Randall,
Thanks for the reply. I suspect you are right about the pad
material. Based on lots of things, including the age of parts I
have replaced... I think my car was in storage for a major part
of its life before me. It was very lightly used for 15 Years in
Buffalo, NY by the PO. I already have a replacement pad set
staged for the winter work season. Although I do remember this
brake behavior back in 1963 but not as pronounced.
There was no hydroplaning... I know the symptoms. I had complete
steering control. I tested the thing over and over again to
learn how much time delay there would be. I had to start
thinking way ahead. If I used the brakes right after "drying
them out"... they worked perfectly.
Brian Sanborn
62 TR4 CT16260L - Groton, MA
My TR4 Restoration Web Site
http://www.net1plus.com/users/sanborn/Home.html
E-Mail: sanborn@net1plus.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Randall Young [mailto:randallyoung@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2000 12:17 PM
To: Brian Sanborn
Subject: Re: TR4 - Wet Brakes - Scary Problem
Brian :
I've never had any of the problems you mentione with disc-braked
TR3s.
My guess would be that your brake pads are some racing compound,
instead
of normal organic pads. Try replacing them.
The other thought that comes to mind : are you sure you weren't
hydroplaning ?
Randall
59 TR3A daily driver
Brian Sanborn wrote:
>
> Listers,
>
> I have not seen this discussed before and I need some help with
> this one. On my trip up to Stowe, VT for the British Invasion
> show... I experienced some scary deje vu.
>
> I broke a cardinal rule big-time by driving the TR4 in driving
> rain. I had never driven this car in heavy rain before. I
> noticed quickly that on the interstate doing 65-70 MPH that I
had
> NO brakes at all for at least 4 or 5 seconds when the rain was
> heavy. After a period of pushing hard on the pedal the brakes
> would start to come back. During the first 2 secs the car
would
> want to pull to the right a bit. Like a bolt of lightening... I
> remembered this "feature" of my original TR4. This used happen
to
> other 1960s cars.
>
> What is causing this? Can it be fixed? Today's cars don't
have
> the "feature"... why does the TR4 behave this way.
>
> I don't think my restrictor valve is missing because... in the
> dry... my brakes are firm, instant and like the hand of God. I
> have to careful not to lock up the front wheels under emergency
> braking at slower speeds. No low pedal on the first application
> even after lots of highway mileage with no brake use.
>
> Is it is water absorption in the pads? I have not done anything
> to the front brakes since acquiring the car. The pads are
about
> 1/2 used... but based on the 38 year old shocks that came out
> maybe the brake components are very old.
>
> I am rebuilding the front-end this winter and the brakes will
get
> redone in the process. Your advice please.
>
> Brian Sanborn
> 62 TR4 CT16260L - Groton, MA
>
> My TR4 Restoration Web Site
> http://www.net1plus.com/users/sanborn/Home.html
> E-Mail: sanborn@net1plus.com
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