How to brake in the mountains?
When driving in the mountains, it is very easy to overheat the braking system. Here’s what not to do and what to do to reduce the risk of such situations.
In this article
How to brake in the mountains? The essence of the problem
Factors you don’t pay attention to
Driving technique with a manual transmission
Driving technique with an automatic transmission
Good to remember!
The greatest load on the braking system is, of course, descents. To relieve the friction elements, firstly, slow down appropriately before descending, and secondly, if possible, use the engine to brake. Unfortunately, a lot depends on the type of drive system. This is easiest to do in cars with a manual transmission. In cars with automatic transmission – a lot depends on the type of transmission, but in general it will be slightly less effective in each case.
Some car models are equipped with a special mountain brake. There are many types of this solution (brake on the drive shaft, exhaust gas damping flaps, etc.), but we ignore these systems because they are found practically only in trucks.
How to brake in the mountains? The essence of the problem
A very unfavorable phenomenon when braking on downhill slopes is a sudden increase in the temperature of the friction elements. We are talking about ranges of 500-800oC. It’s no secret that the performance of the braking system and its tendency to overheat depend on the make and model of the car. Regardless, there are many other factors that the vehicle user can influence. These factors can be divided into two groups. The first one is related to the equipment and technical condition of the car, and the second one is related to driving technique.
Factors you don’t pay attention to
The priority for people who intend to use their car in the mountains is, of course, to pay special attention to the technical condition of the system. However, this is a topic for a separate material, so for now we only highlight the matter, reminding you that you should take care not only of the friction elements, but also of the calipers, cylinders, hoses and brake fluid, which should be replaced every two years. The liquid must be in perfect condition because with age it becomes more susceptible to boiling, which is an extremely dangerous phenomenon in the mountains.
Not everyone realizes that rims have a huge impact on the temperature of the braking system. Factory designs (from the car manufacturer) are recommended because they usually undergo tests for heat dissipation from the discs and for ventilation of the discs. Unfortunately, the situation with accessory rims is different.
Interestingly, the thermal management of the braking system can be effectively disrupted by the installation of… hubcaps. Therefore, it is worth considering whether models that completely cover the rims will work in mountain conditions.
Driving technique with a manual transmission
When descending, always support the braking system with the engine. To do this, you need to downshift appropriately so that the engine itself slows down the car as effectively as possible. The most harmful thing to the braking system is descending “in neutral” with your foot resting lightly on the brake pedal.
Driving technique with an automatic transmission
There are many types of automatic transmissions and in each of them engine braking is performed differently (or cannot be implemented at all). Generally, however, the idea is to use the available options to force the drive system to brake with the engine. This may be, for example, limiting the gear range by moving the selector from position D to 3, 2 or 1, selecting the appropriate mountain gearbox operation mode, or downshifting in manual mode.
Don’t forget one important thing!
After descending, it must be possible to cool the braking system while moving. This means that it is worth driving gently for at least a kilometer so that the temperature of the pads and discs drops evenly. Stopping a hot vehicle will cause the discs to cool unevenly – the part covered by the calipers will cool down differently than the rest of the disc, which may lead to local overheating or plastic deformation.
Finally, remember:
- Regularly check the condition and operation of the brakes. If you notice any damage or wear, repair or replace it immediately. Take care of the condition of your brake fluid.
- Remember that the brakes are more likely to overheat when riding in the mountains. Make sure that the brake cooling system works properly (in terms of the patency of air vents to the discs, the type of rims and hubcaps.
- Avoid prolonged braking, which may lead to overheating of the brakes. Support the braking system with engine braking.
- Anticipate the traffic situation so as not to overload the brakes. Don’t accelerate too much so as not to brake suddenly.
- Avoid overloading the car. Too heavy a load is a great challenge for the braking system.
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