*Yikes* Brake fade / No Brakes - Cause and Solutions On the road this would be scary even deadly
But thankfully I was't.
Many of you guys would agree OHC has a very eager brake pedal.
It bites and mostly locks up even at a hint of pressure.
I found the swift brakes adequate except when you are doing triple digit speeds.
After driving around in the OHC, Swift brakes scare the crap out of me.
Coming to the problem at hand. History Quote:
Track day (July 11- 2010)
Back straight.
I was braking from around 140Km/Hr. I brake early, blame it on being a "bike" guy till around 2006. In this case I'm thankful that I did. Instead of slowing down my OHC Vtec just goes on...
I end up carrying too much speed I downshift to 3 and into C4 and the back steps out.
Did't spin out but I did manage to get "off" the track. Engine stalled and I was a bit shaken.
Got the show back on track and dive into the pits.
Manek is grinning as he left me in the dust. I tell him I ran out of brake and track.
He thinks I'm BS'g. Tells him to have a go and see, 15-20 minutes later he drives and I'm in the passenger seat. He taps the brake and tells me I'm mad. At that point brake is fine.
Exits the pits into C2, C3 brakes for C4 he feels its a bit low.
Exits C7 and into C8 he brakes and car just goes on. He is a bit shaken.
Take it to the pits and lets it cool. Brakes never recovered after this during the track day and I did't do much "hot" laps after that. I entertained myself by carrying more speed through the corners by lifting off and braking early.. very very early.
This happened half way through the session.
The brakes did't overheat I can tell since we did a hot lap in his vtec and the alloys are radiating more or less same heat as mine.
Fluid levels are fine and fluid is not hot in the reservoir.
I've already resurfaced the rotors and the pads are new done at 64500Kms and after that done around 500Kms.
Did not change the fluid as I was told its not required.
I was told that "old" brake fluid can cause this as it will accumulate moisture and brings down the boiling point.
Another theory was the fluid used is DOT3 and it should be DOT4. (I guess DOT4 is being used now)
Right now brakes feels just perfect except for the horrible squealing noise.
I got them checked and was told pads are fine.
On the road there is no way to replicate the issue as we will not be able to brake like that.
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After this I got the brakes checked and has not felt the fade. Present Day
The same fade happened yesterday Track day on 29 Aug 2010.
I was literally standing on the brakes after 2 hot laps and there is absolutely NO stopping power. Simply put however hard I stomp the pedal I'm "unable to lock up the brakes" = No stopping power.
Please read this too Brake Performance Tips
I was suspecting Green fade earlier as I had done only 500Kms with the new pads on the July track day. Now I've done more than 2000kms (66xxx Kms) and the pads seems to have bedded in properly. Seems the contact patch is normal and the rotors are fine and feels good.
Fluid fade is unlikely as the "fluid" was never hot, just warm as mentioned earlier.
Booster / Master cylinder seems to be fine. (Its doing its stuff)
Please note this happens only on the track and on normal roads the brakes are fine. Went today morning and tested it with left foot on the brake and right on the accelerator to heat it up. A hint of fade was there, but nothing drastic.
I'm suspecting pad fade.
Also folks who have driven their OHC's / OHC Vtec's on track. Please let me know what pads you are running. (Make - Eg : KBX, Bosh and is it OE approved ?)
Needs suggestions/views/resolution/theories. |