How long should you wait to drive after smelling burning from brake pads?
3 Answers
If the brake pads are overheating and emitting a burning smell, it's best not to continue driving, especially at high speeds. You should drive the vehicle to a safe location, park it, and check for the cause or visit the nearest repair shop for inspection and maintenance. Below is relevant information about brake pads: 1. The working principle of brakes mainly relies on friction. By utilizing the friction between brake pads and brake discs (drums), as well as between tires and the road surface, the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle is converted into thermal energy through friction to bring the car to a stop. Therefore, any abnormal conditions with the brake pads must be addressed immediately. 2. Under normal driving conditions, the brake pads should be inspected every 5,000 kilometers. Not only should the remaining thickness be checked, but also the wear condition of the pads, whether both sides are wearing evenly, and whether they retract properly. Any abnormalities must be dealt with immediately.
I've been driving for over a decade and have encountered the burning smell from brake pads several times - that odor is quite alarming. It's actually caused by excessive heat from friction between the brake discs and pads, just like when a frying pan gets scorched. When you smell that burning odor, you must immediately find a safe place to pull over. Don't continue driving, otherwise the brakes might fail and cause serious accidents. Generally, you should wait at least 30 minutes for them to cool down completely, but in hot weather or when the smell is particularly strong, it's better to wait 45 minutes to an hour. I often drive on mountain roads where steep downhill sections can easily cause this issue. After stopping, I make it a habit to open the windows for ventilation and check the wheel temperature by hand; if it feels hot to the touch, I wait longer. Never rush to restart - always inspect the brake pad wear condition first to avoid future problems. Safety comes first. After each incident, I remind myself to avoid sudden braking.
I'm a new driver who just got my license. Last time on the road, I suddenly smelled a burning odor and panicked, immediately pulling over. My friend told me it was brake overheating and advised stopping right away to let the system cool down. He said to wait at least 40 minutes, but I waited over an hour to be safe. After stopping, I turned off the engine, opened the door for ventilation, and searched online, learning that new drivers often make mistakes like driving too aggressively or braking too frequently, causing overheating. Now I know to drive more steadily and brake smoothly to reduce risks. If possible, it's better to have someone check the car's condition.
