2025-12-04
Caption:
The Boy Who Cried “No Brakes”
Alt text:
Aaaaaaaaaa!.. NO BRAKES! NO BRAKES!.. Just kidding.
Mountain Tours
243
Comments11Caption:
The Boy Who Cried “No Brakes”
Alt text:
Aaaaaaaaaa!.. NO BRAKES! NO BRAKES!.. Just kidding.
Mountain Tours
Not long after I passed my test and was still an inexperienced driver, went down a road that takes you from the top of a big hill down to the bottom, the road being around five or six miles long with a sharp hairpin bend about half mile from the end.
Being fairly new to independent driving and not appreciating the joy of engine braking; I rode the brakes the entire way down. Towards the bottom, the smell from the brakes gave away the telltale smell that something was very wrong, and it was only on the approach to the hairpin that I realised that the brake pedal was going right to the deck and offering no retardation other than my own.
Even after forcing the car into second gear and steering left like I was in a one man yacht, I barely got round that corner.
I started to appreciate the need for escape lanes after that.
Lol
My driving instructor was adamant that I always use the break pedal and never relied on engine braking. I am still an inexperienced driver.
Is this a real concern or was the breaks of that car expired or something?
Downhill you shouldn't just use the brakes as they overheat quickly
Very real concern, at least in older and heavier cars. Hot brakes don't work well, engine braking is harmless and makes it much easier to control pace.
The best way I can describe is going down a big hill with just brakes feels like you're on a slippery steel slide, trying to use your hands to stop. Engine braking feels like you're on an escalator, where if you just stay where you are, you'll get to the bottom at a consistent speed.
Engine breaking is much cheaper on gas though
Why wouldn't you rely on engine braking? That's a weird thing to teach. That's how trucks handle mountain descents, if you're wondering how useful it is.
Yes, brakes can overheat in certain conditions. I've had it happen a few times myself.
Especially if it's an older vehicle, one thing that can happen is the brake fluid starts to boil. You're supposed to flush the fluid every few years, but no one ever does so as it gets older or takes on more water that lowers the boiling point. You lose your brakes if the fluid is boiling. And I've had that happen on hot days even without serious hills (albeit with heavy vehicles, so the brakes were working hard).
There is literally roads where I live that have signs saying you need to use engine braking so yes. It is a concern or longer descents.
I hope I die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming and terrified like his passengers.
Shit reminds me of pikes peak
Love driving that road