brake fade
Loss of braking power because the brakes have overheated.
Heat changes the lining and expands the drum, so the shoes grip less. Fade comes from using the brakes too much instead of the engine on a downgrade. Brakes out of adjustment make the others overheat.
Why it matters on the CDL test
Questions ask what causes brake fade, how to avoid it on a long downgrade, and what adjustment has to do with it.
Appears in 5 test questions
See 4 questions on the General Knowledge testExample: Halfway down a mountain grade the pedal needs more and more pressure to hold speed; the brakes are fading.
In other languages
- Español
- fatiga de freno
- Русский
- потеря эффективности тормозов (brake fade)
Related terms
Where it comes from
- CDL manual, Section 5.4.5 Brake Fading or Failure
- CDL manual, Section 5.1.10 Application Pressure Gauge (fading sign)
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