Do you consider yourself to be "sporty" behind the wheel of your car? If you love to race all the way up a motorway ramp before standing on the brakes at the end, then you may be putting your entire brake system through too much hardship. Don't be surprised if your pads start to deteriorate to such an extent that they glaze over. What is this, and what can you do about the symptom?

High Temperatures

Engineers design brake pads with a degree of compromise. They need to be durable and hard-wearing, but they need to break down to a certain extent as they interact with the disc. Also, they have to be able to operate at reasonably high temperatures and deal with moisture thrown up from a wet surface below. All in all, they need to work miracles in order to bring your vehicle to a halt.

Crystallisation

Yet there is only so much that these experts can do, and if you are an overly aggressive driver, then the brake pads may not be able to cope with the situation. They may heat up to such an extent during an aggressive deceleration that they will start to crystallise. The friction material will lose its consistency and residue may be transferred to the surface of the disk as well.

Vibration and Shudder

When this happens, the pad will not be able to slow the car as much as it should, and you may notice excessive vibration or shudder whenever you try to do so. The pads themselves may begin to crack, and lines may start to appear on the surface of the discs as well.

Driving Habits

Some people tend to drive too close to the car in front as well and might tap their brakes constantly as they react to what is going on ahead. Once again, this can heat up the entire system, and this can lead to glazing too. You may also find that the piston inside the calliper begins to stick in the engaged position, and if this happens, it will simply exacerbate the problem and cause additional glazing.

Time for Repairs

Unfortunately, you will probably have to replace any glazed brake pads and may need to get the discs machined as well. Take the vehicle in to a mechanic for their advice as soon as you can, but try to slow down in the future to avoid a repeat performance.

For more information, reach out to a local brake repair technician.