There can be nothing more terrifying than hitting the brakes in an emergency, only to find you have no brakes.

The truth is, most drivers think their brakes are ‘fine’ until they find out otherwise.

Dylan Petzer, vice national chairman of Tyre, Equipment, Parts Association (TEPA), an affiliate of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), said that the truth is brakes don’t fail overnight.

Petzer said there will be warning signs, and it’s negligent to ignore these, particularly when one considers that 35% of all major crash accidents are caused by a tyre burst happening before the accident.

He explained that ‘brake fade’ creeps up on you.

“It starts with you having to press the pedal a little bit further to get the same slowing effect. This ‘spongy’ or ‘long’ pedal is the classic sign,” said Petzer.

“If it’s brake fluid fade, the pedal might feel like stepping on a wet sponge and alarmingly close to the floor. If it’s brake pad fade, the pedal might feel hard as a rock, and the car just won’t slow down. On a long trip, especially down a mountain, this is a code-red panic situation and should be avoided at all costs.”

So what’s really happening when brakes start to fade?

Petzer said it’s simple physics: brakes are energy converters.

“Your engine burns fuel to create kinetic energy (motion). To stop, your brakes convert all that motion back into thermal energy (heat).”

They do this using friction – squeezing brake pads against a spinning metal disc (the rotor). This process creates an immense amount of heat.

Brake fade is what happens when the friction material on the pads gets hotter than its designed operating range, and it can’t ‘grip’ the disc properly.

The system is overwhelmed with heat and can’t shed it fast enough.

Petzer said the biggest mistake drivers make when it comes to brake maintenance is ignoring the fluid.

“Everyone worries about brake pads because you can see them get thin. But that bottle of brake fluid, meanwhile, is quietly absorbing water, lowering its boiling point and preparing to betray you at the worst possible moment,” he said.

“Brake fluid is a service item, not a ‘lifetime fill’. It should be completely flushed and replaced every two years, regardless of mileage.”

Petzer also explained why in-town driving and mountain roads or long-distance driving (perhaps even towing a caravan or trailer) are two different animals.

In-town driving: You brake for a robot, then drive for a minute. Brake for a stop sign, drive for 30 seconds. Your brakes are constantly getting a lovely blast of cooling air between uses.

Mountainous/long-distance driving: Driving down a long, steep pass or towing a heavy caravan, you’re constantly ‘riding’ the brakes to keep your speed in check.

The brakes are generating heat with zero time to cool off. You are asking them to absorb the energy of a two-ton (or three-ton, with a trailer) vehicle for minutes on end. Eventually, they hit their thermal limit and give up.

What’s the alternative to ‘riding’ your brakes? “Use your gears,” Petzer said.

He added that when driving down a steep hill, instead of riding the brake pedal the whole way down, shift the car down to a lower gear.

“Let the engine’s natural resistance hold the car’s speed. This way, the engine does most of the work and your brakes stay cool, fresh and ready for the moment you really need them.”

Three signs your brakes need help:

1. Hot brakes give off a pungent, acrid burning smell. If you’re driving down a pass and you smell this, pull over immediately and let the brakes cool down for at least 30 minutes.

2. Squealing is usually the sound of the built-in wear indicators needing to be changed. Grinding is worse as this is metal on metal and is destroying your rotors.

3. Vibration through the pedal or steering when you brake often means the rotors are warped, usually from a previous overheating episode.

“The festive season is coming up, and that means long drives, heavy loads and hot weather. To ensure your trip is 100% safe, get to an accredited workshop for a pre-holiday vehicle inspection, including your brakes and brake fluid.

“Setting off with your loved ones in a vehicle that has questionable braking power is irresponsible and can cost lives. Make sure your car is as ready for the holiday as you are,” Petzer concluded.

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