Posted by D Higgins on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 at 3:43PM :
In Reply to: Run away posted by Dave on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 at 2:49PM :
.. that is something I have never done. It happens when the brake pads get so hot, they glaze over and lose all friction against the drums. This can be caused by repeated use and NOT a slight consistent pressure while going downhill. I remember the first time I took a REAL downhill. I was grossing #80,000 down Wolf Creek Pass. It was FASCINATING how the truck acted as though it was being forcefully PULLED down the hill. The weight factor was inbelieveable. My trucking mentor told me once (he did once loose his brakes due to a defect and lived through it) He said, "You go down a hill too fast, only once" Again, "Slow and Easy". It was common for trucks to lose their barkes, until the Jacobs Mfg. Co. (same Jacobs as on your drill chuck) manufactured the "Jake Brake" which opens the exhaust valve right before the compression stroke is capable of igniting the Diesel within the cylinder. This turns whatis supposed to be a "powerstroke" into an energy absorbing stroke which will slow down the truck. That is the d-d-d-d-d-d- sound you hear from trucks slowing down. My Pete has a "retarder" which filled a case behind the flywheel with oil as a hinderance to speed which was another form of "engine brake". I ALSO had a jake brake installed cause I love the noise they make. I SELDOM used my foot brakes, not even when I carried loads down the passes. With TWO engine brakes you can't go wrong.
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