Davyfella
X-TRAIL NEWBIE
Date Registered: 10-2013
Location: Melbourne
TOTAL POSTS: 38
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Re: how much can I brake before crossing water?
You should try not use excessive braking on long downhill drives.
After learning to drive in the British army on drum braked landrovers and Bedford RLs, you learn to not rely on the brakes much and use the gearbox as much as possible. The best rule of thumb is to go down hill in the same gear as you went up it, then use gentle braking occasionally to check your speed.
Next time you are on a long downhill drive, select a low gear and go downhill with your feet off. Then watch how often and how long the car in front uses their brakes.
Also, have a look at how dirty the alloy wheels on automatic cars get over manuals.
--- 2013 TL Diesel Manual,
Nudge bar, spotlights, side steps, towbar, spoiler.
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21/Oct/2013, 8:03 pm
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DogTrail
X-TRAIL FANATIC
Date Registered: 05-2012
Location: Sunshine Coast
TOTAL POSTS: 481
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Re: how much can I brake before crossing water?
quote: Next time you are on a long downhill drive, select a low gear and go downhill with your feet off. Then watch how often and how long the car in front uses their brakes.
No disrespect intended, but that was a good idea for all round leading edge drum brakes about 60 years ago.
Unfortunately I have vivid memories of my grandfather descending hills in 2nd gear because that is the gear he used to climb it.
I do tend to drive around people who unnecessarily slow my descent.
(I tend to use engine braking but touch the brakes when required, let them cool then touch them again on usual descents.)
I like to go down the hill at the same speed I wished I was going up that hill. No difference really in the X-Trail.
Discs dissipate heat much better without brake fade (or the total loss expected with hot drums) both wet and dry.
As long as the discs don't get red hot, then suddenly cooled, they should be OK for the OP.
Jalal has learned the hard way that hot pads can imprint on the rotor when things get too hot.
If red hot rotors hit cold water, they 'may' warp. It depends upon the inner tensions of that rotor.
Too many variables to make it a certainty but it is something to avoid if possible.
With a towed Van I would have thought that the time taken to assess the water crossing would be sufficient to allow the thin (but relatively efficient) rotors to cool sufficiently.
Last edited by DogTrail, 25/Oct/2013, 8:57 pm
--- 2011/12 Australia:- 2.5 litre petrol 4WD, Series IV ST, CVT : + some gadgets and cosmetic add-on's. Dirt, (it protects the paintwork) X-2429(c).
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25/Oct/2013, 8:39 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: how much can I brake before crossing water?
quote: DogTrail wrote:
Jalal has learned the hard way that hot pads can imprint on the rotor when things get too hot.
I did learn that the disc compound of the T31 is much softer than the T30
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25/Oct/2013, 8:45 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re:
Depends on the terrain mate.
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25/Oct/2013, 9:22 pm
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