Brake input from those that did various upgrades

Yep, that helps but only if you don't really immediately need brakes. Drilling the drums is supposed to also help. Think Lynn had a thread someplace on doing that. Anything that speeds the drying process whether heating and/or draining.

 

My Jeep has 11" Bendix brakes...and drilled drums. Ive tried both bonded and riveted shoes. Really, nothing seems to help the water crossing dilemma. They just plain suck in that regard.

 

It's always applicable, and it does help some, but it doesn't solve the basic design flaw in drum brakes. Between the trapping of the debris and water inside the system and centrifugal force throwing the water and debris immediately on the friction surface it makes for a problem not easily solved. Drilling the drums helps but it doesn't solve the basic design problem. That's where disc brakes shine. The very design helps to deflect and shed water and debris immediately.

 

thanks for the info, was just curious as to opinions; I get disks are a lot better, and they're easier to work on IMO as well... was just curious on opinions and experiences. All the vehicles I've owned have had disks up front; until I bought my wife's 03 Passat and my '07 F150 they went all-four-corners. The '69 CJ is the first I've had with drums all the way around (and manual masher assist rather than 'power'), it had 10" and I've replaced with 11"... I'll keep my eye out locally for a D-30 and disks, but thats beyond project scope-creep at this moment.

 

One of the key points with manual brakes regardless of disc or drum is to use organic pads/shoes. They are softer and grip better. Semi-metallic and ceramic are meant to be used strictly with a power booster.

 

So does wet include driving in rain?

 

What Howard said.

 

I've never had a problem in rain, slush or snow with drying the brakes, never had to. Actual water crossings where the shoes are submirsed takes a bit more time to dry. They still worked, but inot n a way that you felt too well about.

 

I have 11" Bendix drum brakes from an early 70's Jeep on my CJ2A. Stops without any drama. I recently added a dual MC set-up from R&P and look forward to reliability that can't be achieved with the old style single MC.

 

I was taught to apply the brakes before/while driving thru water.

 

Should mention one more caveat with disc's: I have frozen the pads firmly to the discs to the point one pad sheared from the backing. After that incident, I ride those brakes also before parking it when wet and under freezing conditions. That happened after bucking some deep snow.

 

I froze the shoes to my drums once in my MB and have had the pads freeze up on my Volvo.

 

Back home, it was pretty common practice to always carry a propane torch and rubber mallet behind the seat of the pickup, just for this reason. I got in the habit of just not *using* the parking brake if it was going to be cold out, but heat and some vibration was the best way to break them loose.

 

I just moved to California and it took care of all that freezing stuff... OK, just joking...

Sorry but I couldn't resist. I just got home from 16 hours of electrical systems testing and troubleshooting at INTEL in "Silly-con Valley" and I needed some levity. Nite to all...