Cold / Wet weather brake issue?

[Ingen]

I was driving home last night in the rain and noticed what might be a problem with my brakes. It seemed like the brakes did not work very well for the first 1/2 second after I pressed the pedal, then I would typically press a little harder and they would bite and slow the car down normally. I haven't had any trouble with them up to this point, but I also have not gotten them very wet or let them get cold before last night.

The weather was kind of crap last night - about 40*F and pouring rain, so I wondered if the brakes might have gotten cold and needed a moment to heat up before they were able to really stop the car. Alternatively I wondered if all the water could have something to do with it. As a third option, maybe I'm paranoid and there's nothing wrong at all.

Any thoughts from anyone?

edit: wat-ectomy.

[chulooz]

Originally Posted by Ingen

I was driving home last night (around 10) in the rain, about 40*F outside. I noticed that for about the first 1/2 second of brake application, they aren't all that powerful. This is a new thing for me - in the dry they have been totally fine. I was wondering if anyone else has had any trouble with the brakes when they're cold or wet? Once I put a little more pedal pressure on them they shaped right up, but I wondered if they were burning the water off first or something.

Any thoughts from anyone?

wat

[Ingen]

Originally Posted by chulooz

wat

Fixed.

[Freeman]

Probably just wet brakes. That's why it's always a good idea to drive slower and follow at a greater distance when it's raining


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[Neziah]

wet brakes, normal.

[TheSt|G]

Many cars(like modern BMWs) apply the brakes lightly here and there as you drive in the rain to keep everything at peak performance. Being a cheap car, it looks like they cost saved that feature.

[Turbowned]

Wet brake rotors. You have to be mindful of it. As TheSt|G mentioned, some newer, mostly high-end cars have automatic brake disc wiping, so if you've been driving around something like that before, you may never have experienced wet brakes. The first time it happened to me, I totalled my car. Whoops!