Braking problems
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
Braking problems
Hello everyone. I'm kinda confused here on this one. I have a 1985 Corvette and I just installed new Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads and had my rotors resurfaced. I didn't open up any brake lines at all.
So when I brake lightly the stopping power seems normal. When I slam on the brakes it's almost like the pads are slipping over the rotors even though I have a solid pedal. I almost hit somebody because they were so awful, it's almost like my brake pads are made of wood!
I have done some different bedding methods but I don't think that they should have next to zero stopping power at all, bedded or not.
Also, I'm getting a clunk, clunk, clunk, sound coming from the brakes that happens every 1/2 second when braking.
Can anyone help me figure this out?
This car is too dangerous to drive.
Thanks!
So when I brake lightly the stopping power seems normal. When I slam on the brakes it's almost like the pads are slipping over the rotors even though I have a solid pedal. I almost hit somebody because they were so awful, it's almost like my brake pads are made of wood!
I have done some different bedding methods but I don't think that they should have next to zero stopping power at all, bedded or not.
Also, I'm getting a clunk, clunk, clunk, sound coming from the brakes that happens every 1/2 second when braking.
Can anyone help me figure this out?
This car is too dangerous to drive.
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Front, rear, or both? Pretty much you need to recheck you work to start. Clunking sounds like loose or mis-assembled ??? When rotors where refaced they should have a finish like a "CD" very smooth.If they had / have a finish like a vinyl record with grooves you can feel with you finger nail - that could be part or all of your problem. It is as possible rotors weren't machined correctly causing a pulsation (knocking). Burnishing is a whole lot (10-20)of firm moderate braking depending on pad composition.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
Front, rear, or both? Pretty much you need to recheck you work to start. Clunking sounds like loose or mis-assembled ??? When rotors where refaced they should have a finish like a "CD" very smooth.If they had / have a finish like a vinyl record with grooves you can feel with you finger nail - that could be part or all of your problem. It is as possible rotors weren't machined correctly causing a pulsation (knocking). Burnishing is a whole lot (10-20)of firm moderate braking depending on pad composition.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,851
Likes: 579
From: New Port Richey FL
Yes the rotors did seem quite rough. It's been a while since I've cut rotors myself, let alone seen a cut rotor, but I ordered brand new ones for the front, I'm gonna try those first and see if the braking is better but I'm not too confident that will cure the problem.
the clunk is a bit of a mystery unless rotors were not cut straight of not totally seated I to scratch my head a bit, I know from prior interaction with you know how to do the repairs properly, so back up recheck job and retry
Last edited by s carter; Oct 9, 2015 at 05:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
I changed the front rotors and the brake performance improved tremendously! The front rotors have a nice smooth finish where the pad touches it in the front, however the rears are still very rough. I'm going to drive it some more and see if the rear rotors straighten out or if they just because smooth with a scored finish. If that happens then I'll change them. Thanks for the help everyone. Looks like I won't be getting rotors cut with that *** hole anymore.
