Drum Brake Fade
Symptoms
Braking effectiveness decreases during sustained use, descending a hill, repeated stops in traffic. The pedal feels normal but the car doesn't slow down as effectively.
Cause
Drum brakes trap heat. As the drums heat up, the coefficient of friction between the shoe lining and drum decreases. This is an inherent limitation of drum brakes, not a fault. The FJ/FC's relatively small drums exacerbate the issue.
Fix
This is a characteristic of the braking system, not something that can be "fixed" without converting to disc brakes (which is not straightforward on these cars).
Ensure the brakes are in the best possible condition, properly adjusted, with quality linings, and with the drums machined true.
Use engine braking on descents.
Plan your stops early.
Drive with awareness that you don't have modern braking performance.
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