Help Please - Brakes are scaring me!!!!

[danny_1968]

Hi World

Any views or tips really welcome - so prepare for me picking your brains guys....

Have a braking problem.......some background first.........

Me and my wife share a Clio Cup 2003 and we use the car for commuting and weekend visiting friends.....2/4 track days a year planned (done 2 since July).......

The Clio has 22k miles and has worn (but not worn out front and rear discs and pads on it) - brakes have always been good and have never locked up in normal conditions (when testing at high speed and quick stamps, the brakes will lock up skid due to no fitted abs of course being a cup)

The problem!

In wet weather (just mildly damp on roads - not driving rain and flooding roads) - the brakes lock up and the car wants to skid around, this happens on cornering and mild braking and mild braking in straights also causes lock ups...........its a bit scary, so car laid up not being drive and as a service is due.......i want to get into a decent specialist rather than main agent and have service and brakes looked over..........BUT! - as is i don't really want to drive due to this locking up.......

The Help! Bit.........


So...........does anyone have any ideas whats causing? and/or any advice on a good local(ish) specialist who won't charge a fortune in case an hourly rate starts to get bashed?........i live in Basingstoke, Hants

Thanking everyone in advance for any ideas and suggestions,,,,,,,,

Regards

Danny the happy cup owner.......


PS - these cars are great, drove a full fat and this one we brought and as we love the odd track day.......we lived without a/c and abs/traction and trimmings.......it was the right choice for us..........

 

[christurbo]

Sounds like the driver IMO.

You shouldnt brake hard on bends, and you should compensate in damp conditions for the lack of ABS. You have a light car that will lock up easily.

But also check tyre condition etc.

 

[danny_1968]

ta for gettiong back - but its a not a driver thing........its a locking up brakes thing.........soz should have mentioned new tyres all round too........

i think i will get trailered to a specialist to sort........

danny

 

[christurbo]

Press the pedal less hard!

Good luck with the testing though....

 

[MrMark]

it is the cup killing season! be awear.!

 

[White16valver]

Are your tyres over-inflated?

 

[keben6]

you're within distance of Mike from Rentech. I have never used but has gleeming reviews and I will be taking mine into him in the not too distant.

 

[keben6]

He's in portsmouth

 

[Toph]

if your not aware the linkage to the brake proportion valve is not fitted on cups this means the load change when braking is not compensated for, the front to rear proportion does not change. this is great for the track but not so good on normal roads with people and shopping in the car. it could also be something as simple as a seazed brake pad causing uneaven braking.

 

[edde]

Sounds like just the normal behavour no ABS will cause you to skid if your hard on it.

Get the calieprs etc checked though thats there sliding and bled brakes but since the problems not at high speed IMo its not an issue.

 

[GordonD]

If there's a lot of difference between dry and wet braking ability, one of the possibilities is tyres that have poor wet grip.

What sort of tyres did you put on it?

 

[Neil G]

Sounds like the driver IMO.

You shouldnt brake hard on bends, and you should compensate in damp conditions for the lack of ABS. You have a light car that will lock up easily.

But also check tyre condition etc.

Yeah.....I'd second the advice on the tyres

 

[danny_1968]

If there's a lot of difference between dry and wet braking ability, one of the possibilities is tyres that have poor wet grip.

What sort of tyres did you put on it?

always stuck to tyres renault fitted........fronts sub 1k - rear - very good still

so not sure on tyres being at fault - correct inflation etc.......