Budget Direct - Brake advise...

[OzriderXR8]

I just clicked onto Budget Directs website titled 'The Worst Things People Unknowingly Do To Their Cars'

I found this gem of advise...

Overuse of Brakes
If brakes are used as the only means of controlling speed while descending a long hill, for example, the brake pads may overheat, and potentially melt the brake lines. If brakes are relied on exclusively in decelerating or stopping over the long term, brake components will wear down much quicker than if you use the gears to assist in speed control, especially when travelling down a steep hill. Understanding how to use your gears will not only save your brakes but will save your money too.

[Adamz Ghia]

I remember the first time I drove to Lorne and coming back down the hill from Erskine Falls I used my brakes alone to hold speed (EF Fairmont), by the time I got to the bottom they were cooked, gave off a hell of a smell.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by OzriderXR8

I just clicked onto Budget Directs website titled 'The Worst Things People Unknowingly Do To Their Cars'

I found this gem of advise...

Overuse of Brakes
If brakes are used as the only means of controlling speed while descending a long hill, for example, the brake pads may overheat, and potentially melt the brake lines. If brakes are relied on exclusively in decelerating or stopping over the long term, brake components will wear down much quicker than if you use the gears to assist in speed control, especially when travelling down a steep hill. Understanding how to use your gears will not only save your brakes but will save your money too.

100% correct except for 'melting the brake lines'. That there is funny!

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by OzriderXR8

I just clicked onto Budget Directs website titled 'The Worst Things People Unknowingly Do To Their Cars'

I found this gem of advise...

Overuse of Brakes
If brakes are used as the only means of controlling speed while descending a long hill, for example, the brake pads may overheat, and potentially melt the brake lines. If brakes are relied on exclusively in decelerating or stopping over the long term, brake components will wear down much quicker than if you use the gears to assist in speed control, especially when travelling down a steep hill. Understanding how to use your gears will not only save your brakes but will save your money too.

Great advise, it's the first thing you learn when you get a truck license.

I do it all the time and have done so since learning to drive my current daily is on over 100,000km on the original disks and pads, with lots of heavy towing and I recon I will get a few more km/s yet.

Melting brake lines might be a bit dramatic though, I have seen plenty of people cook their pads and disks to a point of needing replacement.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Great advise, it's the first thing you learn when you get a truck license.

I do it all the time and have done so since learning to drive my current daily is on over 100,000km on the original disks and pads, with lots of heavy towing and I recon I will get a few more km/s yet.

Melting brake lines might be a bit dramatic though, I have seen plenty of people cook their pads and disks to a point of needing replacement.

I don't know about now, but 10/12 years ago when I got mine (only MR) they slapped me on the wrist for using gears to slow down (aside from where it tells you to use low gear) telling me we just slow with out brake now 😖

[Brazen]

Brake pads are cheaper to replace than a transmission

Gears get you moving, brakes slow you down.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Brake pads are cheaper to replace than a transmission

Gears get you moving, brakes slow you down.

Exactly. A set of Bendix HD pads is worth $80. A gearbox $1800, a new clutch $400.

And for the truckies who've missed the point that Budget Direct were talking specifically about cars... apples and oranges chaps. Sorry.

[Stefan]

Sounds like a whole lot of bs from budget direct. Probably applicable for a car built in 1959 with questionable braking systems.

Most cars are now automatic anyway so highly doubt anyone is using gears to slow down excepting some extreme down hill driving.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

I don't know about now, but 10/12 years ago when I got mine (only MR) they slapped me on the wrist for using gears to slow down (aside from where it tells you to use low gear) telling me we just slow with out brake now 😖

Did a HR lic course (Cert II Heavy Vehicle Operations) a few months back and gears must be used.

[Kingsley]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

I don't know about now, but 10/12 years ago when I got mine (only MR) they slapped me on the wrist for using gears to slow down (aside from where it tells you to use low gear) telling me we just slow with out brake now 😖

I remember a work colleague being told something similar in Coffs Harbour in the mid 90's.
However the company I drove for would tear your limbs off and beat you to death with them if they found you weren't using the gears instead of the brakes. Nothing ****ed the owner off more.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

[QUOTE=superpursuit05;5575862The company I drove for would tear your limbs off and beat you to death with them if they found you weren't using the gears instead of the brakes. Nothing ****ed the owner off more.[/QUOTE]

This

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

I don't know about now, but 10/12 years ago when I got mine (only MR) they slapped me on the wrist for using gears to slow down (aside from where it tells you to use low gear) telling me we just slow with out brake now 😖

With regards to Trucks. If there is a sign at the top of the hill saying "Trucks and Buses must use low gear" you can get booked for using the brakes.

(that's why we used to fit brake light switches )

[jimt3te50]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

With regards to Trucks. If there is a sign at the top of the hill saying "Trucks and Buses must use low gear" you can get booked for using the brakes.

(that's why we used to fit brake light switches )

And now the brake lights activate with an engine brake by default

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by jimt3te50

And now the brake lights activate with an engine brake by default

Some do, not all.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

I don't know about now, but 10/12 years ago when I got mine (only MR) they slapped me on the wrist for using gears to slow down (aside from where it tells you to use low gear) telling me we just slow with out brake now 😖

Wow that is so strange.

