What is Brake Fade to Pass Your CDL Air Brakes Course-Air Brake Smart

There is one remaining weakness of the air brake system: BRAKE FADE. Watch the video! CDL IN-CAB Air Brake CHECKLIST: www.smartdrivetest.com/cdl-ai... Subscribe Today! ► / smartdrivetest
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In this day and age of engine brake technology, combined with proper braking techniques, few braking systems will experience brake fade. In a 13- or 18-speed transmission with the engine brake on full and operating a tandem-tandem on a grade less than 10%, you need to be in 5-lo. Being in that gear before starting your descent will--in most cases--ensure a safe downhill experience.
Brake fade is most often a result of poor braking techniques, which most often includes not being in the correct gear before starting down the hill. If the brakes are held on too long, they heat up and the drum expands away from the shoes. When it expands enough, the shoes will not make contact and all braking power is lost.
If you begin down the hill and realize that the gear and engine brake are not holding back the vehicle, stop or slow the vehicle and get a lower gear.
Engine brakes work best in a low gear at a high RPM. With today's modern electronic diesel engines, that is between 16 and 1800 rpm. It is recommended not to run the engine up over 1,900 rpm - it is too hard on the engine and could cause permanent damage.
Finally, both air and hydraulic braking system are susceptible to brake fade. Towing trailers and excessive braking on a downhill could potentially cause brake fade. And for RV drivers, and drivers pulling RV trailers might consider a transmission cooler to prevent the transmission from overheating - especially an automatic transmission in the summer. All too often, transmissions are not equipped with adequate coolers and the excessive weight of the trailer can cause damage. If unsure, have your unit check by qualified personnel.
Understanding BRAKE FADE is required for Air Brake Training.
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S-cam Air Brakes
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How Disc Brakes Work
• How Disc Brakes Work
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[@andrewesquivel]

brake fad still happens to rotors and pads when the off gassing of the pad material from high heat creates a layer of gas in between the rotor and pad - however, this is why slotted rotors exists. The slots give a place for the gas to go and get expelled from the setup as the rotor turns.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi andrewesquivel - Thank you for your comment and relevant information. I did not know that about the off-gassing. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@josefermin7237]

Love the way explain thank you!

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Jose Fermin - And you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

Very useful... I'm young driver in Europe and I'm seeing your instructions videos. Congratulations :)

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Juciêr Júnior - thanks for your comment. I'm happy to hear that the videos are helping out. If there's anything else we can do, drop us a note. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@michelleguajardo9231]

very helpful video

[@smartdrivetest]

Thank you Michelle: if there is anything else we can help you with, drop us a note. Cheers Rick

[@GabrielRzrO1]

I don't know about trucks, but, here at São Paulo, Brazil almost all buses from 2008 and further uses disc brakes. At the bus garage that i work, all 2008 buses ( Mercedes Benz O500-UA/O500U and Volvo B12M [2010 and further]) has disc brakes, and the ones from 2012 and on have ABS, neither of these ones have problem with braking fade caused by overheat( on an urban area[taking in mind all the weight when full pax and going downhill]). The old O400UPA buses had Drum Brakes, with the automatic slack adjusters and wet tanks, and they had a " weaker " brake.

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Gabriel - Thank you for your comment. And yes, most of the newer vehicles are equipped with disc brakes, particularly buses and other lighter vehicles. Only with the heavier vehicles (more than 100,000lbs or 45,000kg) do these vehicles still have drum brakes. Yes, the disc brakes with ABS are a better system for sure. All the best there in Sao Paulo, Cheers Rick

[@GabrielRzrO1]

Smart Drive Test I see, didn't know about that, cool to know that it is still in use, i thought that drum brakes had been retired.

[@SD-bn7zl]

thank you

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Daniel - In this day and age of engine brake technology, a CDL driver can brake downhill safely with a little bit of knowledge. When you're starting out new, pick a 5th gear or lower--engine brake--on full and go down the hill. All the best in your new career. Cheers Rick

[@bigemugamer]

Brake fade? i thought the one weakness air breaks had was poor drivers. =P a good driver doesn't have to worry about brake fade because a good driver calibrates their breaks, plans their drive and knows how to drive downhill in relation to the load they carry. Got 100% on my Q endorsement course yesterday, today is my final test.

[@nelsonthekinger]

I there i have disc brakes in my bicycle and they suffer brake fade, this contrasts with what you are telling in someway right?

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi nelsonthekinger - thank you for your comment and query. If you have disc brakes on your bicycle and you are experiencing fade, it is more likely that you are experiencing failure. From a point of physics, disc brakes simply cannot experience fade, however, they can melt into a pile of goo due to the heat and fail. And that is an equally dangerous problem to fade. If you're downhill racing or something similar, I might suggest you consider an upgrade. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@nelsonthekinger]

Thanks for the Reply Rick! Yes I was downhilling and deliberately decided to go down slow and so I broke often to not gain much speed and the brakes stopped braking in the end but started working after some time pass. that's why I think it were Brake fade. But it was too late! I already had the accident. My Opinion is not scientific but I'm pretty inclined to think that bicycles disk brakes can also experience brake fade and I fear that my case is not the only one. Cheers Nelson

[@smartdrivetest]

Hey Nelson - thanks for that explanation. As you know, when metal is heated, it expands. Therefore, if you have disc brakes, the rotor should expand, and expand into the brake pads. It may depend on what the brake pads are comprised. It would be interesting to ask a bicycle mechanic and see what his/her opinion is. Thanks, Cheers Rick

[@nelsonthekinger]

I Agree with you :) Best Regards! Nelson

[@Abhishek-150]

I live in Himalayas (Himachal) and buses here are of TATA company.. They have old drums system breaking and driver here drive very fast in hilly area and use too much heavy breaking.. The break so intense that bus vibrates so much and sounds like grrrrrrrrrhhhhhh... Every time they break i wonder why these buses don't have break fade when they heat breaks so much.. Do you have any explanation sir?

[@smartdrivetest]

Hi Abhishek - Thank you for your comment and query. There are a couple of reasons that these drivers don't experience brake fade - they are using hard, short brake applications which gives the brakes time to cool. Also, the buses might have auxiliary braking systems that you are not aware of. Lots of commercial vehicles have these auxiliary braking systems. And in combination with proper braking techniques work well. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick

[@patb9375]

TATA uses Cummins engines (in many buses) and have the engine brake which is the sound you hear. The engine braking can be very significant and can feel like they slammed on the service brake. TATA does use fairly good sized brakes as mountains are not uncommon for their buses. Abhishek this is not meant negatively, brake is the spelling for vehicle brakes, the break spelling is for I am tired and need to sit down so I am taking a break off work, or if you are to break a stick in half. I have such a hard time learning other languages, though I am frequently told they are simpler then English. Which has words spelled differently in the UK and North America and is actually a nice mix of old French, Nordic, German, etc all rolled into one. Some TATA buses have drive line retarders as a braking device also.