Since the winter season has begun I have noticed that when it's raining that my brakes dont have any grip until they dry off again. Scared the &^%$ out of me the other day. I have new quality pads all around and the rotors all have good meat on them. On dry days no problem but when its raining I hit them and it takes a few seconds to achieve full stopping power again. Anyone experience this? I've driven a number cars and have never had any wet weather braking problems.

q

 

Yeah, its normal. You could try to find a softer compound that will heat up more quickly or you could buy some slotted rotors. Either of those might fix it.

 

I've always noticed a difference between dry and wet weather braking in every car. This includes my Camaro with the different combinations I've had. It is just more pronounced now that I have better brakes that grab as well as they do when dry.

This is one reason why you are supposed to increase the distance between your car and another and drive slower when it rains. Also realize that we haven't had much rain in DFW until recently. This allows a nice buildup of oil and crap on the road that gets all in the water when it rains and thus coats your rotors/pads.

I have slotted rotors, they didn't do a thing for wet performance. Not that I expected them to. Just got a good deal on them (zinc coated rotors for less than non-coated).

Tires also have less friction when wet and they sould be considered part of your brake system too.

 

understand 100% but never had this type of issue with any other car in wet weather. just wanted to know if normal for these vehicles so next go around try a diff compound pad for starters

 

Very common, in any car actually. Thats why they tell you to give yourself more braking distance in wet conditions.

 

When mine got wet, it was like driving our 72 chevelle convertable with 4 wheel manual drums!! literally stand on the brakes or hit something!

 

My 95 Z28 stock brake system sucked in the rain. Far worse than any other car I've driven. While I agree with the statements above that any car will have reduced braking in the rain, my experience with the Z28 is the difference between rain and dry is much greater than other cars. I've since upgrade the brake system, but can't speak to the rain capability as it's now my "sunny day" car.

 

with all due respect to the safe driving rule in wet weather again i am reiterating that this is the 1st and only car that i've experienced this type of problem......period. granted wet weather perf differs but hey i just wanted to know if it was just me or was this a similar problem on 4th gen f-body's with stock brake systems. i apprec the advice and similar exp from everyone.

q

 

Like I said mine is more pronouced now that I have pads that are more agressive. Just because I'm used to them stopping so well when dry.

Are you still running the stock pads? If not and you want to try some, I'll sell you some stock replacement type front pads with a lot of material on them cheap. They're Wagner Thermoquiets. I wanted more bite and they are just like stock.

 

Better pads would help. Generally the cheapies suck when wet, and on the other end of the spectrum race compound pads aren't good when cold (which happens when they are wet). But something like a set of Hawk HPS's would likely improve things greatly. I have no issues with my pads when it's wet out. Stopping distances when it's wet get longer because the tires don't have the grip, not because the pads can't stop you. Good pads work just fine in the wet.

 

duh...

 

I was going to ask the same question on mine. We just started getting wet weather around here so of course it's now an issue. My Sonoma seems to want to stop more suddenly when wet and the TA seems to not want to stop at all. I have stock style pads on the from and need to do the rear. I guess I will go with the Wearever's like I have used for a while. Other than that I can't imagine what else will work. This car has always been the worse I have ever owned in the rain.