Imagine you are driving along a road, following another car. The car in front of you stops suddenly because an animal ran out in front of it, causing you to slam on your brakes. Your car stops, but you felt like coming to a stop took longer than usual. You probably just felt the effects of brake fade.
What is brake fade?
Brake fade is the term used to describe when the brakes of a vehicle become less effective. It usually occurs when the brakes have been used continuously for a prolonged period of time. It may feel like the brake pedal is working but the car will take longer than usual to come to a stop.
The most common type of brake fade is friction fade. This is where the driver presses lightly on the brakes (enough to slow the car down gradually) on a long downwards hill. In a usual situation, the heat from pressing the brakes would be relieved because the driver would let off the brake. However, if the driver keeps the brake pressed and doesn’t let off, the constant friction of the brake pads and rotor creates an enormous amount of heat. The build up of heat causes the friction surfaces of the brake pads and rotor to stop working as they should.
How can you prevent brake fade?
In order to prevent brake fade from happening, you should press on the brake pedal firmly then let off to give them a cooling off period, allowing the heat to dissipate. To further slow down the vehicle, you should select a lower gear.
Things you can do to prevent brake fade include:
- Master good acceleration sense – using your brakes less reduces the chances of heat building up
- Drive slower – doing so will reduce the work your brakes have to do to stop the car
- Avoid heavy braking, if possible
- Reduce the load in your car – the heavier your car is, the more work your brakes have to do to slow it down and stop it
- Ensure your brake fluid is good and hasn’t degraded.
If you are already experiencing friction fade, then you will need to stop your vehicle to reduce the temperature of the brakes. You should let the brakes cool for about an hour before continuing with your journey.
Brake fade caused by heat will go away after a sufficient cooling off period. However, if you suspect prolonged brake fade or your brakes aren’t as efficient as they once were, you should seek expert mechanical advice.
