What Are The Dangers Of Overheated Brakes?
What Are The Dangers Of Overheated Brakes?
Posted on May 20, 2021
Few parts of a vehicle are as important to safety as its brakes. And while a complete failure of a well-maintained brake system is extremely rare, that doesn't mean your truck's brakes are always working in peak condition.
One common danger that most drivers will face at some point is when brakes overheat. Under normal conditions, it's natural for brakes to get hot as they're used. This is a completely expected result of them using friction to slow down the wheels, turning movement into heat in the process. However, if the brakes get too hot, it can cause several difficulties.
- Overheated brakes respond less quickly, and increase the stopping or slowing time of your truck.
- This low efficiency will wear the brakes out more quickly, and can also damage the wheels and other parts of your truck's engineering.
- In extreme cases, badly overheating brakes can reach 500°C or more, and can even catch fire, with obvious serious consequences for your truck.
Clearly, overheating breaks are something you'll want to avoid. But how can you tell it's happening before a minor fault turns into a major problem?
3 Signs Your Truck's Brakes Are Overheating
There are three main warning signs that your truck's brakes might be having an overheating problem.
First, you might hear a squealing or shrieking noise when you break heavily. While this can be caused by several other problems as well, it's one potential overheating sign you shouldn't ignore. It can happen when the intense heat of braking slightly melts the brake pad, putting it a little out of shape. This makes the friction bumpy rather than smooth and causes the characteristic sound.
A second sign is a burning smell that appears only when your break. Some people compare this smell to a burnt carpet, but once you've experienced it for yourself, you'll always recognize it. But in any case, any burning smell coming from below your truck needs to be investigated urgently by a mechanic.
Lastly, in the most extreme cases, you may see smoke coming from the brake pads when you brake heavily. This is very rare indeed, but it can happen and is a clear warning sign of serious trouble.
What Causes Overheating Brakes?
Overheating brakes generally happen through poorly made repairs, overly aggressive driving, or both. In the first case, brakes that are badly fitted or maintained can put too much friction on the pads, or do it unevenly. Both of these problems will reduce brake efficiency and therefore increase the heat that's generated.
However, hitting the brakes too hard too often doesn't give them enough chance to cool down during regular driving, and eventually, the heat will build to a problem level. Trying to drive more smoothly with less aggressive acceleration and braking will not only reduce the chances of overheating but will keep your brakes and the rest of your truck in better condition for longer.
It's completely normal for brakes to get warm or even hot during regular driving. But if you see signs of overheating, it's vital to get the problem checked out as soon as possible, or your truck's safety could be at risk.