Which term describes braking performance degradation due to overheating on long grades?

• A. Visual Lead Time
• B. Brake Fade
• C. Road Conditions
• D. Weight

Answer: (B)

Brake fade describes the loss of braking effectiveness that occurs when brakes overheat during extended downhill runs. As you brake, a lot of energy is converted to heat in the friction material and in the brake fluid. When temperatures climb, the friction material can glaze and the coefficient of friction drops, so the brakes don’t grab as hard. In some systems, the hydraulic fluid can boil, reducing the pressure available to apply the brakes. The result is a noticeable decrease in stopping power just from overheating, which is exactly what happens on long grades when there isn’t enough time to cool the brakes. This differs from visual lead time (perception and reaction distance) or road conditions (which affect braking distance but not the overheating mechanism), and from weight (which changes how hard you must brake but not the tendency for heat to reduce braking effectiveness). To prevent fade, use engine braking or downshift to dissipate energy and avoid riding the brakes—let them cool periodically.