Hi gents.
Recently I was riding in the rain and the brakes failed. Not heavy rain but wet well. Also not cold. Both brakes failed as I approached a busy crossing. Luckily I coasted right between oncoming traffic. Very scary. Pads are 85% good.
What I want to know is why this happened?

**I very seldom ride in wet weather.

When you say 'failed' are you meaning a complete no stopping power or a fade?

How old are the pad's?.Dya know what pad's are in them?..They could be glazed..

Hi Nikroc
I dont know what brand. PO bought them new. Yes complete total failure. no bite. no brakes. Once I was downhill riding heavy hairpins (in post-rain weather) and the rear brake went. I understand that because the heavy braking overheats. The next morning rear brake was fine.
The other day I was riding offroad in heavy rain and everything was fine. No problems.
The pads are 4 years old. I dont use the bike much except for tours.

Sounds like brake fade..as you said after a hard ride the brake fluid overheats and then the brakes wont 'grab' the disc's effectively..

Then you have the potential of the pad's becoming glazed/hard.

Personally I would do a fluid change and strip the calipers down,clean them and take the glaze off the pads with sandpaper..I use a belt sander.

It is good practice to use brakes slightly in wet conditions, from time to time, even if they are not needed, just to keep them warm and dry.

Mmm?....Time for new pads all 'round and some disc sterilising. I'd hate to think, somehow, your discs have been contaminated with a lubricant, but in reality, if the front fails, it is surprising just how poor a rear brake can be, when called upon as the sole source of braking, and this may also then appear to have failed.

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