7 Frequently Asked Questions On Brakes
There’s no arguing that your brake system is the most important safety feature on your vehicle. Breaking down due to engine problems just leaves you stranded, but losing your brakes due to failure can leave you running into another vehicle. That said, here are 7 of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to braking systems.
1. What causes my brake pads to glaze?
Glazed over brake pads not only inhibit performance, but it can be down right dangerous in some circumstances. Brake pads have several different types of metals and other materials in them that are all held together with a unique resin. The problem with this is that at high temperatures, we’re talking upwards of 1000 degrees F, the resin begins turning to liquid and it spreads onto the brake rotor.
Why is this a big issue? As the glazing process continues to build on the rotor, your brake pad loses full contact with the rotor. It is only pushing against the glaze, which compromises brake performance. Another problem with this is that it can also cause your brakes to “pulsate”, or what is known as rotor warping.
2. What is brake fade?
Brake fading occurs when the brakes overheat and lose their effectiveness to slow your vehicle. This can be an underwear changing moment if it happens when you are needing to stop behind that big truck in front of you. As you use your brakes, they heat up. Makes sense, but if you are using them at high speeds you may begin noticing you have to apply more pressure to the pedal.
Next, you notice a bigger increase in brake pedal travel. If you continue using them they may heat up to the point of being red-hot and ultimately losing their ability to stop the vehicle in a safe manner. The best tip to preventing this from happening is upgrading your brake rotors and pads to a higher performance set that can better handle the heat.
3. Why have cross-drilled brake rotors?
As noted above, brake rotors get very hot, often exceeding 1000 degrees F. in many cases. This causes materials and compounds to break down, which can lead to a loss of braking control. Beyond that, you may feel your brakes pulsating or your steering wheel begins to vibrate uncontrollably. This is where drilled rotors can help.
A rotor that has been drilled with holes will lower the heat by approximately 200 degrees F over a slotted rotor. That can be the difference between effective high performance stopping and brake failure. That said, having drilled rotors is really only necessary for vehicles being driven at the track. For street use they would be used mainly for looks.
4. Why are my brakes “pulsating”?
The main reason is due to glazing on the rotor from the brake pad. As we noted above, the material from the pad breaks down at high temperatures and turns into a liquid that builds up on the rotor. These deposits prevent the pad from making full contact with the rotor, resulting in a pulsating feeling when you hit the brake pedal.
You can prevent this from happening by using high performance pads and rotors orcross-drilled rotors that reduce the heat.
5. Why are my brakes making a high-pitched squealing sound when I hit the brake pedal?
If you notice your brakes making a squealing or chirping sound it’s most likely an indication that your wear indicators are telling you it’s time to replace the pads. All braking systems have a metal strip that attaches to the pad and begins to make noises once the pad wears down to the point of needing replacement.
Once you replace the pads, the squealing will be gone. The key here is take this indicator seriously and get the pads replaced. If you ignore it you will soon be hearing a deeper grinding noise.That means you are most likely damaging the rotor and you can expect that to lighten your wallet a lot more than simply replacing the pads.
6. How should I break-in new brake pads?
After getting your brake pads and rotors replaced you should do a quick break-into get the best performance out of them. This will not only help in stopping your vehicle, but it can also prevent warping the rotors. There are many different versions of how to break-in your brakes and this is only one of them. We are not claiming it is the ONLY way.
Step 1 – Perform a series of 5 moderate stops from 40 mph down to 5 mph insuccession without allowing the brakes to cool or coming to a complete stop.
Step 2 – Do the same thing except get the speed up to 60 mph and moderately slow to 5 mph. Again, do not come to stop or let the brakes cool.
Step 3 – Drive for 5-10 minutes without hitting the brakes so that they can cool down. This will allow the pads to cure. Now you can begin using them normally.
7. How can I improve my vehicle’s brake performance?
Improving your brake’s performance can be accomplished by doing a couple ofthings; first of which is to use high performance brake pads that have a higher co-efficient of friction rating. Cross-drilled rotors is another thing you can do to get better performance. Finally, having a set of high performance tires that offer excellent grip is something that many drivers overlook. Tires and brakes go hand-in-hand so to speak, so you shouldn’t overlook the importance of having good tires.