Controversy regarding brake habit.

MICRO-MANAGEMENT

People get all sorts of stupid ideas by trying to out think the rest of the world. “I am going to out think everyone else and make my vehicle last longer than everyone else.” If these were actually factual ideas resulting in longer parts life or more safety they would be recommended by the OEM, the legislators and well everyone. But they aren’t.

 

That was the happy safe place response. Your brake coast brake technique is dangerous IMO and you will be in an accident because of it. Now I may be interpreting your technique incorrectly but as it is written I would keep the hell away from you on the road. If conditions were slick or icy your actions are not smooth and will cause problems.

One of the first things you do in race school is a technique where you use NO BRAKES. Lap after lap with no brakes going slightly faster each time. Then slowly introducing brakes. The excercise teaches you to be smooth and apply throttle and brakes smoothly. Now back to public roads. As you approach the limits of traction application of throttle and brake smoothly lets you know when you are approaching these limits. The brake coast brake method ensures you will cross the traction barrier and then have to regain traction. Try this in icy or slick conditions and you are the one to cause that huge pileup that kills people. This doesn’t even take into account those around you who will see you braking and then letting off only to do it again. It will stress them out and do you really want to stress out the driver who is about to punt you off the road? Their stress will make them make mistakes and guess who is the first to suffer if they become overwhelmed by your erratic braking technique? One lapse of concentration and you are rear ended. What will they tell the investigating officer? Buddy was braking erratically.

I can’t make you drive differently. But in all my experience on road and on closed course racetracks is smooth is fast and safe. I am sure it will take an officer ticketing you or an accident where you are deemed at fault to make you look in the mirror. No one likes to be criticized. Everyone is good in bed and are great drivers with an IQ over 200. Sorry if I am harsh or am reading your comments incorrectly or reading too much into it. But if I am right there needs to be some self reflection.

 

Not if you live in a cold climate, then they freeze up if used on these new Tacomas!

 

Keeping a foot on the brakes at a stop is good advice to help prevent runaway collisions in the intersection, same way as not turning your wheel ahead of time for a left turn while still waiting for cross traffic to clear, because if you are rear ended, you won’t careen into oncoming cars.

 

Your ideas are not stupid. They are grounded in solid physics, unfortunately there simply is not enough heat transfer from metal to air in the time of a stoplight to make any difference. Air is a poor heat sink.
The brake and release idea is not so good. You have to bring a 4500 lb vehicle from say 35 mph to 0 mph in a certain distance. You will develop the same amount of excess heat whether you brake and release or just apply a constant pedal.
The putring your vehicle in reverse to get rid of tailgaters is just asking for trouble. I don't care how tough you are or what you are carrying, there is always going to be a tougher guy than you carrying a bigger stick.

Good.luck man.

 

FWIW the dealer replaced my front brakes and turned the rotars at 17,000 miles because they were warped. I drive lots of miles daily, streets, freeway, bumper to bumper and large grades. Also my truck has at least 500 pounds of junk in it dailys.

Reminds me I need to check the pads on the front . And I have a very slight vibration on the front, going to need rotors this time. Maybe I’ll upgrade.

47000 miles now.

 

You're putting unnecessary wear on the clutch plates.

 

Just drive your vehicle the way it's intended. These threads make me laugh.

 

Sounds like OP wishes he had a manual and is getting bored driving an automatic. As others stated above no need to do what you're doing and just drive normally. Braking should be second nature, should be more foucsed on road conditions.

 

What on earth is this conversation trying to accomplish?

I am so lost!

 

Still the other persons fault. You would probably hate to follow me, if I see a light or know one is coming up, I'll start down shifting to slow down and coast if I'm not going to make the green. If someone hits me, their insurance better be up to date.

I live in Maine, I think that's a cold climate, and the reason I don't use the brake when I park in my drive way. And when I do use it while sitting at a light, it's just barely up, like one or two clicks.

 

Sure, I do the same. But I DO NOT brake and release, brake and release, brake and release. That is an invitation to get hit in the ass. While it is the other person's fault, you still have to go through the pain of getting your vehicle fixed. And, physics - wise, it does nothing either. Your brake rotors still have to absorb the same amount of energy from a set speed, whether you slam them on all at once, gradually apply them or brake and release, brake and release....

 

Brake pad compounds are formulated with operating temperature in mind. Race pads will wear relatively quickly and make noise at low temperatures, and street pads have a lower temperature threshold to when they start to lose friction coefficient(fade), of which a Tacoma would probably never exceed.

That being said, you are doing absolutely nothing by that whole procedure of putting it in neutral and letting off the brake at a stop. I've never heard of such a thing. Now on a long down hill descent with a load, pumping the brakes allows them to cool ever so slightly rather than dragging them. Some of you guys have some really odd driving habits.

I'm glad you don't live near me or my family haha. J/K.

 

jesus christ this effing thread....

 

Yup, this confirms my suspicions. Humanity is doomed to fail.

 

I've heard that it's best to do this in a manual to save wear on the throwout bearing. I dunno about autos.

I put the truck in neutral at stops, but leave the bike in gear. I don't honestly care too much about getting rear ended at a stoplight in the truck, but the bike is potentially fatal, so I want to be able to move quickly if I need to.

 

I would rethink that practice too, you might end up pissing off the wrong person doing that.

 

I was thinking about getting hit while sitting at light. How often are you not behind some one? The few times you are sitting in front, are the only time you will be able to get out of the way if some one is going ass slap ya. Even then, you options may be limited to almost none, as lights set up right are moving traffic in as many lanes as possible.