Brake Pads Swell in the wet?

[ConPilot1]

Been riding in the on-off wet for a couple days. Last night a torrential downpour complete with sky-to-ground bolt lightning. Scary  

I've noticed this before, but very much so last night and this morning. It seems that brake pads swell in the wet, I have a lot more brake lever to grab in the wet than in dry weather.

Anybody else notice this or know if this is true????

[Cablebandit]

I would think not.  My brakes feel pretty much the same regardless of the weather.

[blueridgerider]

Been riding in the on-off wet for a couple days. Last night a torrential downpour complete with sky-to-ground bolt lightning. Scary  

I've noticed this before, but very much so last night and this morning. It seems that brake pads swell in the wet, I have a lot more brake lever to grab in the wet than in dry weather.

Anybody else notice this or know if this is true????

No, it is not true.  They are either semi-metallic with resin or ceramic.  They do not absorb water or at least any that you could tell.  The days of leather/material drum brakes are long long gone.  Can water affect the feel of braking - yes.  The water will act as a lubricant you are going to have to pull a little harder to get the same braking - though I doubt even that amount (being so miniscule) would be noticable.  Maybe you are getting some extraneous moisture in your brake lines.

[Cablebandit]

  The days of leather/material drum brakes are long long gone.

He does have a C10  

[Scratch33]

It's your rotors that swell; not the pads.

[Papa Lazarou]

It's your rotors that swell; not the pads.

No, no, no, no, NO! The brake levers swell in the rain. It's a well known function of aluminium and which is why so many wart hogs are made out of it.

[ConPilot1]

  I should have known better to ask a serious question.  



Thanks for the input. I have to look into this. I can't imagine moisture seeping into the line system, I have no leaks or
loss of lever feel normally.

but something's going on, it feels like I've got new pads in there with a hell of a lot of lever (i.e very little slack or takeup)
That was the only thing I could think of.

[Cvergi01]

Maybe your hand swells up, thus, coming in contact with the lever sooner  

[sammyseaman]

Maybe your hand swells up, thus, coming in contact with the lever sooner  

 

[TBone]

Yes, my brakes are swell in the wet, even without ABS.

[Leanintree]

At risk of potentially identifying with Connie, I notice the same thing on my pickup. When conditions are wet out, my brakes seem VERY grabby, and I need way less pedal to actuate them. No ABS on the truck. very low tech.

Haven't noticed so much on the bike since I'll standard driver sane and slow in the rain, so I'm not much for hammering them then.

LT

[Mr.Black]

At risk of potentially identifying with Connie, I notice the same thing on my pickup. When conditions are wet out, my brakes seem VERY grabby, and I need way less pedal to actuate them. No ABS on the truck. very low tech.

Haven't noticed so much on the bike since I'll standard driver sane and slow in the rain, so I'm not much for hammering them then.

LT

In my truck I have noticed the same. (Low tech.) I believe it is the metal content of the pads oxidizing and "sticking" to any oxidation that may be on the rotors from the moisture. After the first couple of applications it is fine.

You no longer have to agree with Connie.


You are welcome.

[Andrew]

Possible that the pad surface is rusting, or the rotors are developing some rust. Not to likely.

We have seen the brakes rust up on a few of my busses, when parked with wet brakes and left for a few days (shoes rusting to the drums) Mind you the yard is right at the water line of the SF Bay, salty fog and all.

[SoCalFJR]

If you're running through a lightning storm,  your brake pads should be the last thing on your mind.  Getting to the nearest overpass moves to number 1.  Going through the 35 bikes I've had, including a Connie in there somewhere, I've never experienced any problems in the rain.  I'm guessing you have another situation going on.