Wet Brakes?

Squiggas · Post by **Squiggas** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:37 pm

2 weeks ago I drove my Pinz through a lot of deep muddy water. Afterwards I tried the brakes and found that they were severely impaired.

I then drove 60 miles home along a hilly winding road, expecting normal brake usage to dry them out, but they were no better when I arrived.

A week later the brakes were still no better, so I tried to dry them out by stopping from 60mph with no engine braking and a 1/4 mile steep descent using just the brakes. Made no difference.

Is it possible that I've still got water in my drums or should I be looking for a different explanation? I checked the fluid level and it's fine.

M Wehrman · Post by **M Wehrman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:54 pm

Pull the drums and clean out what I expect is mud. Adjust and be on your way,unless the water was salty,then look for rust holding the shoes to the backing plate AND mud.

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:33 pm

Even if it's clean water, it seems to take an incredible amount of time/use to dry them out. And even then, a clean out is probably in order, IMHO.
Paul

Wayne Roberts · Post by **Wayne Roberts** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:55 am

Down here in Florida all we have to play in is mud and water. No hills or rocks to climb. Since we spend so much time in the water, I know exactly what you are going through. When you dunk the wheels under the drums fill up with water and the fine silt that was in suspension and it can not get back out. As you drive, this silt grinds away the shoe lining and you brakes go out of adjustment very quickly. Pull the wheels and drums and you find that they are full of a very fine dust made up of brake lining and silt / sand. Clean this out and then readjust your brakes and the problem will go away until the next time that you play in the water. If you continue to drive it without this cleaning you will quickly wear out what is left of your shoes and eventually toast the drums and that get expensive quickly. I wish that SDP had gone the route of the disc brake instead of drum but it is what it is.

Squiggas · Post by **Squiggas** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:33 am

That makes sense. Thanks for the replies.

I'm a bit disappointed that a vehicle designed to be driven through mud and water is so badly affected by it. Glad I didn't go for a 6 wheeler.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:25 am

The six wheeler would be more stable even with dodgy brakes. Very nearly all Vehicles of this type used by the military use drum brakes Landrover, Volvo Pinzgauer etc its an age thing. Some vehicles are easier to convert than others such as the Landrover and with a lot more work the Volvo But the Pinzgauer no one seems to offer any thing at all. I believe that there is the odd one nicking about with discs but I guess that they were DIY.

I would love discs on my TGB13, I know Portal Tech does a very good kit but £££ $$$