how to stop fast in rain..?

[91CRXsiR]

i have a 89 fastback, w/o ABS w/o LSD..

what is the best way to stop in heavy/light rain?

i have KVR pads all around and stock discs and capliers..

i know pumping them helps allot but does it help in the rain?

[adey]

The best way to stop in the wet is the same as the best way to stop in the dry: Threshold (threshhold??) braking. That is, braking at the tires' limits-- just before the wheels lock up.

Pumping the brakes is only useful if you've already locked the wheels up.

the ULTIMATE way to stop fast in the rain is NOT to drive fast in t he first place. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[240meowth]

just like adey said, keep your speed slow.

no matter how good your pads/rotor/brake line/brake fluids are, there's a limit to your tire's gripping ability in the rain.

[four]

you can do this..

- approach a turn
- downshift
- turn the wheel towards the turn
- then quickly steer the opposite way
- then slam the brakes instead of gas.

That'll stop you..

j\k dont do that..

the only way you can really stop good is what everyone else says. &nbsp;DONT DRIVE FAST

[91CRXsiR]

well yea naturally, but im sure you have all experienced some idiot braking hard in front of you on the freeway while its raining, and even if you aren't following too close you still get a little nervous.. hence i would like some more knowledge to help me preserve my car

[Dousan_PG]

always follow the 3 second rule
if there is a smaller then 3 second gap between you and the car in front you are driving too close
i break this rule always when stop and go, but when you are going 30mph to whatever try and follow it. it has saved me many times, the only worry is the car behind me haha..

make sure your rainy weather tires are decent too. tires are most important.

just dont follow close, and if someone cuts in front of you, slow down more. no use rushing and totalling your car then being 5 mins late with your car in one piece.

[Schrites240]

Its Easy!!!! Just pull the E-Brake!!!!! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

[91CRXsiR]

wait, so braking within the limit of the tire is better than pumping the brakes?...

then wouldn't that make ABS like useless? if everyone just steped on thier brakes with a certain amount of pressure?.
im sure ive heard somewhere that pumping them helps allot the improve the braking distance.?

[fixxxer]

Someone said it before, "threshhold breaking" Whoever said it, is correct but not completly. Threshhold breaking is emulating abs with driver input. ABS locks and unlocks your breaks very quickly, and that's the same thing you try to do to stop faster. There is a fine line between wheels spinning, and wheels locked, so what you do is you find that line and use MINUTE movements of your foot to go over and under the line. Threshhold breaking is a pretty advanced technique, so I would suggest practicing in the dry in a VERY big parking lot. As for rain driving, just keep it slow. Not having need to break hard will keep you safer than knowing how to break hard and doing it.

[AKADriver]

It's actually much easier to practice in a wet parking lot since the limits are that much lower.

[Jeff240sx]

Yea. &nbsp;You got the whole "if every just stopped with a certain ammount of pressure, wouldn't that eliminate the need for ABS?" &nbsp;Yes. &nbsp;But...
It is a very precise pressure, that will change depending on the car, the pads, the fluid you run, the lines you have. &nbsp;Everyone needs a different ammount of pressure, and increases as the pad wears. &nbsp;Also, it is much harder to stop during a panic situation. &nbsp;Most people will just stomp the brake, lock up the tires, and lose 30% of stopping ability due to sliding on rubber.
At Skip Barber racing school, we practiced threshhold braking for a long time. &nbsp;The rubber pattern on the road is exactly the same as abs, short, little patches of rubber. &nbsp;We also had ABS that could be turned off, and threshhold braking, if done properly, you will stop about 15-20 feet faster than the exact same car with ABS on. &nbsp;I don't know why, but I assume that it is because the threshhold method keeps the pads on the rotor at all times, and ABS will lift off a little more, resulting in less stoping power.
I'll get off the stage now.
-Jeff

[misnomer]

Simple physics, the force of static friction is always greater than that of kinetic friction. THis is the premise behind threshold braking, as long as you are near your braking threshold, you'll stop faster than if you are skidding.

ABS came out because of this, people panic and mash the brake, but instead of skidding, ABS pulses the brakes, essentially puts you over the threshold, then back under repeatedly in pulses. Somebody braking near their threshold (still below) can stop faster. That's your best way to practice braking, feel for how much pressure on varying surfaces it takes to lock up the brakes. This isn't foolproof though, because as jeff and everybody else said, it changes with any of a number of variables. Slow down in the rain and you should be OK <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[bbp]

my.02

be smoother than normal when driving in the rain, this includes braking. &nbsp;the one thing to concentrate on is where the weight is being moved around. &nbsp;

picture this:

when you hit the brake pedal the weight is transferred to the front of the car. &nbsp;when you relase it takes the weight from the front and transfer it to static or to the rear. &nbsp;many time brak lock up is caused by hitting the brakes too fast/hard and not giving the weight time to transfer to the front. &nbsp;there is not enought weight on the front wheels added with the loss of traction due to the rain and you will get lockup. &nbsp;keeping that in mind pumping the pedal accentuates that problem. &nbsp;as you pump the pedal weight transfers back and forth, probably locking the wheels everytime you pump (more likely in snow).

apply the brake pedal smoothly, notice the front dip a little bit. &nbsp;as the weight is transferring to the front you can add more brake pedal. if the wheels lock, let of the pedal A VERY SMALL AMOUNT, just enough to get the wheels turning but not enough to transfer the weight back to the rear.

the most imprtant thing to remember with this whole conversation is the tires. if your tires are crap, your technique isn't gonna matter too much.