Heating during operation is considered normal for brake discs. This is due to friction. Overheating is dangerous, in which the pads slide on a hot disc like butter. In this case, the effectiveness of the brakes is minimized, which can lead to an accident.
How to tell if the brake disc is heating up
Disks are one of the key elements of a vehicle's braking system. They are usually made of cast iron and function with a clamping mechanism, in a duet with which there are also pads. The latter, when braking, come into contact with the discs, slowing down the vehicle. In this case, the disks are heated. In some cases, they overheat. A driver with solid experience determines this without difficulty. Newcomers often do not pay attention to the "signals" that the car gives when the brake discs overheat.
Among the first symptoms of this problem are:
- the appearance of sounds resembling a creak or squeak;
- the car does not pick up speed when driving in "neutral" from the mountain
- a sudden increase in fuel consumption;
- rapid wear of the pads.
If at least one of these signs is detected, check the temperature in the area of / u200b / u200bthe discs to ascertain your suspicions. To do this, drive 300-400 meters, occasionally braking. Stop and bring your hand to the area of the discs. Just do not touch, otherwise you will get severe burns. Normally, their temperature should be around 200-300 ° C. When overheated, it increases significantly, so you will feel a strong heat from the discs even at a distance.
If you don't trust your feelings, use a special temperature measuring device. It can be purchased at a car dealership.
Experienced drivers determine constant overheating even without instruments. It is enough for them to examine the discs, the color of which will tell a lot. So, at a constant temperature of 150-300 ° C, steel turns yellow. Wheels look like rusty and this scares many car enthusiasts. This is actually a normal reaction of steel to an increase in temperature. And 200-300 ° C during the operation of the brake system is the norm, so there is no need to worry. Alert should be blue or black discs. They become so with a "chronic" increase in temperature up to 400-500 ° C.
If you suspect overheating of the disks, do not be too lazy to diagnose the brake system in a proven car service. Your life and other road users literally depend on its serviceability.
What is the danger of overheating brake discs
The incandescent disc loses its main function. The pads slide on its surface, rather than cling. As a result, the car becomes uncontrollable due to lack of proper braking.
In addition, a temperature above normal deforms the disc. If even small water droplets get in, it can crack and even crumble.
Why is the front brake disc warming up?
Both front and rear discs can overheat. However, it all depends on which wheels are driving and what type of braking system the vehicle has. So, on front-wheel drive cars, it is the front discs that often overheat. A mixed braking system (front disc brakes, rear drum brakes) also causes the front discs to overheat. In both cases, it is the front axle that experiences the increased load during braking.
There are several reasons for overheating drives. You can identify them yourself.
Driving style affects the state of many car systems, including the braking system. Aggressive driving, which means intensive acceleration and hard braking, leads to constant overheating of the discs. It turns out that they instantly heat up, but do not have time to cool down. This also happens during relatively calm driving in the city during traffic jams and in extreme heat. In this case, try changing your driving style: gently drive off and brake smoothly. This will help to reduce friction and, as a result, wear and overheating of the running surfaces of the disc and pads.
Control her level. Lack of brake fluid leads to overheating of the discs. Its level in the tank should be between the maximum and minimum marks.
In general, brake fluid must be changed every two years. Even if its level is normal, it loses its properties over time. Do not skimp on brake fluid, buy a quality product recommended by the car manufacturer.
The thickness of these elements of the braking system is strictly regulated by the manufacturers. The indicators are spelled out in the vehicle registration certificate. Even a millimeter below the permissible values keeps the car at risk. A thinned disc heats up faster during operation and is easily deformed, and with sharp braking it can even burst.
Surface imperfections, i.e. various irregularities also increase the likelihood of overheating due to increased friction in places of defects.
Imperfections in the form of roughness increase the likelihood of overheating due to increased friction in these places. If you notice defects on the disk, do not hesitate to replace it on the back burner.
Protect discs from artificial deformation. So, washing a car in hot weather immediately after driving can lead to it. In this case, the discs need time to cool down. Otherwise, cold water, if it hits a hot surface, according to the laws of physics, will lead to deformation.
Car manufacturers recommend changing the pads after 15-20 thousand km. It all depends on the driving style. Therefore, keep track of their condition between scheduled maintenance. Even a beginner will be able to assess the wear of the front pads. Pay attention to the thickness of the parts. So, if the thickness of the friction lining is approximately equal to the thickness of the base of the pad, then the wear is about 60%.
Replace old elements of the brake system with original ones. Chinese counterparts often do not meet manufacturer's standards. They are usually thinner than the prescribed standards, as a result, the brake elements overheat during operation.
Drivers often notice that the front discs overheat after replacing the pads. This is due to the "curve" setting of the replaced nodes or its absence at all. When installing new pads, it is imperative to balance the cylinders and caliper bushings. The first ones must be lubricated without fail. To avoid this, carry out the replacement at a proven car service.
What to do if brake discs get warm
The solution to the problem depends on the cause of its occurrence. Sometimes it is enough to simply change the driving style. In most cases, you cannot do without the help of professionals. Wizards will carry out diagnostics to identify the real cause and, if necessary, carry out repair work.
There are preventive measures that will minimize the risk of overheating the pads:
- timely replace pads and discs;
- purchase only certified spare parts;
- control the level of the brake fluid and replace it with a quality analogue;
- watch the thickness of the discs.
There are times when, after eliminating all the causes, the front discs still continue to overheat. This is typical for a car with "mixed" brakes. In this case, many drivers take a radical step - they put discs on the rear axle instead of drums. Then the load during braking is distributed evenly along the axes. As a result, the front discs stop overheating.
