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I was always wondering this. Imagine a steep descent. What is better for brake wear - braking constantly or more powerful just at the end? Anybody knows? Goes for both rim and disc brakes

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[-] superkret@feddit.org 13 points 1 month ago

Braking at the bottom will cause less wear.
Because air resistance also has a braking effect, and it increases with your speed, squared.
So the faster you go, the more energy will be bled off from wind resistance.

Also, braking strongly in short bursts is better than letting your brakes rub continuously. That will cause them to overheat and glaze the brake pads, destroying them.

[-] Mihies@programming.dev 3 points 1 month ago

Wind resistance makes total sense. I'm not entirely sure on short bursts, though. I mean you have to change the fixed amount of kinetic energy to heat in fixed time. Theoretically both would result is similar temperature given short time span.

[-] superkret@feddit.org 9 points 1 month ago

Short bursts heat up your pads quickly, but allow them to cool back down in between.
Continuous braking keeps the heat on.

[-] Mihies@programming.dev 4 points 1 month ago

Hm, yes, but total amount of heat is constant. Perhaps it cools quicker with bursts and its higher temperatures because of difference in temperature against ambient.

[-] superkret@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Not all the heat goes into your brake pads. Your rims or discs take much of the heat but also cool down very fast.

this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2024
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