wet brakes
 

any dd out there have brakes get wet when driving in rain and really have to dry them off before they seem to work? my 00 frc when driving in rain after a while the first time i step on brakes they aint there but after couple seconds and maybe 1 pump on pedal brakes are like normal. the brake pedal does not get spongy or anything just dont grab like normal. was thinking of maybe blocking off cooling ducts for rainy season. anybody have this happen to them and maybe found something to help eliminate so much water getting to rotors? and please before everyone trips on driving a vette in rain 150k on clock so she is not a garage queen anymore

I only have to dry them out if I drive it right after I wash the car, there have been a few instances where Ive gone through a pretty deep puddle but other than that I havent had any problems?
Have you checked to make sure your pads arent worn down?

Same here. Slotted rotors with Hawk HP-S pads. When I go to stop after washing the car, my brakes feel like they aren't even working. :willy:

Well I think the only time mine were that bad was when I had to go through water that covered my cornering lights:hide:

yeah that is the same feeling i get like after washing car. pads @60%. do you drive your cars in heavy rain?

Well I have put almost 20k on my car in the past year and a half driving almost every day besides weekends so I havent had much of a choice. Its been so bad a few times that I almost pulled over and thats when I can barely see the lines on the road, never really had any problems with the brakes other that those rare occasions.

thx m6. maybe its the pads dont know but it gets the heart going sometimes i tend to be a late braker just have to remember to dry them off and brake a little earlier

I have OEM pads and TSP slotted/dimpled rotors, I live in S Florida and drive every day rain or shine. I find that mine doesnt do anything different than any other car in the rain. Stopping distance increases and it is easier to activate the antilocks but the pedal never feels different.

Wet disc brakes all operate the same when wet,you have to dry them before they work properly. Four wheel discs magnify the issue.

What you are experiencing is normal - when the brakes get wet, they will not grab as well as when dry. Once you apply the brakes a few times, they should work much better. And I doubt that blocking off the front brake ducts will do much to reduce the water coming in. Most of the water is probably being kicked up from the tires.

Yea I tend too tap the breaks a little just after I run through a puddle or drive the car right after I wash it.

rebelheart thx for the reply. i have had many many cars and this is the only one that acts like this. only thing different than other cars i have had is openess of the wheel spokes and brake cooling ducts. like couple others stated it is like after you wash car and drive it. the pedal is hard when you step on it but she doesnt stop. also i am a mechanic more than 20 years now and have never had a car do this.

thx for the reply vetteman. might be normal with performance type car but is not normal with anything i have driven before. its not that brakes dont grab (as good) as when dry they dont grab at all. kinda hard to pump pedal a couple times when you have already waited til last moment to hit brakes. we have metered on ramps and most people dont relize that the lights are triggered by when you pull up to line. i pass many cars like this with late braking. i guess i am just going to have to retrain myself to tap pedal a couple times before i get to braking zone. also i think when comes time for brake job i will go with drilled and slotted rotors.

I have been an ASE Certifed Master Tech for 35 years.Down here we have dailey thunderstorms and with being below sea level combined with poor drainage,this is a VERY common complaint across all our car lines (5). Cars with rear drum brakes are not quite as bad. You could go to a softer compound pad like a Z06,that may help alittle.

So ceramic brakes could potentially be worse when they get wet?

Yes indeed.

I live in England so I'm a rain driving expert:lol::D

:iagree:. Just one dab of the brakes and they dry out and work normally:thumbs: