Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not?
I replaced the disks and pads,last summer, all around. I used standard disks and wagnor pads. when the weather is dry the brakes are fine, but when it is wet i really have to force them down hard, i get no senseation of breaking for a few seconds then they start to hold, very scary sometimes! is it pads or maybe my power breaks are not working?????
Thanks
Rich
Thanks
Rich
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (Rich_01659)
The moisture in the brake pads act like a lubricant and until the pad heats up and drives out the moisture, no braking. Be careful with the first brake application when you get in the car. Give the brakes a test stop before you encounter traffic. Once warmed up they will work normally. Cold all day rains , this happens to me, the brake pads absorb moisture.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (jfb)
i suspect that the pads may be to blame but why these pads. my wifes dodge stops same wet or dry. not sure what type of pad i used on the dodge but i bought them at the same auot parts store as the vettes.
Rich
Rich
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (jfb)
thanks for the scoop, now ...... which pads are not affected by the weather? I will have to change these ,the wagnors just don't feel safe to me!!
Rich
Rich
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 9
From: N.E. WA
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (Rich_01659)
I have Wagner severe duty brake pads and they are the same way. Kind of a neat feel in the pit of your stomach for the first half second of wet braking huh? Try a different pad.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (ANTI VENOM)
it has little to do with the pads... any pad will not absorb moisture... they are basically metal shavings in a hard compound base... used to be asbestos, but I really don't know what it is any more....
what does happen is the effectiveness of the wheels design in cooling the brakes... they will draw wet cool air over the disk... thats what causes the problem...
what does happen is the effectiveness of the wheels design in cooling the brakes... they will draw wet cool air over the disk... thats what causes the problem...
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (Rich_01659)
I bought the performance friction pads when I did my brakes. They are pretty expensive but they seem to do a very good job. With these pads I don't really realize the same reduction in braking power that you talk about. I can tell when the brakes are wet, under slow gradual pressure I can feel that it takes longer to stop, but it's always a positive feeling. Never does it feel like the brakes are doing nothing.
I can tell you that I've had that happen, I made about 6 or 7 back to back passes at the track one day. On the last pass I hit the brakes and the pedal just fell. I was about to try downshift and try to slow myself down with the parking brake when they finally came back, they weren't nice, but they got the job done. Apparently I boiled my fluid, I need to flush them badly. Talk about a scary situation!
It does sound like your pads aren't very good. If they are that bad when wet you certainly need to replace them. As you said the Dodge doesn't do the same thing, and the vette probably didn't either before you replaced the pads? I would do yourself a favor and replace them with a good set of pads before you get hurt. Brakes are something you don't really want to take a chance on.
I can tell you that I've had that happen, I made about 6 or 7 back to back passes at the track one day. On the last pass I hit the brakes and the pedal just fell. I was about to try downshift and try to slow myself down with the parking brake when they finally came back, they weren't nice, but they got the job done. Apparently I boiled my fluid, I need to flush them badly. Talk about a scary situation!
It does sound like your pads aren't very good. If they are that bad when wet you certainly need to replace them. As you said the Dodge doesn't do the same thing, and the vette probably didn't either before you replaced the pads? I would do yourself a favor and replace them with a good set of pads before you get hurt. Brakes are something you don't really want to take a chance on.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (Rich_01659)
Maybe this will help.
One of my Ex GF had a 95 Firebird that felt scarey when braking in the rain. Felt like nothing was happening. I put new pads and it felt the same. Since this was only a street driven car I put crossed drilled rotors on it, that solved the problem, it gives the water some where to go.
If you do track events you will run the risk of cracking cross drilled rotors from heat. maybe look into slotted rotors in this case.
One of my Ex GF had a 95 Firebird that felt scarey when braking in the rain. Felt like nothing was happening. I put new pads and it felt the same. Since this was only a street driven car I put crossed drilled rotors on it, that solved the problem, it gives the water some where to go.
If you do track events you will run the risk of cracking cross drilled rotors from heat. maybe look into slotted rotors in this case.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 582
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville, GA
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (Rich_01659)
I had exactly the same problem on my 96.....I bought the car used.. and the brakes worked fine until first time I stepped on them in the rain....any time the brakes were wet it would not stop...until I used them enough to build up heat....I pulled the wheels and found that the pads and rotors where glazed...had the rotors turned and went ahead and put on ceramic pads....it now stops first time everytime ...wet or dry....if you have used your brakes hard you might want to just check to make sure you havent glazed the pads...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (larryf)
Thanks for all the input! I will get new pads and if that doesn't do it, then maybe drilled rotors. and BTW I bought my vette because it can give me that weired stomach feel..... but not in the rain when I'm trying to stop hahahaha!! :D
Rich
Rich
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (Rich_01659)
You don't need drilled rotors to solve your problem. ZR-1's never have a problem stopping and they do just fine without those expensive rotors. I have no problems wet or dry and I don't have drilled rotors and I do autocross events every month. Try a different pad, but scuff the rotors up first and follow the seating procedures for new pads.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Re: Wet Breaks don't work ... Why not? (89 Bob L)
I bought new pads today. CERAMIC Pads. I will put them on tomorrow. It is suppose to rain tomorrow so I will be able to report back on the performance of these new pads. the auto parts store is going to give me the value of my wagnors towards the new pads so this should only cost me about $12.00 :D
Rich
Rich
