Hot brakes on downhill

[thedjjack]

If you wait a few weeks we can do it over here at the new house...but life needs to become more 'normal first"

[nxski]

Sounds great, thanks for the offer!

[TardisDeli]

nick, change that brake fluid NOW. CVI can flush it (they have fancy system that plugs in)...or yo can do it with a 10 dollar thingy. I find that if I drive at my preferred speed for a half mile or so before I start going down hill, then the engine will keep it at that speed. Also, if the weather was hot, check yr tire inflation ... I actually had to air down my tires cuz the outside temp was so high even before driving (in the desert). Lazygreenfox is a great help, you can go to his house or ours. christine.

[nxski]

Thanks Christine! I was actually going to attempt to build my sub boxes this weekend and was going to try to bribe Jay into helping me out with some fried chicken
Luckily it's not a daily driver so I can afford to wait a little while before changing the fluid but I'll get on it soon.
Thanks again,

Nick

[jessef]

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.

That is no excuse to put your brakes in danger of going up in flames (I've seen it happen).

Next time, put on your hazard lights, stick it in L and cruise down slow. Let the engine do all the braking. If you absolutely must brake, then pump lightly to get the engine revs up but don't keep pressure on the brake pedal = pad contact with burning hot rotor. This can burn out your brake and very easily boil your brake fluid. Then you loose your brakes in 2nd worst case scenario. Worst case scenario is your brakes catch fire and you have to deal with an onboard fire as well. I've seen that happen too. Neither result in a happy ending.

Either way, neither situation you want to be in as you would then be considered a non-stoppable 2 tonne bullet on the road.

The very hard point is this . Go as slow as you need to not burn you brakes/boil your brake fluid regardless of who is behind you, day or night. That is what your hazards and lights are for.

Use the same simple principle as the 18 wheeler truck drivers.

Hope you take this into consideration next time you're in that situation. Putting other vehicles at risk because your brakes fail is not an option.

You should also consider changing the title of your thread to 'brakes hot going downhill' or something along those lines because that is what this whole thread is revolving around. Others can learn from this if they never had to gear down but may need to in the future.

[nxski]

Use the same simple principle as the 18 wheeler truck drivers

I don't quite agree with this point. You're saying I should not use any brakes so I can power up the next hill and if the brakes fail I can rely on runaway lanes?

I agree with you thought, it was a newbie mistake as I have never owned an auto before. I definitely will use the hazards next time. What freaks me out if when sports cars come around the corner really quickly and see you too late. That's what I meant by I didn't feel comfortable going slowly (this happened about 3 times while I was in 2nd)

[konadog]

The auto tranny is just fine for descents. I've never had an issue with over-heated brakes in mine, nor have I felt unsafe nor wished I had more gear selection - Duffy Lake, Tahsis, Blueberry-Paulson, The Rockies, and seldom, or not at all, touch the brakes at all on the Malahat, in either direction. John Muir, the author of the VW Idiot Book said that "brakes apply a negative function - use them sparingly." (Paraphrased.) Go as slow as you need to and let the guys behind you chill out until there is a safe place for you to let him pass.