Long-distance braking

[Howard]

If you see a red light and you've got a long distance between you and the line, do you brake in one stage or do you break it down into multiple stages or phases? For example, I tend to brake until I reduce my speed by about half, cruise, then brake again.

 

[destrekor]

I brake and continue to brake from a certain distance until I reach a dead stop, however I vary the intensity of the braking by pumping. Figure it's easier on the brakes. Am I wrong in this assumption?

 

[SampSon]

To simplify, I break in multiple stages.

 

[BrownTown]

multiple stages

 

[George P Burdell]

Oh great, now you've made me conscious about my braking habits. Not cool, man!

 

[PHiuR]

brake to slow down(this also helps warn the people behind me that i am slowing down), then cruise, followed by a slow and gentle brake until coming to a complete stop.

 

[Kalvin00]

Downshift, engine brake for a bit, steady brake until I stop most likely....unless i'm trying to time the light then it would be different

 

[daniel1113]

Brakes? We don't need no stinkin' brakes!

 

[rezinn]

I understand why people brake in stages. You think it lets your brakes cool down so they won't warp. But it isn't necessary unless you're going down a long hill or you ride the brakes. In fact the only person I know who consistently ruins her brakes (squealing, vibrating, in multiple cars) always pumps the brakes.

If I see a red light far ahead, I simply take my foot off the gas and coast until I need to brake. Then I stop.

People who brake intermittently really annoy me. By doing it you force the people behind you to do it. You know the effect flashing brake lights have in traffic? And if people can't see there is a red light they shouldn't be driving. Someone was just telling me how a person driving them around made them carsick yesterday because they were pumping the brake.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I coast until I get really close but I don't break hard. I break when I need to/

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
Downshift, engine brake for a bit, steady brake until I stop most likely....unless i'm trying to time the light then it would be different

That's what I do in my manuals, automatics, I usually do it in stages.

 

[EGGO]

Tap the brake to let people behind me that I'm stopping soon (also turns off the cruise control). Cruise in and stop in one very smooth application of the brakes.

 

[Syringer]

I speed up as fast as I can then slam on the brakes right before I cross the line..

 

[dug777]

I've got a perfectly good manual gearbox, so I just shift down through the gears, and roll up to the line in 2nd, ideally timing it so I can just pull away without coming to a complete stop...

 

[thedarkwolf]

I just run into the car in front of me and let him slow me down. Don't want to wear my brakes out you know

 

[dandruff]

i have mastered it on my cars ... just apply one continuous smooth pressure to stop .. so yeah multiple ...

if u brake hard, u transfer more pad material to one spot on the rotor and over time it may result in a shudder while braking at high speeds .. also bitter cold to hard braking may result in thermal shock for some pads/ rotors materials...

follow bedding in procedure per zeckhausen.com if you feel a shudder or install new pads ...

 

[OhSnap688]

I just slowly push down on the brake the closer I get to the line the harder I push and it's never like a slam on brake type thing. So just single.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: destrekor
I brake and continue to brake from a certain distance until I reach a dead stop, however I vary the intensity of the braking by pumping. Figure it's easier on the brakes. Am I wrong in this assumption?

People behind you probably love you