probably nigh on impossible in the urban greater DC area) to make it out of your driveway/street without pressing the brake pedal enough to know you have an at least somewhat functional system.

The airbag system mods are pretty standard shitbox stuff. System goes off for whatever reason. Car is repaired. Sensors get tricked/fudged along the way because the owner doesn't want to put the money in (probably not worth it). Newer systems are more in depth and obnoxious to deal with so reading between the lines this is an older car which kinda also explains the brake thing.

Not that the government wouldn't do this but come on, they're not stealing your car to disassemble the front clip and monkey with the crash sensors and your brakes, they'll do something better than that.

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#23
post #3

This is odd since most cars require stepping down on the brake pedal to start the car. Even my UTV (side-by-side) requires this. I can't even remember the last vehicle I owned that did not require this. If my foot starts sinking down it will be obvious my brakes are failing. Cutting just enough into the last part of the brake line that is flexible hydraulic line to burst after a few miles would require quite some ski…

You are right to be skeptical here. Brake lines are just rubber hydraulic lines and fail in "normal ways" frequently. Without ANY forensic details on "the cut" it is very likely coincidence going viral "because Elon"

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#24
post #3

This is odd since most cars require stepping down on the brake pedal to start the car. Even my UTV (side-by-side) requires this. I can't even remember the last vehicle I owned that did not require this. If my foot starts sinking down it will be obvious my brakes are failing. Cutting just enough into the last part of the brake line that is flexible hydraulic line to burst after a few miles would require quite some ski…

I’ve owned at least a dozen cars, none have required the brake pedal press to start.

Pressing the clutch is a North American thing in my experience. All my other vehicles didn’t need it to start.

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#25
post #3

This is odd since most cars require stepping down on the brake pedal to start the car. Even my UTV (side-by-side) requires this. I can't even remember the last vehicle I owned that did not require this. If my foot starts sinking down it will be obvious my brakes are failing. Cutting just enough into the last part of the brake line that is flexible hydraulic line to burst after a few miles would require quite some ski…

> I think we are due some pictures and videos of the evidence.

Yes, they should definitely prioritize posting pictures that only a fraction of a fraction of people will be able to understand or interpret at all, solely so that the people who want to pretend the accumulated things in the story didn't actually occur (or aren't that bad) can point to things they don't understand to naysay them. Brilliant.

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#26
post #11
post #3

This is odd since most cars require stepping down on the brake pedal to start the car. Even my UTV (side-by-side) requires this. I can't even remember the last vehicle I owned that did not require this. If my foot starts sinking down it will be obvious my brakes are failing. Cutting just enough into the last part of the brake line that is flexible hydraulic line to burst after a few miles would require quite some ski…

My 2017 RAV4 doesn't. I think "most" is an exaggeration

https://assets.sia.toyota.com/publications/en/om-s/OM42752U/...

p. 196, step 3: Firmly depress the brake pedal.

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#27
post #3

This is odd since most cars require stepping down on the brake pedal to start the car. Even my UTV (side-by-side) requires this. I can't even remember the last vehicle I owned that did not require this. If my foot starts sinking down it will be obvious my brakes are failing. Cutting just enough into the last part of the brake line that is flexible hydraulic line to burst after a few miles would require quite some ski…

You are probably in the top 1% of individuals by how perceptive you are about your car.

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#28
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many cars (especially ICE cars) may not have operational brake boost when you first get in to them I warm up my engine, to the point of annoying armchair quarterbacks on HN. If my brake line was cut it would be very obvious within seconds. Exception would be a partial cut that leave a millimeter of line not cut but that would take some serious skill and practice.

Okay, good on you, but do you think every other person does this as well? I wasn't even aware warming up the engine would change my brakes until this thread. Honestly I thought the brake pedal was electronically connected to the actual brakes too so I didn't expect you could feel a cut line either.

You would absolutely notice if the system did not hold pressure. Normal "foot at rest to disable the interlock" pressure would result in pedal straight to floor.

Re: He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut

#30
This sounds more like 1970s TV drama than reality.

Cutting someone’s brake line has to be one of the least reliable ways to injure or kill them. If you cut my brake line, you might bust up my garage door or my neighbor’s yard, but they’re not going to fail on cue as I go around a mountain curve…(dramatic music)

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