I did my heavy vehicle license back in 1992, and I was told off if I even touched the brakes to slow down, we had to use the gears, and then just do the final stop using the brakes.

If you had to use the brakes you were considered to be driving to aggressively, I remember I had to hit the brakes fairly hard (not lock up) during my test as a car pulled out of a side street and I nearly failed my test, as somehow that was considered my fault and I should have been more aware.

But truck brakes back then were not that crash hot and you would be hard pressed pulling up a fully loaded truck after a few stops as the brakes would fade out fast, I remember going down Bulli Pass and by the time you get to the bottom you virtually have no brakes left, even using low gears.

[Blem]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Great advise, it's the first thing you learn when you get a truck license.

I do it all the time and have done so since learning to drive my current daily is on over 100,000km on the original disks and pads, with lots of heavy towing and I recon I will get a few more km/s yet.

Melting brake lines might be a bit dramatic though, I have seen plenty of people cook their pads and disks to a point of needing replacement.

I drive a paint van & I got over 90k out of my pads.
No harsh braking as paint goes everywhere.
Clutch lasted over 140k.

Originally Posted by Brazen

Brake pads are cheaper to replace than a transmission

Gears get you moving, brakes slow you down.

On the track that is 95% true.
Rotors can get costly but are definately a consumable like pads.

[Dr Terry]

They could have meant "melt brake linings", not "melt brake lines", although the word "melt" is also a bit odd in reference to brake linings.

Dr Terry

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

They could have meant "melt brake linings", not "melt brake lines", although the word "melt" is also a bit odd in reference to brake linings.

Dr Terry

I think you might be onto something there.

It's probably written for the lay person, I have seen brakes hot enough to fade a few times, rarely on the street though.

[SumoDog68]

There are two different scenarios here - one is picking the right gear for long descents and the other is slowing down for a corner or slow moving car etc. On long descents you control your speed by picking the right gear and not riding the brakes . For slowing down before corners or obstacles you use brakes.

[OzriderXR8]

I'm an old trucky and have unfortunately run out of brakes a couple of times due to overheating. (more like lack of maintenance on the owners part)

Unfortunately this advise is aimed at car drivers, not heavy vehicles. Every car in the world would have a recall on it if brake lines were melting due to excessive use.

Is this just someone with no idea of reality or is it part of a conspiracy in the insurance industry and Budget Direct Insurance are setting up an escape clause for anyone having an accident going down hills. Maybe it was written by Captain Risky from their adds.

"Sorry Mr Customer we can't pay your claim as you over used your brakes on that hill?

[sprintman1]

Budget Direct don't pay claims anyway so it's a moot point

[Itsme]

It is a pity that most driving instructors don't teach this to learners on how to use gears to slow vehicles down, I had a few big arguments with my two daughters driving instructors who would neglect to teach them this method..... what hope do you have with this mindset from instructors.

[stevefreestyle]

I often have the displeasure of getting caught behind these inconsiderate idiots who blissfully hold up the traffic by 20-30 km/hr, demonstrating to the world there complete inability to drive or control a car, by mindlessly leaving their car in Drive and riding the brakes to death !

The problem is exacerbated by often taking undue risks to overtake to relieve the inevitable frustration caused by these cretins.

[Sabantien]

The proper way to stop for a red light is to mash the accelerator until the last second then mash the brakes. Or at least that's how it's done in Brisbane.

[stevefreestyle]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

The proper way to stop for a red light is to mash the accelerator until the last second then mash the brakes. Or at least that's how it's done in Brisbane.

Same in Wollongong...cough...cough...

[XRtowcar]

I always thought driving in NSW was like a giant "Go to Whoa" competition.

Saw an old Mustang that had jammed a wheel cylinder on the other day.
Brake shoe lining had completely disintegrated and the tyre bead melted on the rim once the car stopped, but the brake line still looked OK.
Must have been very hot.

[Ben73]

Brakes are for amateurs. I have drove a 2000+ tonne train from Newcastle to Mudgee without touching the brakes once, dynamic braking for the whole way unless you get a red signal.
Only time you use the brakes is when pulling up at your destination.

[Pedro]

Why use brakes?
I was working on the master cylinder of my Standard 10 back in the 60's on the day my sister was getting married (for the first time). Checking my watch I realised I wasn't going to get the job done in time so I chucked the master cylinder on the rear floor and headed off from Avalon (NSW) to Martin Place in Sydney for the event. Harnessing the 20-30 hp of this beastly British triumph in how not to make a car, I used it's 4 speed box and hand-brake to negotiate my way into the city. Then, having consumed a liquid lunch at the ceremony, I drove back home and finished the job the next day. Readers should not attempt to replicate this adventure, for doing so will surely bring about 1000 lashes from Harold Scruby

[blakef6]

I took the brakes off my car. no need for them. It also made the car lighter and quicker

[commodorenutt]

The ZF in the FG will shift back a gear or 2 going downhill to hold the set cruise control speed. They wouldn't program it to do that if it was going to damage the trans.

Auto transmissions these days are electronically controlled, and won't let you shift them into a low gear unless all the parameters are fine (engine speed, road speed etc) to prevent damage.

Nothing wrong with coasting/slowing gently using the gears sensibly - in both auto and manual cars, but if you're doing it aggressively, or trying to compression lock the driving wheels, then you can do damage.