Brake pull when wet

[supton]

Finally got to drive in a good rain today, on my '99 Camry, and was a bit surprised when I had to stab the brake. Pulled to the right, then seemed to snap back to the left. Then braked normally. My VW would always have no brakes in the rain, for a few feet, until they dried out--but it always went straight. Unlike the VW I suspect this car does not have rear biased braking so I don't think it's in the drums; I'm thinking maybe the left front dust shield is out of whack, somehow? Ideas?

Brakes fine in the dry, takes 10 miles or so for the issue to build, so I've only experienced it twice, and it's not exactly something I can repeatably test. Once the brakes dried out it was fine; it was just when they had a while to get wet that it occurred. Maybe next weekend I can check up front for what the issue may be.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Does it have rear drums?

 

[supton]

Yep, rear drums.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I have experienced this a few times on vehicles with rear drums. The drum surface will build up some slight surface rust and cause it to brake very hard and be very "touchy" until the surface rust wears off. After a rainy night I will take off with the parking brake still on in my Cherokee to wear the rust off so I don't have this happen.

My guess is, it's pulling because one side hasn't been auto adjusting properly or has shoes/hardware that are worn out. The side that is working is pulling. They both should be grabby in the morning after rain.

 

[buck91]

Any chance you stabbed the brakes hard enough to lock up one wheel?

 

[bigt61]

One rotor might have been wetter at the time - normal. Initial input will wipe the rotors clean.

 

[meep]

if you have a slight brake fluid leak, it will cause the pads/shoes to grab extremely hard in the rain. experienced this in rear drums on a 93 ZJ. replace the pads/shoes, and fix the leak. toyota wheel cylinders are not expensive and quite simple once you get the drums and hardware off.

 

[supton]

Been driving the daily for about 5 months now, typically in 50 mile jaunts but the occasional 10 mile run. Zero issues until today. It has rained, just not as much as today.

No lockup, didn't hit that hard. Once it pulled to the right, then a quick left pull, it would brake fine. Like it always does. It threw me the first time, but when it happened a second time 10 miles later I expected it. Subsequent braking thereafter was normal also, but as I was in a city I was frequently using the brakes, and not cruising at high speed either.

Also: I had used the brakes at least once before this incident, without issue. Granted not a heavy brake but a typical "coasting to the light" sort. It may be that quick application (not brake stand quick but more than the usual gentle braking) might be needed on top of being wet.

Bummer I didn't know about this two weeks ago, when I changed the rear hubs. Had the drums off and could have looked for a leak. I certainly didn't see any wet drums coming off, but I suppose it could have sprung a leak overnight since then.

 

[Rand]

when was the last time they were taken apart cleaned and relubed?

 

[HerrStig]

A slightly sticking front piston will do what you are seeing. If so you'll see more pad wear on the side it pulls toward. Rear drums don't contribute much to stopping which is why the lining lasts so long. I had a slightly sticking pad on my 08 with discs in the rear and the tip off was more black brake dust on one side. The car didn't pull at all. There was a massive kerfuffle on Toyota Nation about brake lube, after the miss-information storm settled I'm still sticking ( no pun intended) with Silglyde GK `14

 

[supton]

Well, I did skip pulling apart the brakes and lubing, not sure why i did, since I know the darn things like to sieze up on me. Well, rear discs like to, never had a problem with front pads.

Wouldn't have guessed missing lube in this case. Project for the weekend. Although people are pointing at both ends of the car.