When I was driving to work earlier this week, I noticed a sudden loss in power within my braking system. After returning home and not being able to shake what had happened, I did some research on the internet to find out what I experienced earlier.
What is brake fade? Brake fade occurs when there the strength of the brakes either fades or is completely lost for a certain period of time. The usual cause of brake fade is an issue with friction within the braking system of the car.
If you have ever been driving and noticed that your brakes were not working as strongly as you are used to, the incident might have left you frightened and confused, as it would anyone.
The concept of brake fade can happen to anyone, and is most commonly a result of issues on the interior of the braking system. To find out more about what brake fade is and what causes it, keep reading the contents of this article.
What Is Brake Fade?
The topic of brake fade is something that is not commonly discussed among drivers, however, it is important to be aware of this concept in order to properly deal with when it comes it or avoid it all together.
To answer the main question of what brake fade is, I put together a simple outline in the list down below that will explain it. Keep reading through the rest of this section to find out everything you need to know about the concept.
Brake Fade:
- Temporary loss of brake function
- Can be slight or severe (even to full loss of function)
- Usually caused by loss of friction inside of braking system
Brake fade is defined as a temporary loss of brake function while you are driving an automobile. The temporary loss can be anything from slight to severe, in addition.
You might be driving your car and notice that you have a hard time pushing on the brake pedal for a few second, but then it suddenly goes back to normal.
On the other hand, you might completely lose function of your braking system during the time that your brakes are fading out, before you are able to use it once again.
There is no telling when brake fade will occur or how dragged out and severe it will be when it comes, but as long as you stay educated on the topic and come prepared with what to do if you experience it, you should have nothing to worry about.
What Causes Brake Fade?
When it comes to brake fade in an automobile, there are three main causes for the issue. These common causes occur in different areas of the braking system, but all ultimately result in the same problem.
To give you a better understanding of why brake fade exists as well as what leads up to it while driving, I have put together a list of the brake fade causes that were previously mentioned.
Causes Of Brake Fade:
- Friction Fade
- Brake Fluid Fade
- Mechanical Fade
The first cause of brake fade is due to friction. This happens when the driver is going downhill in their vehicle while pushing lightly on the brakes.
If this persists for a long period of time, it can cause the friction between the brake pads and rotor to overheat, leading directly to brake fade.
Fluid fade, on the other hand, is the second most common cause. If the brake fluid is not regularly changed and it absorbs too much moisture, the overheating of the braking system can cause the brakes to fade during operation.
The last cause for brake fade is due to mechanical reasons. While this is the least likely to occur, it is caused by resin that breaks down on the brake pads when they begin to overheat. This usually happens when the brake pads are new and not broken in.
What To Do When Your Brakes Fade
While it is no secret that no driver actually wants to deal with brake fade, there is a big possibility that you might at some point during your driving career. If you ever find yourself in a circumstance where your brakes are fading, there is a certain procedure that you should follow in order to get out of the situation without a scratch.
In this section, we will be outlining what you can do when your brakes fade in order to keep yourself and your car safe. Take a look at the list below for the main points of this procedure.
What To Do When Your Brakes Fade:
- Shift your car down into a lower gear
- Try to slow down and pull over
- Allow your braking system to cool for a few hours (at least one)
- When the brakes are properly cooled, begin driving again in the lowest gear and slowly accelerate until you get back up to normal speed
- Get your brakes checked as soon as possible!
When you notice your brakes fading, you should shift your car down into a lower gear immediately. From there, you should try to slow down and pull over as quickly and safely as possible. Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings and make a fast break toward the side of the road.
Next, you will need to allow your braking system to rest and cool down for a few hours with the engine turned off, or one hour at the very least.
When the brakes have cooled down, begin driving again in the lowest gear and slowly make your way back up to a normal speed and gear.
Last but not least, get your brakes checked and fixed as soon as possible following this incident. You should not be driving until everything is working properly.
How To Prevent Brake Fade
After learning all about brake fade and what causes it in vehicles, you might be wondering how you can avoid getting into a situation like this. Any lapse in the functioning of the braking system of a car can be nerve racking and stressful for anyone to deal with.
As a result, it helps to be prepared with solutions to the problem before it even exists in your vehicle. In this section, we will go over some ways that you can work to prevent brake fade in your own car.
Take a look at the list down below for some ideas, and keep reading for all of the details in the rest of this section.
How To Prevent Brake Fade:
- Drive carefully
- Shift the gear down on hills
- Let your brakes cool off on long hills
- Use the right brake fluid
- Maintain your brake fluid replacement
- Make sure your new brake pads are properly broken in before driving
As you can see, brake fade is pretty easy to prevent, as long as you maintain your vehicle correctly and drive carefully on the road. One of the main causes of brake fade is overheating, which directly stems from incorrect use.
If you will be driving downhill, try to stay in a lower gear, and pull over to let your brakes cool intermittently if necessary. In addition, don’t slam on the brakes and make sure your brake fluid is fresh and full in the tank.
All in all, if you don’t put too much pressure on your brakes and you make sure that you are doing everything that you can to take care of your vehicle, brake fade should become the last thing that you have to worry about.