Organic brake linings are essentially composed
of glue and a strengthening material, this used to be asbestos but today
differant materials are used because asbestos is a health hazard. When
the linings get hot, the glue softens and starts to melt and the linings
get slick.
The phenomenon of brake fade is not just
a matter of lining fade however. As the drum heats up it expands and moves
away from the shoes. With an air brake system the stroke of the
pushrod and thus the distance that the shoes can be moved out into the
drum is limited. If the brakes are improperly adjusted, when they get hot
it is possible to run out of stroke before the shoes make good contact
with the drums.
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page