Hot brakes on downhill

[nxski]

I'm heading back from a hike east of pemberton and I smelt burning rubber. I pulled over and my front right wheel was billowing smoke and both sides were really hot. I've been coming down steep hills for a while now and having to ride the brakes. Is thus just from a lot of braking and it needs a rest or should I be worried?
Thanks

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

I'm heading back from a hike east of pemberton and I smelt burning rubber. I pulled over and my front right wheel was billowing smoke and both sides were really hot. I've been coming down steep hills for a while now and having to ride the brakes. Is thus just from a lot of braking and it needs a rest or should I be worried?
Thanks

Maybe overheated, cool down/using retarder on the down slope is the key to avoid brake fading.
Cool down completely and try again. If things happen again, something wrong is in your brake pads/rotor, just my opinion.

[nxski]

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by using a retarder? As in I should try to avoid braking as much as possible on the downhills? In this case it was difficult but luckily it's more up and down from this point forward. I'm just waiting for them to cool down now.

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by using a retarder? As in I should try to avoid braking as much as possible on the downhills? In this case it was difficult but luckily it's more up and down from this point forward. I'm just waiting for them to cool down now.

It is kind of driving skill...
engine brake...., apply brake if needed to reduce speed and higher rpm,etc.
Constant braking may lead brake fade ( heat build up ), brake damage or brake failure... could be lead to catch fire.
Very hot today.

[nxski]

Good point, it is hot as well. I'll be downshifting a lot from now on, unfortunately there was some 4x4 and some very steep hills to get to where I am now and downshifting just wasn't enough.
Thanks again for the quick reply.

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

Downshift and drive down at target speed, brake gently when speed over and rpm goes over till it recover target spd...... Drive safe.

[nxski]

I don't mean to sound rude but is than instructions for driving a manual transmission? Trying to match rpm with speed isn't quite as easy when you can't depress the clutch and rev the engine. Just to clarify, I drive an auto. Should I be shifting to neutral, revving it and then thoftong into gear? It just seems a little awkward to me.

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

I don't mean to sound rude but is than instructions for driving a manual transmission? Trying to match rpm with speed isn't quite as easy when you can't depress the clutch and rev the engine. Just to clarify, I drive an auto. Should I be shifting to neutral, revving it and then thoftong into gear? It just seems a little awkward to me.

Hi,
It doesn't matter if you drive auto or manual.
You drive L, 2, D, O/D on/off. Just think about it.
Driving in neutral position is extremly dangerous in downhill.
Putting in the gear is kind of applying brake...

[nxski]

Oh, that makes sense then, I do that whenever I drive in that case.

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

Oh, that makes sense then, I do that whenever I drive in that case.

Steven

[thedjjack]

do not start at the top of the hill fast...slow way down and hold it back from the top. If you are 4x4 on lose surface you can also use Low range to increase the engines ability to hold back.

Start slow on really long down hills and let the engine hold it back.

Do you upgraded calipers in that thing?

[nxski]

Just made it home. I had it in 4L for offloading but it was some pretty knurly stuff so braking was required, then immediately after was a long steep hill and 2 just wouldn't slow me down enough but L was far too slow. I think if I'm to do that route again I would just take a break between the offroadinf and the road driving, especially in hot weather.

I haven't upgraded the calipers, I'll do that when the brakes need replacing.

[MardyDelica]

hi, even you upgrade your front brake caliper still will have you the same problem.
i remember when i go there that route its terrible as its so downloope, delica is heavy.
so just need to gear down but need to control the speed.
now in winter ah i dont think you would like to go on that route.
very tough road to go with
cheers;

[thedjjack]

If you overheated your brakes 2nd gear is too high, not too slow!

One advantage of a 5 speed.....

How long was the hill? It usually takes a long long long hill to overheat the brakes....

[nxski]

Agreed, that is an advantage of a 5 speed. I did about 30 min of offroadinf with brakes on for a lot of it followed by at least 30 min of steep hills with hairpin corners. With a speed limit of 60-80 I didn't feel comfortable in L as there are people that will come up quickly from behind without seeing you.