Brakes overheating in the Pennines!

neilbardsley · Post by **neilbardsley** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:53 am

When driving to Manchester from Chatsworth in our Yaris the ABS decided to activate it on the way down a hill. Not wet but I think I had been dragging/feathering the brakes on the way down the hills. This may of over heated the pads. I decided to change more to a firm short press of the brake pedal (I also put the engine in a lower gear). Mrs B and the dogs in the back werent happy about the more sudden braking but do other agree this is how not to over heat the brakes?

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Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 12:03 pm

ABS shouldn’t activate in the conditions you describe due to brake temperature. It’s normally quite the opposite! If the brakes are cooked they can’t generate the stopping power.

Only exception might be if the fronts are pretty much on fire and you are pressing so hard to make something happen it then will activate the ABS to stop the rears locking. And if you get to that point with wife and dog in the car you are a braver man than me!

Did the pedal go soft?

neilbardsley · Post by **neilbardsley** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 12:48 pm

Drum brakes on the rear so no abs there. The brakes do go a bit soft and juddered but I thought that was the abs but maybe it was the pads not gripping? When we got home I checked how much pad was left expecting to bit see much but lots left

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Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 1:26 pm

ABS works on all four wheels, drum or disc doesn’t matter.

You may just have a warped disc that’s giving kick back at certain brake pressures.

Nine One One · Post by **Nine One One** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:17 pm

When was the last time you change your brake fluid, did you get your brakes that hot (as you imply) that you boiled the fluid and hence that is why the pedal is now going soft?
Could be an ABS sensor failing, or a cracked abs ring behind the disc, or just a build up of crud on the ring itself?

neilbardsley · Post by **neilbardsley** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:47 pm

Good point. I've bleed the brakes recently but I'm not sure all the fluid was replaced

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Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:11 pm

neilbardsley wrote:Good point. I've bleed the brakes recently but I'm not sure all the fluid was replaced

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The problem is usually the last thing you ‘fixed’ This is what I tell my son

and it’s normally true!

Possibly some air in a line or even the ABS modulator.

Martin P · Post by **Martin P** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:51 pm

In my experience when in a manual or auto car you are best to use gears for a bit of engine braking if you are pedalling hard, especially downhill.
For some reason ,particularly in an automatic, passengers don't understand why you are letting the engine "rev" on a long downhill stretch

gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:01 am

Do you know that the brakes overheated?

911hillclimber · Post by **911hillclimber** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:06 am

We had one of the original Yaris cars when they were launched, so maybe not relelant here, but the car never put a foot wrong. Had it serviced by the Dealer than after warrantee expired the local tyre depot and all was well, 10 years trouble free. Brake fluid changed to schedule etc.
Had a Toyota iQ after, and that was even better.
Full brake service I think Neil to restore confidence.

sisu · Post by **sisu** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:15 am

gridgway wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:01 am Do you know that the brakes overheated?

Having the ABS light come on after you have toasted the brakes can happen. But this is to tell you that there is no ABS.
I would be looking at your tires rather than in the brakes. Having ECO tires that are low rolling resistance makes great mpg but are slippery as shite.
Having the ABS kick in is because your tires are at the envelope of traction. Not the pads are rubbing or the brakes are faulty.

gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:05 am

Did a light come on and/or did the abs activate?

I think I'm a bit confused by the symptoms!!

neilbardsley · Post by **neilbardsley** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 12:06 pm

No light and the tyres are in good condition

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gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 12:19 pm

To summarise, the ABS activated when you didn't think you were braking hard enough to lock the wheels?
Dry weather?
Quite strange. If the car had detected an issue then the ABS warning light would be on.

Nine One One · Post by **Nine One One** » Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:32 am

I think he needs to explain it a bit better, a bit like his 'ride to week’ concerning the weather. Either that or the wheels are sticking on the Enigma machine he types with, as half the time I need someone to decipher his encrypted posts??

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