Driving
your car on the busy streets means you are responsible for the safety
of your co-passengers, others on the road and for yourself. Brakes
are a crucial component in that regard as they are the fundamental
safety component of any car. Therefore, it’s paramount that they
work flawlessly and follow to your command to the T.
The
late reaction of brakes can spell doom for everyone concerned. This
phenomenon where a brake reacts late is known as brake fade.
In its
most basic sense, brake fade is the reduction of car braking system’s
efficiency in stopping the car. Most of the times, excessive heat
produced when you apply the brakes is the reason behind this fade.
The consequences are dangerous as it may rattle the whole car and
make you lose control of it. It’s also harmful to the wheelalignment and wheel balancing Loughborough.
Types
of brake fades
Pad
fade: Excessive heat can lead to the damage of the brake pads,
creating a lubrication effect on the rotor. It significantly reduces
the brake’s capability to stop the car.
Fluid
failure: The brake fluid can leak through vapour vents when
heated beyond a certain temperature. It causes the brake to soften
and reduces the brake’s power to stop the vehicle.
Green
fade: It’s a common phenomenon that most drivers go through
after replacing their brake pads. The new pads need some time to
settle in, before which they are prone to fading.
In any
of the cases, take your vehicle to the nearest servicing and repair
centre like Loughborough Tyres for a thorough inspection of the
brakes. The technicians at this garage are well-versed with the
nitty-gritty of the brake system and will provide you with quick and
accurate solutions for the same.
Now, on
to the prevention! How can you prevent this from happening?
Follow
these preventive measures to avoid a critical brake fade.
Cautious
driving
Applying
frequent brakes can overheat it easily. Responsible driving and
applying brakes sparingly will give time for the brake system to
distribute this heat. Resultantly, it will reduce the temperature.
Use
of right brakes
Brake
pads for regular cars and racing cars are made differently. The ones
in racing cars or other adventure sports cars can bear more heat than
the ones in regular street cars. If you need to brake heavily on your
regular sedan, go for a brake pad upgrade.
Annual
replacement of brake fluid
Brake
fluids need replacing every year. As the fluid ages, it absorbs
moisture and starts losing its effectiveness. Filling a fresh batch
of brake fluid will bring back its optimum heat absorption capacity.
Keeping
your car safe from any brake failure is essential. So, go for regular
car servicing and maintenance. Any issue with your car brakes, wheel
alignment and balancing or tyres in Loughborough
should be detected before it is too late.
