HARD BRAKING..

hard braking....how does it hurt the car?
does it hurt the brakes or other things too?
I was doing 80-100km/h when I saw the yellow light
I was going to pass it but before I can reach the light the red light was on
I ended up use all my braking power..and I was sure that brake assist and ABS was active...anyway my question is
does hard braking hurt the car bad? coz I have done this numerous times already
should I replace any parts when the car goes to service?
thanx for ur replys

[David C Klasse]

You're talking to the king of hard braking! I am just kidding, actually I am rather gentle on the brakes, atleast since I had them replaced. Before I was just average (probably worse than that because I drive a bit faster than the average). Since I got the new ones, I want to be gentle and get long life out of them. I am trying to time the lights better and let off the gas way before the stoplight. I am sure I'm getting better gas mileage and putting less wear and tear on the car too.

The only thing this will do is decrease prake pad life, and rotors, but that comes along with it some of the time. You are probably putting some stress on your suspension and your car as a whole, but nothing to worry about. I don't think it will affect your car. Your car is made to do that! I've got a C280 also and I'm sure that yours will be just fine.

[can-do]

Greetings,

You have a great point David, one most of us learn, but don't think of it much while city driving. Mosst city lights are timed that normal traffic flow can generally make it through two lights before having to stop. Some are timed longer that you can make three if traffic is going a bit above the limit. For the brake masher out there, I'd just keep alert to changing lights and figure you have to stop until you get the sync of the lights down. Personally, I try to time the lights that I don't have to use much braking effort through town, don't need the added expense of new calipers let alone new pads every 15K.

Charles

[bobbyv]

one effect of redlight panic stops is that you can warp your rotors. One cause of rotor warpage is that the rotor does not uniformly cool down across the entire surface because the part covered by the brake pad remains hot while the other parts are exposed to the air and cool down faster.

what i do is after hard braking to a stop (as against hitting the brakes on the highway but continuing on), is to move the car a little forward just to expose that part of the rotor so it can also cool down.

but the best way is to avoid it and slow down gradually. In my case because i have a 5spd manual, i can use engine braking as well. It is also satisfying to slow down way before the red light and conserve some speed until the light turns green - this, especially if you have a 5spd manual.

having said that, i've panic-braked a number of times on the red light. The tires were screeching while threshold-braking under ABS, but because the Benz has anti-dive geometry up front and anti-lift at the rear, it keeps its poise. So what to do after all that drama and people staring at you? Just look like nothing ever happened! ;-)



[Edited by bobbyv on 04-20-2001 at 10:37 PM]

Hard braking doesnt hurt your car,its your rotor and
pads that suffer.While hard braking,your generating heat
that affects your brake components.If you keep doing that
youll end up w/warped rotor.

Clauser1

[Michael]

Remember, all my friends with clutches (I have none, sorry to say), if you don't rev-match when you downshift, you're using a clutch to brake-and that's one expensive brake pad, eh?

[cerbomark]

Nothing to worry about. You should attend some car club track events and see what the cars are capable of.Rotors will eventually warp and pads will wear out.Both are easy to replace so enjoy the car. Also if you plan on keeping it change the brake fluid at least every two years.

[MBenzNL]

SKY,

I have a 1993 C250D and brake too hard too much. I recently changed the front rotors, front and rear brake pads (because they were worn till the absolute end), but before I replaced the front rotors and pads, I regularly came home with orange glowing rotors (I have to drive over some small country roads without any traffic at all before I am home). You will only wear the tires, rotors and brake pads faster as when you brake normal. The car can stand hard braking without any problem...

greetingz,