Emergency Runaway Ramps and Mandatory Brake Check Areas.

Especially if you park with hot brakes -- the shoes pressed against only parts of the drums create uneven cooling which warps the drums (or rotors on dics)...

 

i would have to agree, you could be in trouble ANYWHERE between ramps. and the next one coming up. may just be too late.

and let's be realistic, you stop at the top. are you going to remember where each ramp is provided there's a few.

or, better yet. if you even have to look for where they are. you probably shouldn't be going down in the first place.

brake checks are a nice idea and scenic pull offs would be a nice addition. anyplace that can be used for a nap. as rest areas are the only things listed. but to use them for strategic purposes. that truck should be in the shop instead. course, what's to say that moment won't happen TILL you get to needing a strategic plan.

 

i'm going to add to your already well known explanation.

the thinner the drums and rotors get. the worse off the condition gets also.

on cars, wear the first brakes down, replace and true the rotors. once those wear down, you replace both brakes AND rotors.

manufacturs provide specs as to minimum thickness of rotors and maximum circumference on drums. you go beyond those specs, you get very serious problems, very early after a brake replacement. coolest thing to experience, stopping at 75 mph. pulsating brake pedal and vibrating steering wheel. literally sounds like the front end is coming apart.

 

Just like everything else in life, the info is there! If you use it (and it saves your or someone else's life)
great. If you don't want to, that is fine also. No driver has ever went to work thinking "I will try out a runaway ramp today". I haven't used one in over twenty years. BUT if that situation should arise, and I have time to get into the correct lane and not hurt anyone in the process, I would want and need that info.

 

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truck brakes don't "just fail". they are too thin on brake pads, drums are too old, glazed or out of spec, slack adjusters aren't properly adjusted to spec, brake cannisters haven't been serviced, or the driver is riding them until they heat up and fail. but they don't just fail on their own!

there's absolutely no excuse for brakes to fail going down a hill. improper braking, lack of proper mountain driving training are reasons why brakes fail. most everything can be avoided with a thorough pre-trip. and proper instruction/training!