Comments on: Brake Fade Explained http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/07/31/brake_fade_explained/ MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Casey Swenson http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/07/31/brake_fade_explained/comment-page-1/#comment-8758 Casey Swenson Mon, 02 Aug 2004 16:07:26 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/07/31/#comment-8758 <p>Steel brake lines can make a nice difference on the track...what happens with the stock rubber lines is that as the brake fluid heats up, the rubber lines can expand slightly...thus it takes a bit more pedal to slow the car down, typically this doesn't result in extreme brake fade though as poor pads or underrated fluid can. What can happen though is that as you are required to use more pedal, it can cause a poor brake fluid to generate more heat, and boil sooner then it would be expected, leading typically to front brake loss....I had first hand experience of the OE brake fluid boiling on me at Texas World Speedway a few weeks back, 95mph straight through a corner got me first hand experience at mowing the grass there. Ran out of time before the track day to flush the system and was hoping the OE fluid would be good enough - bad mistake, it is not good enough if you push it very hard on the track. Especially a track day where you have many sessions on the track...it heat cycles way to many times and breaks down very quickly.</p> Steel brake lines can make a nice difference on the track…what happens with the stock rubber lines is that as the brake fluid heats up, the rubber lines can expand slightly…thus it takes a bit more pedal to slow the car down, typically this doesn't result in extreme brake fade though as poor pads or underrated fluid can. What can happen though is that as you are required to use more pedal, it can cause a poor brake fluid to generate more heat, and boil sooner then it would be expected, leading typically to front brake loss….I had first hand experience of the OE brake fluid boiling on me at Texas World Speedway a few weeks back, 95mph straight through a corner got me first hand experience at mowing the grass there. Ran out of time before the track day to flush the system and was hoping the OE fluid would be good enough – bad mistake, it is not good enough if you push it very hard on the track. Especially a track day where you have many sessions on the track…it heat cycles way to many times and breaks down very quickly.

]]> By: michael Boice http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/07/31/brake_fade_explained/comment-page-1/#comment-8757 michael Boice Mon, 02 Aug 2004 15:09:33 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/07/31/#comment-8757 <p>I have not yet taken ownership of my mini, so my comments come from experience with other cars. </p> <p>Slotted rotors are more durable than cross-drilled rotors - I feel they work better too; drilling removes too much material from the rotor making these rotors run a bit hotter than slotted rotors. I personally would never use Cross-drilled rotors on the track and I learned this the hard way. Cross-drilled rotors can develope spider cracks which migrate from the holes further weakening the rotor. </p> <p>Performance street pads work very well in the Northeastern United States all year long so long as you remember to keep a bit more distance between your car and the one in front of you when temps are say, below zero; they'll need to warm up for a second or two and then they'll grab very nicely. These also double for light track use.</p> <p>I personally use a DOT 3 fluid and have it flushed twice a year - when I have my alignments done.</p> <p>Steel braided brake lines can also make a huge difference in pedal feel.</p> I have not yet taken ownership of my mini, so my comments come from experience with other cars.

Slotted rotors are more durable than cross-drilled rotors – I feel they work better too; drilling removes too much material from the rotor making these rotors run a bit hotter than slotted rotors. I personally would never use Cross-drilled rotors on the track and I learned this the hard way. Cross-drilled rotors can develope spider cracks which migrate from the holes further weakening the rotor.

Performance street pads work very well in the Northeastern United States all year long so long as you remember to keep a bit more distance between your car and the one in front of you when temps are say, below zero; they'll need to warm up for a second or two and then they'll grab very nicely. These also double for light track use.

I personally use a DOT 3 fluid and have it flushed twice a year – when I have my alignments done.

Steel braided brake lines can also make a huge difference in pedal feel.

]]> By: Gabe http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/07/31/brake_fade_explained/comment-page-1/#comment-8756 Gabe Sun, 01 Aug 2004 20:33:50 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/07/31/#comment-8756 <p>Ian - a well respected tech in the Chicago area say the same things when it comes to brake fade.</p> Ian – a well respected tech in the Chicago area say the same things when it comes to brake fade.

]]> By: Ian Cull http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/07/31/brake_fade_explained/comment-page-1/#comment-8755 Ian Cull Sun, 01 Aug 2004 04:11:12 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/07/31/#comment-8755 <p>Nothing in there about steel brake pipes, which I had been told were a benefit ...</p> Nothing in there about steel brake pipes, which I had been told were a benefit …

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