Brake fade is caused mainly by which condition?

Excessive heat from overusing the service brakes

Too much slack in the parking brake cable

Excessive heat from overusing the service brakes

Cold air entering the supply reservoirs

A governor that cuts in at a low pressure

On a long steep downgrade, how should the brakes be used?

As a supplement to engine braking in a low gear

As the main way to control speed all the way down

Only after the vehicle has reached the bottom

In one long continuous application from the crest

When should you avoid using the parking brakes immediately?

When the brakes are very hot from a steep grade

When the engine has only just been started from cold

When the brakes are very hot from a steep grade

When the air tanks are fully charged

When the vehicle is parked on level ground

CDL Air Brakes Endorsement/Topics/Brake Fade Use

Brake Fade Use practice test: free CDL Air Brakes Endorsement questions

Brake Fade Use covers 12 questions in the QuizCram bank (12% of all questions), ranking as the third biggest domain for the CDL air brakes endorsement exam. Questions are written against the official Original practice questions on the air brakes endorsement, written from the federal knowledge requirements in 49 CFR Part 383 and the public CDL manual facts. The real test is a multiple-choice knowledge test, and you need 80% to pass. Try the 3 free sample questions below to test your understanding of these core rules.

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12%of the bank

12 questions, the third biggest topic. The ring is its size next to the biggest.

Try 3 sample Brake Fade Use questions

0 of 3 answeredTap an answer to check it

Brake fade use1 of 3
Brake fade is caused mainly by which condition?
The answer
Answer: B. Overheated linings change chemically and the drums expand, so friction drops and the shoes must travel farther to meet the drum. Keep using the brakes hard and the fade can progress until the vehicle will not stop. A loose parking brake cable, cold air or a low cut-in setting does not overheat the linings, and overheating is what causes fade.
Source: 5.4.5 - Brake Fading or Failure
Brake fade use2 of 3
On a long steep downgrade, how should the brakes be used?
The answer
Answer: A. Select a safe low gear before the descent and let engine braking carry most of the load. The brakes are then applied only to trim speed, which keeps heat from building beyond what the drums can shed. Using the brakes as the main control, saving them for the bottom or holding one long application all lead to overheated drums and fade.
Source: 5.4.6 - Proper Braking Technique
Brake fade use3 of 3
When should you avoid using the parking brakes immediately?
The answer
Answer: B. Very hot brakes can be damaged by the parking brake, so let them cool first and use wheel chocks on level ground if needed. Wet brakes in freezing weather are the other exception, because they can freeze and lock the vehicle in place.
Source: 5.4.8 - Parking Brakes

Quick answers on Brake Fade Use

How many Brake Fade Use questions are on the CDL Air Brakes Endorsement?

QuizCram covers 12 practice questions in the Brake Fade Use domain, mapped directly to the official examination blueprint.

What is the passing score for the CDL Air Brakes Endorsement?

The benchmark score is 80% (Multiple-choice knowledge test · 80% to pass (49 CFR 383.135) · item count set by your state).

Are these Brake Fade Use questions written from official sources?

Yes. All questions on QuizCram are written against official handbooks and blueprint specifications with legal citations.