How can you reduce brake wear?

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llmercll

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I know that driving slower, coasting more, and braking less are all good for your brakes, but I have a question about how to brake.

For example, when going moderately fast and coming to a red light should you.

1. wait till you're close to the light and press really hard
2. lightly but constantly press the brakes as you approach the light
3. "pulse" the brakes, pressing moderately hard for a bit and releasing for a bit, over and over until you slow down (to let the brakes cool a bit)

thanks!
 
If the brakes are hot, i don't like to sit there with the pads on one section of the disk. I stop short and allow room to creep forward a bit keeping the pads from heatsinking and making pad deposits on the rotor.
 
I also shift my auto tranny to "3" to blip the RPMs and lock in the fuel cut-off effect and then apply brakes when needed.
 
Originally Posted By: GutsyGecko
2. Then release the brakes as soon as you are stopped.

What if he's got an automatic?
smile.gif
 
the hypermiler answer would be to brake immediately then let off once you are at the proper approach speed.
The concept would be you need to give yourself as much space to time the light and go through with as much carried speed as possible and never have to come to a complete stop, even if this is just idle crawl, that's better than full stop.
If you have enough time to consider choosing an option, then you can take the hypermiler's approach.

If you know you have to come to a full stop (i.e. stop sign, or long light or sudden red light) that's a different problem.

I think for your brakes just go for a moderate speed and just let it bring you down to zero.
I suppose it depends on your brake quality and how much speed you have to bleed off. If you are going at a sane speed where one braking event is not going to overheat your brakes it doesn't matter.

If your brakes are not very good, and it's a lot of speed, and you just got off from 10 hard brakes streetracing; then you don't want to be sitting with hot brakes that may warp your rotors (not really true warping but just melting and transfering brake material). So i'd say moderately remove all your speed, then as you are stopped let yourself roll forward slowly over the stopped time.
 
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FWIR, it's better to brake harder as you approach a stop than to brake lightly all the way to it.
I always brake lightly and long for anticipated stops and I always have very long brake life, so who knows?
I do agree with the poster who noted that you shouldn't leave the pads clamped after making a hard stop.
Let the car ease forward.
 
Nighthawk55 gave the best answer. I have done this for years. ALWAYS use natural friction to slow the car as much as possible, and use the brakes only if you must. I know some stretches of mountain road where for 10 miles going downhill I will not use the brakes. I will just gear down. Meanwhile I smell the brakes of other drivers burning.
 
Pads are cheap to replace vs transmission clutches and engine due to excissive wear from constant downshifting.

I drive a manual and just leave it in the gear I was cruising in and just coast up to lights and all the car to drop a good amount of speed naturally. If no one is behind me and there's a red light ahead, I coast even longer and usually the light turns green by the time I coast up to it.

I also apply the brakes gently but rather firmly. Dragging too low is bad for long life. Braking too hard is also bad. Find a middle ground.
 
However, I would say the best answer is do what's customary in your area and town for stopping.

While you are worried about saving your brakes, if you do something weird or unexpected that your fellow drivers don't expect; you put yourself at risk to get into an accident. Then having slightly more worn brakes is the least of your problems.

Brake pads are not expensive.
 
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Originally Posted By: raytseng
However, I would say the best answer is do what's customary in your area and town for stopping.

While you are worried about saving your brakes, if you do something weird or unexpected that your fellow drivers don't expect; you put yourself at risk to get into an accident. Then having slightly more worn brakes is the least of your problems.

Brake pads are not expensive.



Exactly. Don't be one of those people driving in an unpredictable way to squeeze out an extra month of life on your brakes, or to get 1mpg more. It makes the rest of us nervous.
 
Originally Posted By: Artem
Pads are cheap to replace vs transmission clutches and engine due to excissive wear from constant downshifting.

I drive a manual and just leave it in the gear I was cruising in and just coast up to lights and all the car to drop a good amount of speed naturally. If no one is behind me and there's a red light ahead, I coast even longer and usually the light turns green by the time I coast up to it.

I also apply the brakes gently but rather firmly. Dragging too low is bad for long life. Braking too hard is also bad. Find a middle ground.

Agreed.
 
Originally Posted By: MrQuackers
I also shift my auto tranny to "3" to blip the RPMs and lock in the fuel cut-off effect and then apply brakes when needed.


You must have a chevrolet, I had a 3/4ton truck and let off the gas and the motor would still pull a ways before the fuel would cut off. The first set of front pads only lasted about 27,000 miles.

Now I have a chevy colrado standard shift, 121,000 miles still on original ceramic front brakes , the rear drums brakes have been replaced a few times.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald


Drive 55 MPH.


No, don't. Not even in the right lane. Drive the *** ****** speed limit.
 
Originally Posted By: nitehawk55
Coast as much as possible and use brakes lightly


I've been trying teach this to my wife for a while. As the other married guys have guessed, no luck so far.
 
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