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Brake Fade, Heat & Downgrade Braking

What should you do during a stop after a hard descent if the brakes are very hot?

  • A.Pour cold water on the drums to cool them quickly
  • B.Leave immediately while the linings are still hot and soft
  • C.Block the governor so pressure stays high while parked
  • D.Park safely, let the brakes cool before relying on them again, and inspect for smoke, odor, damage, or a dragging brake
Correct answer

D. Park safely, let the brakes cool before relying on them again, and inspect for smoke, odor, damage, or a dragging brake

Why

Sudden cooling can crack hot drums, and driving again before temperatures fall means starting with brakes already close to fade. A cooling pause plus a look for the reason one brake may have worked harder protects the next leg of the trip.

Manual topic: Air Brakes - Brake Fade and Heat · From the Air Brakes practice bank (AB-193).

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