49 replies to this topic

[slindborg]

doesn't everyone do occasional dab on the brakes just to make sure they ready when you might need them

I have taken to doing this but it doesn't seem to make much difference.
Also, as an ex-engineer who used to run an automotive engineering firm I'd say any braking system that needs this has something wrong with it.

So you'll know that cars with ceramic/silly composite (designed with them that is) pulse the braking system every now and then to clear any water/debris off the discs and to keep a little heat in them...... so clearly using those types of brakes is sh*t is it?

[TazN]

When I drove to the national this year that was pretty god awful conditions and they felt as good as when in the dry. Check everythings all ok, I'd be inclined to think pads are shot.

[Harry Hornet]

Never had a problem driving within the limits of the prevailing conditions. Check your pads and do some training ...

How would driver training improve the mechanical efficacy of his brakes ?

I think the words that are relavent here are "heavy rain".......and "motorway speeds"......my two pence worth is slow down........dry the pads when u can, and use gears and not rely on brakes......ho hum

You've misunderstood - I was already driving safely within the conditions but then found that the brakes were ineffective - in the sense of applying braking effort, not in the sense of being limited by traction.
This is definitely something that needs fixing rather than being driven around.

I not sure I have...did you crash..did you stop..did you skid/slide to a halt...did you have to pump...did yopu have to pull on hand brake...did you have to stand on the brakes....was there a brown patch on the seats..

[NDT]

doesn't everyone do occasional dab on the brakes just to make sure they ready when you might need them

I have taken to doing this but it doesn't seem to make much difference.
Also, as an ex-engineer who used to run an automotive engineering firm I'd say any braking system that needs this has something wrong with it.

So you'll know that cars with ceramic/silly composite (designed with them that is) pulse the braking system every now and then to clear any water/debris off the discs and to keep a little heat in them...... so clearly using those types of brakes is sh*t is it?

Clearly using those brakes in a system which didn't have a process built in to manage one of their downsides would be sh*t.
The example you give has that process built in.

My point is that is I expect brakes to work both in wet and dry, with limited degradation of braking efficiency (as opposed to traction) in the wet.
If the braking system can't achieve this as designed it's sh*t and shouldn't have made production. I am assuming this isn't the case with the VX as when I did 135 miles a day in an Elise with a similar system in all weathers and seasons I didn't experience this issue.
So there's clearly a reason why the brakes on my particular car are shocking in the wet and I'm asking for help in identifying possible causes....

[siztenboots]

you have never tried elise with the original s1 mmc , now they really are shit when wet

[NDT]

you have never tried elise with the original s1 mmc , now they really are sh*t when wet

No, mine was a later one without MMCs.
I'll check pads etc at the weekend as I've got to get mine sorted, it's not safe as it is.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

before I changed pads 1155 cold in and wet were next to useless.. had a reminder on my phone to bleep every 10min to stab the breaks to get some heat into the pads.. that the proplem with running track pads on the road.. 1144s much better now I would suspect you have a track pad on your car

[slindborg]

before I changed pads 1155 cold in and wet were next to useless.. had a reminder on my phone to bleep every 10min to stab the breaks to get some heat into the pads.. that the proplem with running track pads on the road..

1144s much better now

I would suspect you have a track pad on your car

I suspect you really had some fcuked up pads/discs/driving style... I NEVER EVER experienced sh*t brakes in the cold/wet with 55's

[P11 COV]

Just love French motorways.

Except when it's raining and you're in a VX.

I'd managed to forget all about that and now you bring it all up again. I'll have to go back into counselling again now

[techieboy]

Sorry.

[LazyDonkey]

before I changed pads 1155 cold in and wet were next to useless.. had a reminder on my phone to bleep every 10min to stab the breaks to get some heat into the pads.. that the proplem with running track pads on the road..

1144s much better now

I would suspect you have a track pad on your car

I suspect you really had some fcuked up pads/discs/driving style... I NEVER EVER experienced sh*t brakes in the cold/wet with 55's

Seconded.

[ghand]

before I changed pads 1155 cold in and wet were next to useless.. had a reminder on my phone to bleep every 10min to stab the breaks to get some heat into the pads.. that the proplem with running track pads on the road..

1144s much better now

I would suspect you have a track pad on your car

I suspect you really had some fcuked up pads/discs/driving style... I NEVER EVER experienced sh*t brakes in the cold/wet with 55's

Seconded.

Same as, 55s Awesome any time cold ,wet, hot all no problem.Standard disks 55s well recommended by me.

[Steelic]

In February I left my vx outside a Hotel for two full on rainy days, there was even light rust on the discs. To my horror as I left (still raining) the Hotel down a quite steep drive way onto the main road I nearly overshot it because the brakes didnt work and that was less than 10mph! From that point it took a while for them to dry out before I was confident again to drive faster. That was with 1144's and standard discs, will be getting CRN grooved soon. 1144's when dry - no problem.

[jonnyboy]

Surprised nobody has suggested tyres.....

[ghand]

Surprised nobody has suggested tyres.....

I did 4th reply

Could well be.But my old disks and pads would hardly stop the car in the wet and they were drilled and grooved,but shagged

Edited by ghand, 21 August 2012 - 06:46 PM.

[Lou_m]

Brake fluid change time? Craig S had almost no brakes at the end of the Hoon. Brake fluid change sorted them out though. Although the weather conditions didn't seem to make any difference to how sh*t they were.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

before I changed pads 1155 cold in and wet were next to useless.. had a reminder on my phone to bleep every 10min to stab the breaks to get some heat into the pads.. that the proplem with running track pads on the road..

1144s much better now

I would suspect you have a track pad on your car

I suspect you really had some fcuked up pads/discs/driving style... I NEVER EVER experienced sh*t brakes in the cold/wet with 55's

Seconded.

Same as, 55s Awesome any time cold ,wet, hot all no problem.Standard disks 55s well recommended by me.

Hehe driving style. I am hard on my breaks but that should help haha

The pads were on the car when I bought it so can't vouch for how good they were. In fact, when I changed my pads they had the squishy pads on the back to stop them clunk/rattleing. So in reality I cant be sure what they were. I just took it as said in the add...

Edited by Stuwy, 21 August 2012 - 10:01 PM.

[NDT]

Surprised nobody has suggested tyres.....

it was the brakes that were shockingly bad, not the tyres... not a chance of locking up.

[coldel]

On the issue of drilled discs, I was told to avoid them, they are by all accounts meant for bikes not cars.

[jonnyboy]

Surprised nobody has suggested tyres.....

it was the brakes that were shockingly bad, not the tyres... not a chance of locking up.

Brakes are directly linked to tyres. Ask anyone whos got R888s! Might also explain difference in performance when dry/wet.

On the subject of 1155 pads I've also had to rip a set of those out for frightening cold performance. Never again!