24 replies to this topic

[madasahatter]

First time driving in crappy cold raining England today since having the car. First thing I noticed was that there weren't any brakes - well not as much as usual anyway. A BIG prod on the pedal produced some brakes but not much. So I drove on, taking it easy. After sometime I stamped on 'em to see what was doing, and they were a little better. Then, at the next island I discovered they were back. I can only think that this was due to pad/disc not being up to temperature, but I have not had this problem with fast road pads before. Anyone else noticed this? Mad

[Ricky2772]

that's a common glitch, when raining the first stomp is just for....fun! seems that a layer of moisture forms on the discs, and it takes a "preemptive" pedal mash to make'm work properly..... once you know it, you'll adapt your reaction-time appropriately.....hopefully! drilled discs help a bit...

[madasahatter]

Thanks Ricky - if it is just a case of TADTS, then I'll learn to work around it. cheers

[Robski]

How about those funky grooved disks? Surely they would help out a bit?

[speedyK]

It's a problem with all discs in the wet to a greater or lesser extent. The all-singing, all-dancing Mercedes have an integrated wet weather programme to repeatedly (and imperceptibly) lightly apply the brakes so that when you do need them they work first time. Not compatible with the Lotus "Less is more" tenet, but effective.

[paulb]

My Audi TT brakes were dreadful in the wet... Scared me a few times. It's because water can get stuck between the pad and disc and then boil. Lifting off and then back on normally helps...

[mal_dun]

I've never thought about it before but I tend to run the first few yards in the wet with the brakes lightly on. Must be a habit I picked up years ago. I haven't a clue when though

[TurboTomato]

Had people not noticed that if you get your discs really wet when washing the car there's no brakes the first time you hit them? This works the same way I assume

[JimH]

Mazda MX-5. I don't know whether it was the pad compound or disc design or what but they were a complete hoot in the wet. That is complete hoot in the sense of jesus christ I'm about to die. You got used to it eventually but it never filled you with confidence. VX is many, many times better.

[iandhd]

Jim, I was only saying to my Scooby owning collegue when I arrived this morning that my VX had no brakes this morning in the wet. I thought it might be due to the Pagid race pads needing a bit more warmth. The usual grab was non existent....... but it did stop the annoying squeeling and squeeking. Actually I'm still wondering what I should do about the pads rubbing the discs even when I'm not braking. It's driving me crazy. May be one more go at 60->20 70->20 breaking to try and re-bed them?

[Bengie]

Ian, Have you tried Copper greasing them... Might give them just enough slippyness to pull back from the disc... Did mine this morning (before the rain started), hopefully it'll cure the squeeking I was getting when I wasn't using the brakes.

[iandhd]

Sorry if it's a daft question but what part would you apply it to? I know I used copperslip when I fitted them but I can't remember where I put it probably on the metal plate that sit's under the pins.

[Bengie]

I smeared it around the back plate (where the piston buts up against), and on the sides edges. Not sure if it's the right place, but seemed to make sense to me at the time!

[streetboy]

I've just been out in the pissing down rain and my brakes are fantastic. Really impressive compaired to everything I've driven before. And I'm loving the power oversteer out of roundabouts. I love my VX.

[Bengie]

I agree - fantasic! I'm tiptoe-ing round the bends, but bloody 'ell it ain't half fun gunning it down the straight bits... Got an interesting bit of sideways action on a 2nd->3rd gearchange that coincided with a bump & puddle in the road... The brakes are impressive - as long as you don't lung on them they are very strong, and so easy to modulate. Think one of these is in order:

[Jase_MK]

And I'm loving the power oversteer out of roundabouts.

I love my VX.

Wheelspin and fishtailing in second on a completely straight road is something I've seen for the first time this week. Combination of sh*te tyres, damp roads and freezing cold air for the engine.

[Vespillo]

Ive had the same kind of issues, the feel of no grip at all at some points, and when breaking even at low(ish) speeds the abs kicking in and not doing anything. Its a bit worrying, but the back end out stuff is cool I want better brakes, im not that happy witht the VX's brakes, or it may be just me. My last car (406 coupe 3.0v6) seemed to stop better, yeah it had brembo's etc but was much heavier!) Would changing the pads/disks help?

[iandhd]

Definitely. Start with the pads you'll notice a big difference.

[Vespillo]

EBC ones? any other offerings? I was thinking of getting some new pads & discs, the green colour puts me off but if they work well then sod it!

[JimH]

The EBC ones work a lot better than OE stuff and cost very little indeed.