Quote:
Originally Posted by Orv
I think you're right for typical driving. It might be different if you drive very aggressively, travel in mountainous areas, or tow a trailer. I've actually seen someone in a pickup lose brakes on a long downgrade while towing, due to boiling the brake fluid.
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I've seen plenty of improperly loaded trailers without brakes cause the tow vehicle to loose braking due to boiling... don't do that again! also if you travel in the mountains, you MUST learn to drive within the ability of the vehicle's brakes. if your vehicle cannot brake adequately on downhill runs, ENGINE braking must be used effectively!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orv
Trucks are also using drum brakes, so additional airflow isn't going to help much. I've frequently seen truck brakes literally smoking hot after just a freeway panic stop. The strategy for trucks seems to be to use extremely large, heavy drums and rely on thermal mass. For long downgrades they depend heavily on engine braking to supplement the wheel brakes. Perhaps not coincidentally, runaway truck ramps are a common feature of mountainous stretches of highway.  |
Totally true! seasoned truckers KNOW how to balance the speed and load with lower gears and engine / jake braking. NO TRUCK loaded is able to handle extended braking down steep grades. engine/jake braking is the only serious way.
BUT!!! keep this in mind also... there is NO fluid in truck brakes to boil! it's pneumatic. the Drums DO INDEED melt/fail as do the shoes wear beyond limits and fail!