Braking in the rain
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 153
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Braking in the rain
I am curious if anyone has any solution to lessen the effects of the brakes locking the wheels when braking on wet roads. I live in Florida where it rains quite frequently and i dont like to let rain stop me from going out. I read in another thread one member preferred to use FF brake pads as one solution. Obviously it takes a little skill beyond braking in an abs equipped car but im just curious if there's anything more i can do especialy since living in miami hard stops are frequent and necessary to stay alive and are a little scary without abs on a wet road
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,478
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From: Downers Grove Illinois
I am curious if anyone has any solution to lessen the effects of the brakes locking the wheels when braking on wet roads. I live in Florida where it rains quite frequently and i dont like to let rain stop me from going out. I read in another thread one member preferred to use FF brake pads as one solution. Obviously it takes a little skill beyond braking in an abs equipped car but im just curious if there's anything more i can do especialy since living in miami hard stops are frequent and necessary to stay alive and are a little scary without abs on a wet road
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
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I'm working on my own skill, but its incredibly easy to lock up in the rain when you need to hard stop on a highway going 70-80 mph
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Keep your insurance paid up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Lincoln, CA
ABS aside your tires are loosing contact with the road. Better tires would be the correction.
Not sure which tires you have but just looking at the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 on Tirerack they are horrible in the wet.
50 to 0 shows 127 feet were the best for this test the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 stopped in 112 feet. 15 feet difference.
Tire size may not be helping either. Can you control the lockups with the brake pedal?
Not sure which tires you have but just looking at the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 on Tirerack they are horrible in the wet.
50 to 0 shows 127 feet were the best for this test the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 stopped in 112 feet. 15 feet difference.
Tire size may not be helping either. Can you control the lockups with the brake pedal?
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Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 535
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From: London Ontario
It sounds like your brakes and tires are working well. As has been said it now comes down to driving style and that is not saying you are the issue.
Back in the day before ABS was invented we had to learn to pump the brakes to maintain control and adjust driving style for the conditions at hand. I grew up in the snow belt and learned to drive with non ABS cars/trucks. If the roads are icy we had to leave more space in front and watch the traffic more carefully. These Corvettes are old style cars that require older driving techniques in those conditions. I personally hate ABS and the fact that a computer is allowed to get between me and my braking plans.
Back in the day before ABS was invented we had to learn to pump the brakes to maintain control and adjust driving style for the conditions at hand. I grew up in the snow belt and learned to drive with non ABS cars/trucks. If the roads are icy we had to leave more space in front and watch the traffic more carefully. These Corvettes are old style cars that require older driving techniques in those conditions. I personally hate ABS and the fact that a computer is allowed to get between me and my braking plans.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
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In response to both mikes:
We're talking interstate highway driving here. I understand that these cars are likely to lock up under these conditions (more so with the hydroboost setup which makes the pedal very sensitive) but the goal here is to find out whether or not there might be a way to reduce this effect. Even using cadence braking at lower speeds (35-50) on wet roads is a challenge when some jack*** cuts you off and slams the brakes.
We're talking interstate highway driving here. I understand that these cars are likely to lock up under these conditions (more so with the hydroboost setup which makes the pedal very sensitive) but the goal here is to find out whether or not there might be a way to reduce this effect. Even using cadence braking at lower speeds (35-50) on wet roads is a challenge when some jack*** cuts you off and slams the brakes.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
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I do try to leave myself more room in the rain but unfortunately other drivers in south florida are not of the most courteous sort, cutting you off and leaving less than a few car lengths to work with.
As far as tires go, unfortunately there arent very many options that allow me to keep my stock rims (i love the look). Ideally id throw some z rated tires on it but i have not found such an option in this size.
As far as tires go, unfortunately there arent very many options that allow me to keep my stock rims (i love the look). Ideally id throw some z rated tires on it but i have not found such an option in this size.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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Its my understanding that FF rated pads have low grip at low temp making it a little less likely to lock up. Im currently using the oe organic ac delco pads
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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I've driven in Miami in such conditions. No worse than anywhere else. Quit blaming the car or the environment.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Lincoln, CA
I like the 1521 and use it all the time on all my cars.
"This compound's excellent linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention."
http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds2.asp
Wilwood provides some good heat vs Cf information.
http://www.wilwood.com/BrakePads/BrakePadsApp.aspx
So does Porterfield.
http://porterfield-brakes.com/images...6_02_43_53.pdf
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 4
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 4
The C3 holds the pads against the rotors. If you are doing 70/80 they are not cold. When I drive 2 miles to work I measured 150 degrees by the time I parked.
I like the 1521 and use it all the time on all my cars.
"This compound's excellent linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention."
http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds2.asp
Wilwood provides some good heat vs Cf information.
http://www.wilwood.com/BrakePads/BrakePadsApp.aspx
So does Porterfield.
http://porterfield-brakes.com/images...6_02_43_53.pdf
I like the 1521 and use it all the time on all my cars.
"This compound's excellent linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention."
http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds2.asp
Wilwood provides some good heat vs Cf information.
http://www.wilwood.com/BrakePads/BrakePadsApp.aspx
So does Porterfield.
http://porterfield-brakes.com/images...6_02_43_53.pdf
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
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Go practice on an empty road before you cause an accident.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
You need tires!!!!!
Folks, I say this all the time-The S/T rated tires available for the stock C3 rims are quite frankly JUNK!!! The Firestones, BFG Radial TA's etc are old technology tires with no performance at all. They are a standard passenger car tires with raised white lettering, low traction rubber, and poor tread design for rain. The reason tires have treads on the street is mostly for rain-that's it. Every car I own has Z rated ultra high performance summer only or all season ultra performance tires for real performance in the dry and especially the WET!!! My 78 has 255/45/17 ZR summer only ultra high performance tires that are AWESOME in the wet. You are flirting with disaster driving fast in the rain with stock OEM type tires.
One of the most important aspect of any car's handling, steering, and braking is the TIRES-tires are the car's only connection between you and the road-Don'tt skimp!!!
Folks, I say this all the time-The S/T rated tires available for the stock C3 rims are quite frankly JUNK!!! The Firestones, BFG Radial TA's etc are old technology tires with no performance at all. They are a standard passenger car tires with raised white lettering, low traction rubber, and poor tread design for rain. The reason tires have treads on the street is mostly for rain-that's it. Every car I own has Z rated ultra high performance summer only or all season ultra performance tires for real performance in the dry and especially the WET!!! My 78 has 255/45/17 ZR summer only ultra high performance tires that are AWESOME in the wet. You are flirting with disaster driving fast in the rain with stock OEM type tires.
One of the most important aspect of any car's handling, steering, and braking is the TIRES-tires are the car's only connection between you and the road-Don'tt skimp!!!
Last edited by jb78L-82; Sep 26, 2014 at 03:27 PM.