Disc brakes were invented as early as the 20th century, but were actively used only in recent decades. It was then that the design of these systems was perfected. Brakes - this is the thing that should always be working. However, even this system sometimes fails. So, after some time, the driver begins to notice that the front brake discs are very hot. Is this normal? Of course not. And in today's article we will consider why the front brake discs are warming up and what is the reason for this phenomenon.
What is the normal temperature?
As a material for the manufacture of these elements, alloyed cast iron or steel is used. There are also ceramic brake discs, however, due to the high cost, they are used only on expensive sports cars.
Although it is precisely such elements that are least susceptible to overheating. Ceramics are not deformed even at a temperature of a thousand degrees Celsius. As for conventional brake discs, which are equipped with 90% of cars, their working temperature is up to 300
degrees Celsius. Anything above entails deformation and increased wear.
Requirements
There are several requirements for brake discs. They must be durable, resistant to thermal shock and with high thermal conductivity. Also, brake discs are characterized by good adhesion and a high coefficient of friction. Only if all these parameters are met can the disks be mounted on a production car. Otherwise, traffic safety will be a big question. When overheated, the pads will simply slide along the working surface, not performing their main functions - friction and adhesion.
Why is this happening? Causes
Motorists wonder: why is the front brake disc heated ? The reason for this phenomenon is associated with its main function - inhibition. So, when you press the pedal pads begin to interact with the surface of the disc. At this point, the heating of the element is at its peak value. The longer the shoe will mesh with the disc, the higher the temperature of the metal.
Heating occurs instantly. However, the cooling time is ten times longer. Of course, a lot depends on the driving style. If you drive the car aggressively, even a normal drive will not have time to cool down (unless it will be made of ceramic). How to be in this situation? If your front right brake disc is warming, then you need to reconsider your driving style. Count how many times you step on the pedal for a specific section of the path. But it happens that the metal heats up with a calm driving style.
So, the next reason to consider is the malfunction of the brake system itself. Check fluid level in reservoir. If it is not enough, add the desired volume. Also remember that the service life of the brake fluid is no more than two years. Why so? The fact is that such a liquid is very hygroscopic - it easily absorbs moisture. To avoid trouble and air congestion, experts recommend changing it periodically.
Pads
Now we proceed directly to the mechanical part. The first thing you should pay attention to is the pads. On their surface there is friction material. This pad has special wear marks. When the layer is less than three millimeters, the part must be replaced. Otherwise, the heating coefficient will increase - the metal will rub against the metal. Should the front brake discs warm up? Of course not. If the pads are worn to the base, at one point they can simply jam. The car will use. Do not delay with the installation of new ones - change the pads according to the regulations. It is from 20 to 30 thousand kilometers. And since a lot depends on the riding style, the manufacturer highlighted special risks in the middle of the pads.
When the
friction material has erased to these marks, the pads must be replaced. After this operation, it is required to pump the system by opening a special valve on the caliper.
Disks
Check its thickness. Often on UAZ Patriot cars, the front brake discs are heated due to the banal development of the working surface. Some use a groove. However, this can only be done once. And better - immediately change the disk to a new one.
Its resource is an order of magnitude greater than that of pads - 150-200 thousand kilometers. However, many people forget about it and drive with erased discs, not suspecting that the brakes will warm up soon.
Other factors
It so happens that the drive does not live up to its resource. And this is not always a factory marriage. So, if the front brake disc is heated, it may be warped due to high temperature extremes. How does this happen? After an active driving style, the car enters a puddle. As a result, the front brake disc is heated to 300 degrees and is cooled rapidly. Naturally, this causes deformation of the working surface.
We determine the state of the disk
To find out the exact reason, you need to make sure that the drive really worked in high load mode. How to do it? You can determine the condition of the work surface visually, by color.
The pyrometer is not useful to you. So, if the surface of the disk is blue, then the metal was heated to 450 degrees Celsius. Worse if the shade is black. In this case, there is every reason to assume that the brakes were heated to 500 degrees Celsius.
Useful Tips
The fact of overheating of the brake elements is far from the most pleasant news for the car owner.
Indeed, to fix the problem, a complete replacement or grooving of the part is required (which is also not a cheap pleasure). How to prevent this? You can save disks, for this you need to follow a few simple rules:
- Exclude any contact of water with calipers. Do not use aggressive driving in wet or rainy weather.
- Particular attention should be paid to washing. Wait a while for your discs to cool. If water gets on a hot metal, deformation cannot be avoided. In this case, only full disk replacement will save. Moreover, they change in pairs (as well as pads), even if the neighboring one is in normal condition.
- Follow the procedures for changing pads. Do not wait until they wear to metal. This will provoke deformation and increased heating of the disk.
Conclusion
So, we found out for what reasons the front brake disc is heated. By following the tips above, you will keep the system in good condition. On one drive, it is quite possible to drive 300 thousand kilometers. The main thing is to exclude overheating and monitor the serviceability of the working pistons of the caliper. By the way, breakdowns in the system are also excluded. If the hose is worn (as is often the case in the arches at the front wheels), do not hesitate to replace it. Otherwise, air will get inside and braking will not be as effective.