YACT: how do you apply your brakes properly ?

[rh71]

Heavier vehicle like an SUV/truck/minivan... say you're coming to a red light / stop sign from about 40mph...

- gradual stop depressing the brakes the whole way
- gradual pulsing stop (a couple times)
- short hard stop

Which is the way to save your brakes (overheating/wear) and which is the recommended way (despite wanting to save your brakes)?

I'm asking because I have a pulsing in my brakes now (supposedly warped rotors I'm reading) but I always thought long gradual stops are the way to go... but apparently they can overheat the brakes causing this problem.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Warping is often caused by overheating the brakes then leaving the hot pads in contact with the rotors. This is going to happen a lot with autos.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Overheat? Unless you're doing 100-0mph stops repeatedly, you'll be fine and they shouldn't overheat. If they got too hot, you wouldn't be able to brake. Long gradual stops are the best way compared to a sudden short stop, those descriptions are very relative but hopefully the point is made.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Warping is often caused by overheating the brakes then leaving the hot pads in contact with the rotors. This is going to happen a lot with autos.

Never thought about that, but it makes sense, you have to use the brakes to hold the car in place from moving unless you switched into neutral or something. I've got another reason to love manual transmissions now

 

[Fraggable]

How about

- gradual stop but not over extended distances, maybe 100-125ft. from your goal.

I believe the driving manual the BMV gives out says to start slowing down when you get to the solid white lines at an intersection (on a road that normally has dotted white lines).

Pulsing is going to stress your brake system more than you need to, and short hard stop is hard on your entire car.