drove through water, brakes weak

[454k30]

Well it has been raining in our valley for two straight days now so all the dry lake beds are now lakes once again. I was out splashing through some of the deep puddles, almost stalling my engine once! On the drive home i had to make a short stop and felt like my brakes were almost dead! I like to think it just some water in the drums that hasnt emtied out yet, but the weak brake feeling was a little tense. I do have hydro boost and I dont recall the brakes ever doing this before.

 

[dontoe]

Drum brakes don't work at all after driving through standing/running water.............ask me how I know!

 

[sunnyc123abc]

I have had the samething happen to me. I just stopped, turned the engine off and started it back up, and it worked fine. I dunno what was causing it though.

 

[Confedneck79K30]

splashing through water? any water get into the resevoir and into the system?? but drum brakes are good about retaining water, good idea to pull the drums and inspect for wheel cylinder leaks and then adjust the rear drums a little to help them self-clean(dry) a little better

 

[chevy wrangler]

Drum brakes don't work at all after driving through standing/running water.............ask me how I know!

how do u know??

 

[dontoe]

how do u know??

My '69 Chevy van had four wheel drum brakes, used to drive through several different rivers to party on the other side.........early '80s. When you did that, no braking at all until they dried out!!! That usually took a couple of hundred yards riding the brakes on dry ground!

 

[chevy wrangler]

musta been preety scary!!LOL

 

[dontoe]

musta been preety scary!!LOL

Well, ya anticipated it, after the first couple times!

 

[454k30]

Well they are finally dry today! I had driven through rivers before, but never had to go through water and then hit a paved road at 45 mph. I guess when I was in the mud i didnt notice the braking difference. Anyway they are dry now and work like they used too. I cant wait until I have the 4 wheel discs!

 

[gmc4cw]

I drilled holes in my backing plates to get to the adjuster. It helps with draining the water out. they still get wet, but at least the water comes right out.

 

[MaxPF]

Disks don't work any better than drums when they get wet. Fortunately, wither type of brake dries out quickly if you ride em for a few hundred yards