STOP cooking your brakes, Steep hill driving tips with brake temperature comparison

[TheDocAUS]

An informative video from MadMatt 4WD. A HUGE difference in brake temperatures by changing the way you do a hill descent in an automatic. Over 200C (392F) degrees cooler descending the correct way!

Mad Matt takes about saving brake pads and rotors but it also means you do not cook your brake fluid.

For me a timely reminder as I always did this in the manual Nissan Patrol, I need to remind myself to do it in the auto Grenadier - now that I own a van. The only twining I have done so far, was a flat terrain.

View: https://youtu.be/BImBq9qJd4g​

​

 

[NQ94]

The same methods used with earthmoving and haul trucks with powershift and auto transmissions. They may have engine brakes like Jake's or exhaust brakes to assist but the key is to select the correct gear for the descent one gear lower than assending the incline and keep the engine rpm high to get better engine braking.
The other thing not mentioned but can be noticed and we see on trucks is that on long steep over 10% descents with tight turns at full GVM the front tyres cop a flogging and in some instances tyre pressure and temperature will increase quickly if the speed is too high.

 

[[ Adam ]]

I thought this was common knowledge.

This was the technique I employed when driving back from the rockies.

 

[Dokatd]

I thought this was common knowledge.

This was the technique I employed when driving back from the rockies.

Thank you for posting this. I didn't want to be an ass.

I do recognize that common knowledge has to be learned over and over again through the generations, but that concept still escapes me. All these YouTubers monopolizing on it just blows my mind. I constantly have to remind myself that everyone starts at the beginning.

I learned the brake issue when I was about 17 driving into Breckenridge, CO with a trailer full of mountain bikes. Almost went off the side of the mountain. Literally I overheated my brakes to the point of them not doing much of anything. Certainly got my attention. From that point forward I never took my brakes for granted in the mountains again.

 

[Tenac]

We need a CCB kit for the Grenny!!!

 

[Ovrland Bill]

I think my braking technique is slightly different than shown in this video. On a downgrade, I use the “service” (foot) brakes when I need to slow down, and only then shift the transmission into a lower gear in order to prevent the vehicle from speeding up again (i.e. I don’t downshift as a means of initiating a reduction of speed).

I do it this way in consideration of preventing extra wear and stress on the expensive transmission, as opposed to routine maintenance of the brake pads.

 

[landmannnn]

I think my braking technique is slightly different than shown in this video. On a downgrade, I use the “service” (foot) brakes when I need to slow down, and only then shift the transmission into a lower gear in order to prevent the vehicle from speeding up again (i.e. I don’t downshift as a means of initiating a reduction of speed).

I do it this way in consideration of preventing extra wear and stress on the expensive transmission, as opposed to routine maintenance of the brake pads.

I would agree with you. Brakes are cheaper than transmissions and are designed to operate up to around 300°C (600F).

What overheats brakes is dragging them all the way down.
Braking heavily and then letting off the pedal allows the brakes to cool off ready for the next slow down.

 

[Dokatd]

Agreed, bleed off a bit of speed with brakes and then downshift unless you are already low on RPM to behind with then you can drop a gear.

Rental vehicle though, all bets are off

 

[NQ94]

Having the transmission in the right gear going down a steep hill will have less wear and tear on the transmission than daily stop start traffic. Good thing about auto transmissions they're pretty forgiving and will down shift only when the revs are right.