Truck driver jobs in Nashville TN have a lot of considerations to keep in mind as they go about their duties. Routes, load times, securing the load, minding drive times — all of it can get overwhelming if you don’t pay constant attention.
The last thing a driver needs is to worry about basic technological or mechanical issues that can introduce potentially dangerous problems to an already difficult job. Flat tires, dead batteries, malfunctioning engines — all of it can create giant headaches and make an easy workday quite a bit more difficult.
But a failure of your brakes not only makes your particular task difficult, it puts the driver as well as all other motorists on the road in danger. An inability to stop can create massive issues such as wrecks, injuries, and more.
Brake fade is a frequent factor in those with truck driver jobs in Nashville TN suddenly finding themselves unable to stop their trucks in time, if at all.
So what is brake fade? How does it work? And how can you avoid it?
What Is Brake Fade?
The braking system within your truck is complicated. There are a lot of moving parts that require certain conditions in order to work properly. The brakes are powerful, and for good reason. Your truck, the trailer, and the payload inside add up to be very heavy. And heavy items are quite difficult to slow down.
Imagine you’re driving your truck down a hill. Gravity is bringing your speed just a little higher than you might like, so you apply pressure to your brakes. However, the brake pedal doesn’t seem to be working properly.
You press a little further than normal before you feel your truck start to slow down. And in an even worse scenario, you press the pedal to the floor and nothing happens.
Brake fade reduces the effectiveness of your braking system due to a buildup of heat.
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The Effects of Heat
Heat has a direct effect on the ability of your vehicle to stop. Drum brakes make use of what are called “brake shoes” to press against the inside of the brake drum, which causes friction and either slows the vehicle down or brings it to a stop.
Hot brakes have a more difficult time creating the necessary friction to slow or stop a vehicle.
Excessive braking — as when a truck is going down a long decline, for instance — increases the heat within the drum braking system. The brake drum becomes the focal point for this heat.
Contemporary brake systems focus on reducing this heat. And while they’ve made great strides to reduce the negative effects, this heat is an inevitable byproduct of the friction needed to slow down large vehicles.
Causes of Brake Fade
The heat that leads to brake fade can come from a few different sources. There are multiple contact points in a drum brake system, and any of these points can create heat that transfers to the brake drum. And too much heat on the brake drum can lead to extended stopping times or an altogether failure of the system.
Friction
We mentioned the ability of friction to create heat. We also mentioned that many contemporary brake systems have ways to mitigate the effects of this heat. However, these negative effects will still impact your truck if you don’t give them a chance to rest.
Very long hills might lead a driver to lightly press on the brake pedal for an extended period of time. This helps keep the rig at a constant temperature and avoids gravity making you travel at an unsafe speed.
However, this prolonged period of braking is also generating heat from friction without giving it a chance to cool itself down. This can lead to brake fade.
Brake Fluid
Pressing on the brake pedal will activate hydraulics to push the brake shoes against the brake drum. The fluid that makes these hydraulic systems work needs to be changed every so often.
Failure to change this brake fluid will lead to an eventual degradation, leading to an absorption of water and other items. Brake fluid has a higher boiling point than water, but introducing water to the system will lower this boiling point.
Heat creates steam in this situation, which can lead to malfunctioning brakes.
Avoiding Brake Fade
Proper maintenance and best practices while driving will help avoid the negative outcomes of brake fade.
Avoid applying your brakes for long periods of time. Downshift to a lower gear to keep your speed low if you are going down a long hill.
Change your brake fluid according to manufacturer’s instructions.
And if you find yourself experiencing brake fade, pull over as soon as possible. Your brakes are going to need time to cool back down, so kick back and take a break for about an hour or so. Don’t touch the area around your wheels because they’ll be very warm.
