Hi Brian,
It has to do with driving through puddles. I've had some domestic cars do
the same thing. There's nothing wrong with your TR4. Water simply splashes
in and gets your drums, discs, pads, and shoes wet. What I do is to
intentionally ride the brakes lightly after an unavoidable puddle, heating
them up a bit and drying them out. I also try to go around puddles or
flooding when I can, if traffic will allow.
Sumner Weisman
62 TR3B TSF263L
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2000 10:53:12 -0400
From: "Brian Sanborn" <sanborn@net1plus.com>
Subject: TR4 - Wet Brakes - Scary Problem
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
------------------------------
|