What is brake glazing? How do you prevent it?

holstein13 wrote:

Busskipper wrote:
Wiki

Thanks Busskipper, I read the entire article and found it extremely lacking. In fact, there was NO definition of what glazing actually is other than it results in a shiny pad or shoe. Pretty much useless. In fact, there were contradictions in the article referring to gasses that may be produced in the pad or shoe affecting braking.

I'm shocked how little information is available online with regards to this subject.

When I do an image search for "brake glazing" Google shows a lot of rotors as well as brake pads. No pictures of drum shoes (not that I have drum brakes, however). It's very confusing and frustrating.

My current understanding of glazing is that it only affects the pads or shoes, not the rotors or drums.

Does anyone really understand this subject?

In my experience - owning a company with a large number (50-100) of trucks on the road - Glazing as I define it was caused from driving with an excess of usage of the brakes for extended periods. Like, putting your foot on the brake as you descend from Eisenhower tunnel into Denver, never giving the brakes a chance to cool, never taking your foot off he brake. The brakes and the Rotor/drum will overheat and "glaze" become shiny and have a reduced ability to brake - so the Glazing comes from continuous overuse and overheating the brakes. Again from my experience, I have replaced many a Drum or Rotor that is just not functioning correctly because of the heat apparently glazing the surface of the metal and not being able to stop, properly. Hence the reason most larger trucks have engine or transmission braking.

IMHO most DP have more than enough braking to stop the coach, so the manufacturer has done his part now the RV driver, if he is having an "Issue" with driving then I usually suggest that they just Slow Down, and avoid the roads that provide the Issue, they feel better and I feel better.

So for me the question is not glazing, but does the Coach feel safe and stop when it should?

If not, then we need to check the brakes and maybe the driver.

Hope this helps,